Bomb-Proof

Les Andrew has rallied and trialled production cars for over 30 years, competing in the RAC Rally eight times. Why has he chosen an MGB GT as his latest competition weapon?

- Rob Hawkins

As we head along the Yorkshire country lanes, within a few miles of Les Andrew’s home, it’s soon clear that he not only knows how his 1977 MGB GT handles on the undulating roads, but how to get the most out of it. The Stage 2-tuned Oselli 1840cc B-series seems as eager as a more modern Japanese twin-cam but produces a modest 110bhp. It’s even mated to a standard four-speed gearbox with overdrive but delivers torque via a Quaife limited-slip-differential. Brakes and suspension are standard, except for a set of performance brake pads at the front and uprated dampers all round.

Inside this MGB GT, there’s a mixture of standard and Worksstyle components helping to create a rally-refined interior. There’s a Safety Devices four-point rollcage but the front seats are not made for competition. Instead, they are from a Mazda MX-5 and are complemented with three-point Securon harnesses. There’s a popular three-spoke leather-bound Moto-Lita steering wheel, a set of standard instruments including a 120mph speedo, 7000rpm tachometer along with auxiliary gauges for fuel, oil pressure and coolant temperature. Dashboard and centre console are adorned with additional instruments including a Brantz trip meter with remote controls, two digital stopwatches and other items such as easy-access fuses, clearly-labelled switches and an all-important battery cut-off. Works-style interiors are typically busy and technical, but Les has kept some of the creature comforts for general road use, such as carpets, door trims and wind-up windows. Inside the boot, there are more signs of rally essentials, including a full-size spare wheel, assorted oils, coolant and other important fluids, a can of WD40 and a scissor-jack.