Colin McRae's forgotten first ever rally car (that led a strange life!)
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- Driving Colin McRae’s forgotten first ever rally car (that led a strange life!)
This humble Hillman Avenger GT above is a lesser known rally hero. Besides living in the shadows of countless Ford Escorts, the Avenger was arguably a better car in standard form. Why? Because crucially the rear axle was 4-linked as standard, and no leaf springs.
Thanks for stopping by The Late Brake Show.
This video follows the unusual rally Avenger that started life as a Dec 1973 Paris Motorshow stand car. It was then sent up to a flagship Chrysler dealership in Scotland called Maconochies, where as part of the 'dealer team' it was converted into a competitive rally car for 1974-75. The pro driver was Ian Gemmell. He won the Group 1 class in OKV 571M numerous times throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. 'On tarmac it was far superior to the RS2000 droop snoot that I switched to in 1976 (when Maconochies became a Ford franchise)’.
To read more about this video, Ian’s racing history and Jonny’s personal bio with Hillman Avengers (Marvel not allowed), then head over to our Patreon page: / thelatebrakeshow
Alternatively, you can now become a RUclips member, and support the channel that way: / @thelatebrakeshow
Many thanks to RedBull for granting us written permission to use some of their clips. To watch the original RedBull documentary, click this link:
www.redbull.co...
Special mention also to the Avenger Sunbeam Owners Club ( www.asoc.co.uk/ )for all their help arranging this feature.
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Filmed and edited by: Phil Vaughn Pritchard www.philvfilms...
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Jonny Smith
Creative content maker, car presenter & car pervert for hire since '98
Website: www.carpervert.com
Instagram: / jonnycarpervert
Twitter: / carpervert
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
#colinmcrae #mcraerally #4k #thelatebrakeshow
I saw this car in October at the Carlisle Stages Rally, it was sitting by the start line at Kielder Castle as a show piece. Now I pride myself as a rally buff, but know there still a lot left to learn, and I had no clue of the history behind this car. I seen it and though “aw cool, ex-works avenger”, if I had known then what I know now I’d have freaked out. The car that, you could say, started started the career of one of my hero’s
Hi Jonny thanks for featuring my dad, Ian Gemmell, on your video. A few details that my dad is too modest to tell. He actually built the track you were racing on with his digger (he also built a local golf course too!). He has given more free hours of his time than anyone I know to motorsport, whether that’s being a clerk of the course on the Galloway Hills rally, marshalling at many events across Scotland or encouraging young ones into the sport. I think he deserves recognition for that (but I’m biased!). He is loved by many people around here and on the Isle of Mull where he was the first Scot to win the Tour of Mull Rally thanks Gillian
I totally agree, I've always had a lot of time for your dad, he is a total gentleman and a forgotten talent in the sport we love, I'm so glad Jonny spent as much time talking to your dad, we had a great time out for dinner and the day filming listening to his amazing stories, jonny summed him up great in my opinion he said "Ian is a dude" 👌
No wonder he knew those curves and hills so well! 😂
What a chap! As soon as his name popped up it triggered memories of reading of his and others’ exploits rallying in Motoring News back in the 80s. Time flies!
You must be megger proud my friend
beautiful man, with one of the best scottish accents ever (im scottish so i can say this) he can still outdrive me any day of the week! what a man!
“If in doubt, flat out” - Colin McRae 1968 - 2007
i have that on the rear window of all my cars in games, Subies, Acura NSX, Koenigsegg Regera ahahaha
@@xymaryai8283 "games"?
"That'll be me, in the tree." Colin McRae
An absolute legend nuff said
@@stephen300o6 bruh
Brilliant video, fantastic car. Great to see Ian Gemmell still going strong and a stalwart of EACC and the Kaimes track that still thrives today.
