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Postby worksminis » 08 May 2017, 19:11

November 62 RAC. Aaltonen/Ambrose. Group 3. White/Black roof. New car.

January 63 Monte Carlo Rally. Aaltonen/Ambrose. Group 3? (photos unclear as to whether all chrome trim fitted – all required in Group 2). A darkish colour with white roof in b/w photo - assumed Red/White. Re-sprayed to standardised BMC works colours? - but see below.

June 63 Coupe des Alpes. Sprinzell/Cave. Group 3. All white car. It would be reasonable to have a black roof re-sprayed white for an event in high summer at high altitude but completely re-spraying a red car that had been repainted in corporate colours seems unlikely. The fixing studs for the headlight protectors are in the same position on the 63 Coupe des Alpes car as on the 62 RAC car. Photos checked of the 63 Monte car shows no evidence of fixings in the same place.

All four of the then existing works Coopers were entered in 63 Monte. Photo of this car and 407ARX in build at Abingdon for 63 Monte with competition numbers applied appears to show two new cars, sitting on new wheels fitted with a standard car's Dunlop C41s. Where did the Red(?) 977ARX come from if it was not the white car re-sprayed? Next new Cooper (17CRX a Red/White Group 3 car) appears on the Tulip in April. Did it first appear on the Monte as 977ARX?

Written off after CdeA crash (steering pinch bolt not located correctly).

Postby davidscothorn » 29 May 2017, 15:38

DVLA MORRIS 1962 997 DOR 6/94 T 1/18 MOT 12/17

by davidscothorn » 18 May 2017, 20:01

Have heard ''on good authority'' photo of 977 showing lighter colour underneath red
and, on another occasion, photo of 997 appearing on a partially obscured (by other works cars) number plate when the cars were being washed prior to their run in to Monte Carlo in 1963. If the numbers had been replaced, perhaps an understandable mistake.
Am still investigating.

by worksminis » 06 May 2017, 22:22

Good confirmation. We'd better clarify for a wider audience less close to it all that, yes there was a red 997ARX, but for one event, and it was a new car (one of two photographed in build) not the original and the original remained to re-appear later, still white, and the new red car later assumed it's CRX identity.
Any other scenario leaves too many 997Coopers built.

Postby Orangebox » 06 May 2017, 20:28

Never was a red 977 ARX, it was 18 CRX carrying the ARX number. See my post on 407 ARX.

Images

Written off after CdeA crash (steering pinch bolt not located correctly).

Photo taken during the 1963 Alpine Rally by Terry Mitchell, Chief chassis designer at MG Cars, Abingdon. He worked and travelled with the Competitions Dept.

1963 Monte

1963 Coupe des Alpes

1962 RAC

Monte Prep 1963