Many of you will know that BMC competitions department raced mini's, and the odd Morris Minor. But did you know that once upon a time they even used the trusty ADO16?

The 1100's never really took off as a "works" car, as they were always overshadowed by the Austin Healey 3000 and the Mini Cooper S. The works department was based at the MG plant in Abingdon.

After the launch of the Morris 1100 in August 1962, the works department entered into the Liege-Sofia-Liege rally two Morris 1100s. This took place in September 1962, and would provide some rough test track for the 1100. Regulations for the 1962 event allowed the cars to be lightened. So BMC set around removing most of interior (they found this worked, and carried out later by a means of cost cutting!!). Perspex windows replaced the standard glass items, and the bumpers and their lips were chopped off. Highly tuned (but still only in the testing stages) twin carb engines were fitted, a slot was cut in the front panel to allow air to an oil cooler and substantial sump guards were fitted.

Pat Moss and Pauline Mayman crewed 677 BRX, while Peter Riley and Tony Cash crewed 877 BRX. 877 retired near Trieste with flywheel/crankshaft trouble whilst Pat Moss has the rear suspension brackets welded up, only to retire with a blown engine near to the split. Both cars were finished in Smoke Grey with a white roof.

The car crewed by Pat Moss and Pauline Mayman.

The car crewed by Peter Riley and Tony Cash. The harsh conditions can be seen in this picture. I'll never quite understand why they took the hubcaps off, surely they didn't add that much weight?

A snap shot of a rest point.

Ouch an 1100 near snow... and I wonder if they used Salt on the roads? did anyone see this car again?

So, the Morris 1100 entered and retired from the works competitions in those cruel conditions. However, another Abingdon car 577 BRX was entered for the London Rally crewed by Paddy Hopkirk and Jack Scott. This car had previously been used as a recce car for the Liege. The London race was only open to private drivers, and therefore the entry was not through BMC. However, during the race they were plagued with clutch slip, but managed to finish the race, although the placing is unknown.

The first outing for an MG 1100 was at the 1962 RAC Rally and crewed by David Seigle-Morris and Rupert Jones. It was a short race, starting in Blackpool, and finally retiring in Scotland with piston failure. The reason for using the MG was that the engine was in a higher state of tune that its standard counterpart.

The first outing for the MG 1100 was at the RAC Rally.

Two MGs were entered in for the 1963 Monte Carlo Rally, although the car was technically on loan to John Cuff. Raymond Baxter and Ernie McMillen in the official entry (a new red MG) 399 CJB. CJB finished fourth in class, the best result for any 1100 in an international rally. John Cuff's car was written off after being run into at the back, which in turn pushed it into a Mercedes in front. Both the other cars managed to continue, but the 1100 was reduced in length!

With the launch of the 1071cc Mini Cooper S, the end was near for the MG 1100 as a works car. The 1100 range was selling well (better than the mini!), and therefore competitions didn't need to be won.

The last BMC entry for an 1100 again saw CJB cleaned off (and painted with a white roof!), on the Spa Sofia-Liege rally, one year after the first competition appearance of the model. Ironically, the Mini Cooper S was considered too fragile for the event at this stage of its development. Unfortunately the MG was retired due to a ball joint failure.

CJB's final outing as a works car, would later be sold for scrap.

399 CJB was owned by the foreman at the competitions department. He used the car for a number years at MG Car Club test for a number of years, before selling it for scrap in the early 70's to a Scrap dealer in Birmingham.

It has been confirmed that an 1100 Club member now owns 877 BRX, and is currently carrying out a full restoration on the car. It still has the perspex windows in place.