A wonderful, beautifully judged, and heartfelt presented film. The car that launched the career of a local hero, back in its native land, in the hands of a sincere collector, and given one more blast by a former expert driver 👍❤️🥇🏁 #thelatebrakeshow
I was going to try and say something similar, but this nails it far more eloquently than I could manage.
A hero to many across the world
Growing up there was Colin McRae and Michael Schumacher…that’s it when it comes to motorsport (and foggy on the bikes)
Love your reggae reggae sauce Levi👍
@@robsmithracing thank you sir, available at your local supermarket 🇯🇲
Bloody brilliant episode, thank you for sharing this story. Long live the Hillman Avenger 👍
And the ultra rare Plymouth Cricket in the US!
The unfortunate situation at Rootes Group, in comparison to Ford, was the management did not understand the importance of Motor Sport to the Sales of their cars. That situation was even worse when Chrysler bought them over in 1967. Their management did not understand the UK market and in particular Small cars (to their way of thinking even the Avenger was a small car)! As for the IMP they just could not get their heads round the concept at all and refused to spend any money on its development! (in fact the quality of materials used was reduced on successive "Upgrades" as they wanted to close down its production!) Des O'Dell had a constant battle with management for funds to support any motor sport project! If it had not been for the clandestine support from the team in the "Experimental" department "lending" him parts for his cars they would not have been able to compete, that is how tight the management were with the "competition department"
All of this is so strange to me, as a Chrysler fan, considering the HEMI, the Charger Daytona, and all of the other history that Chrysler had with motorsports here in the US. Hells, it was the era that literally invented the phrase, "win on Sunday, sell on Monday"!
What a story. I was never an Escort fan, just didn't get the hype. The Avenger was a much better car in every respect, shame they all rotted into nothing. Great video Jonny. Thanks.
Well I learned something new today, I never knew this car or this cars story. Amazing video, thank you for telling it. In about 1988 as a 18 year old , i had an Avenger for a bit , I remember thinking it handled well, even when sideways , Being a Ford mechanic at the time It was never as loved as my Escorts though.
Thank god it wasn’t another bl**dy Escort! The Avenger and the Viva were superior cars as standard or group 1 & 2 cars. It was only because of all the changes allowed in group 4 that allowed Ford to develop the Escort into a winner. All my friends went out and got Mexicos, RS2000’s, Cortina GTs. I was watching the touring cars and bought a Viva GT. Within 6 months 2 of my friends had ditched their Fords for Vivas. I remember Colin in the Nova Sport days! Over the years I had a Sunbeam Ti, great fun. A 2.6 blydenstien engined Magnum. Both very enjoyable cars, much better than the Escorts.
This is all news to me, what great content, I had an Hillman avenger, I painted it red then added the Starsky and Hutch white strip, I wish I had a photo of it now, My wife went into labour with our twins and I was driving to the hospital when a police car stopped us as they saw my wife pushing her hands up to the roof in labour, they quickly understood and told me to follow them to the hospital, we had a fast police escort all the way to the maternity hospital, great memories.
We had a guy in my town (Worcester) who white striped his red Avenger. It really worked well on that car.
Great video. As a 15 yr old I was a spectator watching Colin in his Group A Nova Sport in the Scottish International Rally back in about '87. I knew he had history of driving 240Z and the Sunbeam Ti but this car was not something I was aware of. I love the history and the obvious respect you have for Ian Gemmell. Keep it up. Subscribed.
Foly Huck, Ian can still drive like a legend!
What a great story and a fantastic film. I've been involved in rallying all my life and learned something new. Been watching Colin on the stages since the beginning, in fact my dad filmed the early stuff you've shown, of Colin in the Sunbeam and has all his early stuff in the archive. What I did enjoy is the proper history of the car and Ians achievements in it. I'm sure you know of another great Avenger legend and that's Ivor Clark, or Ivor the driver. Keep up the good work, this is what youtube should be about. PS more rally cars please ;)
Likewise, I have many memories of watching and photgraphing rallies of that era. I last saw Ivor driving an Avenger in 2016 and he still has what it takes. Another driver from the same area of Cumbria was Gavin Waugh, who sadly passed away last year. I have a single photo of Gavin in the White Horse Whisky sponsored Avenger, taken somewhere, probably Ae on the 75 or 76 Scottish. in the late 70s I was marshalling on the Otterburn Ranges, probably a Mintex Rally and recall the Avenger's complete front strut, wheel and all flying through the air into the boondocks when they hit a Hinkelstein and those are very unforgiving things. When we found the strut, the slick was still smokin' Happy days.
