Topic: Solved NIC#204 - MGA Twin-Cam SRX210

[nicanary]

Please tell me what this car is, and where it famously raced.

[58_spyder]

Bristol?
Most likely raced at Le Mans, otherwise they participated in the Mille Miglia several times aas well.

[nicanary]

Bristol?
Most likely raced at Le Mans, otherwise they participated in the Mille Miglia several times aas well.

Good try, but it's not a Bristol.

[58_spyder]

MGA?
I noticed the "holes"in the frontwings for the airvents.

I guess (something like) this one:

SRX 210 SRX210 Modified body MGA fastback coupe Modified Fastback, Twin Cam, Le Mans 1959-61.
 MGA Twin Cam SRX 210 competed in the 24 hour Le Mans race three times between 1959 and 1961. In 1960 it finish first in class and 12th overall. Now believed to be a reincarnation of LBL303 EX192 car, probably using a 1955 Le Mans body shell. Click for more information (Twin Cam section).


There is speculation that this car may be a spin-off of the EX182 project, as it may have been built using the 6th aluminum body which was produced early in the 1955 Le Mans project (or maybe not).

 Ted Lund was apparently told by the M.G. works that the body from his Le Mans car was fitted to a new Twin Cam chassis in 1959, for the MGCC's entry at Le Mans. Ted Lund raced this car (registered as SRX 210) at Le Mans three years in a row, winning its class in 1961. SRX 210 still retains an aluminium body but there seems no absolute proof that it carries the body from EX182/41. There were six aluminium bodies made in 1955, so it is possible that another of those body shells was used. The fate of the chassis from EX182/41 is not known.

 MGA Twin Cam SRX 210 competed in the 24 hour Le Mans race three times between 1959 and 1961 driven by Ted Lund and Colin Escott. The first attempt was brought to a halt when the car was doing 136mph on the Mulsanne straight when it hit a large Alsatian dog. In 1960 this 1762cc 120bhp car was fitted with 2 inch carburetors and 4.1:1 final drive gearing for top speed of 130mph. It outperformed a very strong field of Porches to finish first in class and 12th overall. It competed again in 1961 unfortunately without success.

 Bob West who runs a thriving MGA restoration and parts business in Pontefract currently owns the car.

Addendum August 2007:
 This car has since been passed on to a new owner. Much additional information about its origin and history has been revealed in the "MGA Register 2005 Yearbook". Click to see this MGA Archaeology article (2-MB file in MS Word format) sent compliments of the author Steve Dixon.

[nicanary]

Wow! I can't add much more.

It's a car which is almost a legend with MG fans. When the MG company decided not to participate in the 24 heures du Mans, the North-West centre of the MGCC thought they'd do it instead. When you look at how much money and development is spent these days, it's extraordinary that a minor car club and a few enthusiasts could compete with success in such an important event.

The photo I selected for the puzzle shows the car in partly assembled form during the restoration.

[58_spyder]

Great story indeed, just finished the word document on this car, it is something special. I was aware of the chassis numbers issues of italian cars (mostly taks  driven), but this is similar.
It was the wheels, bonnet shape plus airvents that made me check  MGA and then I found MGAGURU, with the stories.