Jan
Hmmmm.... 1970 world rally championship won by Porsche 911, 1971 by
Alpine-Renault, 1972 by Lancia, 1973 by Alpine-Renault. I was into rallying in
the early 1970s and these were the cars I remember as worlds best. With
respect,
you would have to do some mighty work to an Avenger to make it competitive with
purpose built rally cars like the Alpines....
The 1981 World rally champ was the Sunbeam Lotus (1980 was Fiat Abarth, 1982
was
Audi Quattro). Lots of Info on world rally championships at this site....
http://www.rallycars.com/
Incidentally, have you heard of the Chrysler BRM engine as fitted to Avengers?
Check out this page.....
http://www.westhouse.demon.co.uk/brm1.htm
Cheers
Vic
Jan Eyerman wrote:
> In 1971-72 the Hillman Avenger (Plymouth Cricket) was the top rally car in the
> World at that time, the Sunbeam-Lotus did it again in the 1980-81 era. These
> were very hot cars and were blowing the doors off BMW's, Hondas, etc around
> the world.
>
> Of course "Rootes" was long gone.... they were now "Chrysler UK"
>
> Jan Eyerman
> 1959 Hillman Minx Series III DeLuxe
> 1973 Hillman Avenger DL (with a single carb 1500cc engine and an automatic it
> is unlikely to blow the doors off anything!)
>
> "Eric Gibeaut" <sunbeams@sc.rr.com> wrote:
> At the 1999 Rootes Millennium Rally at Blenheim Palace, England, Jim
> D'Amelio and I were admiring a Lotus Sunbeam which was in a row of about 6
> others. The owner came up to us and after we told him how much we admired
> the car, he answering a few of our questions and then he took us for a
> spirited drive around a few roundabouts and some local roads. The power
> that car has is amazing! It would give my Tiger a good run I am sure-and
> would out-handle it as well. I would like to have one!
> Eric
>
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