Jonny does it again! What a cracking video! There's something extra special about a car video with a heart-warming back story. Go Ian!
Well done. Great video and excellent drone work too - so professional. It really goes to show what a quality production and planning outfit The Late Brake Show really is to organise this, the car cave, the Tesla review all together. Working bloody hard, as ever Jonny (+Chops!).
And of course - Avenger Tiger vs Smith & Sniff logo!
You noticed? 🤘🏽
Kames has changed since I rallied a Manta there in the eighties. Rallied an Avenger 1500 GT in my earlier days at Knockhill. Bullet proof cars...
I'm woundering if he is the same driver that won the Rothman British Airways Internation Satge Rally in Jamaica in 1975. A British driver driving an Avenger won it and the car was sold localy and I believe it is still on the island.
My dad sold Avengers they were great cars I worked at the garage when I was younger this Avenger is a Coventry built car with the L shaped rear lights later Avengers were built in Scotland but they were never as good as the Coventry cars. Great video Jonny many thanks. Richard.
Brazilian block?
A great great chassis that was easy and cheap to modify and could handle over twice the power of that car.
He was certainly one of the all time great rally drivers but I urge anyone wanting to idolise him, call him a hero etc, to think about the accident he caused and those he killed - RIP Johnny McRae, Ben Porcelli and Graeme Duncan.
P.S: No, I'm not that Jonny Smith.
I agree he was reckless by nature
He also would of won loads more if he listen more to his team and co driver.
indeed, a "normal" person causing a 4 person death is not idolised.
I was thinking the same. The helicopter recklessness was unforgettable and unforgivable.
Not licensed and illegal.
Brilliant, being scottish and a car nut macrae was followed in everything I could find. What a story the guy who picked the car up and drove it to Kilmarnock to get built then racing it. Then the car gets ringed to compete and propels Colin to fame and its still alive. Wow
I had an Avenger Estate, early on in my driving career and I once stole one by accident. I'd parked in a multistory and neglected to note exactly where. I unlocked and drove off in the first scruffy Blue Aenger Estate I came accross, only to realise about half way round a lap of the carpark level, that all the crap in the car wasn't my crap. The mistake was further confirmed by seeing my car. I then couldn't put the 'stolen' car back in the same place, so someone would have been very confused!
The estate of course, had a full 5 link rear end, better than the saloon.
Because all Avengers used the same key? Cool story bro.
Did you keep the new one?! With all the stuff an say goodbye to yours??
@@Djpaul-lo1px Fords in were notorious at the time that almost any ford key would get you in and starting any other.
Wonderful. I’m a huge McRae fan and this was a slice of history that was just wonderful to chew on! Thank you for the story! And a new sub!
Good to see Jimmy McRae again too.
Great video Jonny. Such an underrated car the Avenger, with a great back story. Competed at Kames in an amateur event and it's such a tight and challenging place, but so much fun. Keep making great content. 👍
Avengers are wonderful cars - and as with all the Rootes group Chrysler cars so criminally underated and overlooked due to the lost brand heritage. What a wonderful film - and it has to be noted that as well as Colin McRae - also the late great Henri Toivonen spent his formative rallying years in Avengers - culminating in his works Talbot Sunbeam Lotus drive. Any 2 door Avenger brings a nostalgic tear to my eye with memories of going with my dad as a 3 year old to pick up our brand new orange with a white vinyl top Sunseeker special edition back in 1974.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece of motorsport history Jonny. What a joy to listen to Ian talk about the Avenger and to get to see him driving it still today!
Great vid Jonny. Thanks. I saw an Avenger estate rally support car at Toleman Motorsport in Warwickshire last week, with Sunbeam Lotus underpinnings. One of only 2. Quality build by people who know what they are about.
Really cool video. We had a Hillman Avenger estate when I grew up. It was white too. When will there be more Allegro content?
Love this.
One of my mates is doing a nuts and bolts restoration of his old Opel Ascona rally car , the old cars just look great.
Hey Hammy,
Can you send me more info about this Ascona rally car?
I love hearing humble old timers talking about their profession. There is something about when they recall events or retell stories that make you sit up and pay attention.
What a true talent, and a gentleman Ian is.
Hillman Avenger😊👍
...sold briefly (1972?) in the USA as the Plymouth Cricket.
Now feeling justified in wanting a used one in the 80's.
Currently restoring one of about 15 known Crickets here in the US.
Total quality video, fascinating story, the driving of the 80 year old was joyful to see.
I liked the old footage of colin, with all the fans in Scotland - All White people.
Think of Colin McRae, and I always think of him recklessly killing 2 children.
This beauty will be in the new EA WRC game...
Excellent Jonny. Your star continues to ascend!
Great back story, and definitely worthy of a separate video.
I had forgotten that the Tiger was launched as a four door! Strange decision when you think about it.
thanks for the video
brilliant didn't know about this
There is something special about Colin. I think every 90s kid who was at least a bit into cars knows the name and has some fond memories of watching the WRC rallies or playing the game series.
Great video! Your channel is getting just better and better.
Subaru and pretzels..
Courtesy of You tube CC.
The Avenger was vastly superior to the Escorts in two particular ways! one was the suspension at the rear with its four link and coil springs and the other was it was over twice as stiff from a torsional viewpoint, in fact it was the best on the market at that time!
Comments like these make me want one even more...
the first droopsnoot took aboot 2 year to sort it aww oot!
i would love to meet this man
Had an Avenger, on a roundabout rear chassis snapped 😁 it was a pretty powerful engine, bit of a heavy lump in standard set up. Car written off by a twonk pulling out of a side road. Fun days 😀
Just awesome, raced round Kames many times. Another amazing film from LBS
Thanks for this one, Jonny. It was a pleasure seeing Ian hoon around in that Avenger
That old car looks like a lot of fun, great to see it re-united with its driver again
I noticed on the side of the car It
said 1800
That was a block from South Africa known as the Brazilian block
These blocks could be taken out to 2.0 ltrsl
They even did a version with a twin cam head by BRM I think
Now, this is the kind of video I really appreciate… an achingly beautiful and underrated simple car.
Smashed it out the park again Mr Smith! Colin was a genius as a driver, he knew how to drive and make these cars dance to his tune, I remember him winning in the Impreza i must have been 12 years and I think I wanted one ever since and be Colin MacRae. Never knew anything about this car until today but I did think at the time you done the car cave video that MacRae was going to be involved.
If in doubt Flat Out!
A great video to document some of the unknown history. Someone who was taken before his time. Slightly off topic but Chris Harris on TG got to drive one of Colin's Subaru's a couple of years ago. Well worth a watch. Especially as he got to drive it mostly as was intended by his family.
Good to see Ian piloting the car like a champ at almost 80 and Willie's back! Hey Johnny can you please test drive a GD wrx sti spec C? Chris Harris wrote a few articles about it back in the day so he may have one and doesn't know it... behind all those Peugeot 105s.
What a great interesting video really enjoyable well done keep up the good content on the channel 👍👍
That guy is great and love his collection and car cave ideas.He also likes to say absolutely atleast once a minute.
ABSOLUTELY
My neighbour has a mint original orange 1.3 DL, that has never had any paint! It is a lovely car that can’t help but make you smile when you see it. He is the 2nd owner, the first being his father in law. He takes it to loads of shows. I am sure he would gladly take you out in it. It’s located near Guildford, Surrey.
This fellow Gemmel seems a real gentleman and I mean that in the best old-school way possible. Great video, Jonny.
I rallied an Avenger in the 90's - 1974,1600 GL four door,I welded the rear doors!
Very strong ,reliable car.
My car had 120bhp on twin 40's, 4.4 CWP, with LSD and straight cut gearbox,bilstein suspension etc.Top speed was 100mph at about 7000rpm. - very low geared!
Completed 240 stage miles on tarmac and forest events.
The only thing that needed replacing were the windscreen wipers.
A great car.
I didn't become World Rally Champion ten years later!
Great fun though.
Love the story! Great video. It would be brilliant to see some Richard Burns content. An overshadowed legend!
If anyone would like a copy, I have a picture converted from slide (remember those?) of this car on the Jim Clark Memorial Rally at Charterhall in 1975.
In that event, it was #18, the driver's name isn't visible due to the sunlight, but the programme shows it as Ian Gemmell and Frew Bryden.
This is from my personal collection, no copyright involved, but if you'd like a copy and intend to use it for other or commercial purposes, an acknowledgement would suffice.
If you'd like a copy, leave a contact email here and I'll get back to you. Interestingly enough, #15 in the same event was Robin Eyre-Maunsell in a similar car, reg RHP 551M and I have some pictures of that car also.
My 1st car was a Sunbeam TI, which was basically the Avenger platform shortened. Same 1600 engine with twin Delorto's. Still miss that wee thing 30 years later.
Some cars sure do get under the skin. I had a few RS2000s way back and sure miss them.....
God I still miss my Avenger, I had a 72 4 door 1500DL yellow with black vinyl roof.
I had it for three years I was gutted when I had to scrap her, her name was Geraldine she is the only car that I truly miss, had some great cars over the years but it's the one I miss the most.
Kames go-kart track... been there a few times for with a group called sose (scottish old skool escorts) had jimmy and Alistair there for the events with few of colins cars and Alistairs escort. Fun times
Anyone else turn left @ 8.31
Did you really just say the Lotus sunbeam was the last successful rear wheel drive rally car? Lancia 037 maybe?? 🤣😂
I think I meant front engined, rwd.
@@TheLateBrakeShow was only kidding, really enjoy your stuff, you and Harry's garage are pretty much all I watch 👍
BTW - your features on the new ‘Escorts’ were great but please do a feature on the Lotus Sunbeam. In fact, how about a series on the road to rally/competition versions of the Escorts, Sunbeam, Chevette HSR and Opel Manta 400. That would be great and I bet you’d enjoy driving each.
We never got the 'Square' Headlights on 'our' "Plymouth Crickets" over here in the US. Great(and neat..)Vid-yo just the same.
And NO...I'm not selling any of my eight. Lol!
I Rallied a 1600 Avenger alpine in New Zealand in the early eighties. Loads of fun.
Very interesting indeed, Mr. Late Break 🙂 But since I am Norwegian, and do not fully understand
Scottish, this was quite the riddle.......
Yikes, apologies.
@@TheLateBrakeShow Hehe.... I will just watch it again in slow motion......maybe... Or that might get weird too. Love your content 🙂 Best regards from a car detailer in Norway.
You need to find the estate tow car that CM took the plates off.
It could be (if it still exists) your very own bit of the CM collection.
And it'd scratch your Hillman Avenger itch too.
You'll always be the 'Car pervert' 👍
Lil Santa Cruz i see you Johnny! Greetings from NY USA ✊✊
My first car was a 1978 (TNJ 786S - I think) Hillman Avenger, 1500 Super!! It was a burnt orange/drown colour with matching interior…. I had spotlights and white “Weller” wheels on it, absolutely fabulous memories…..
As I said on Instagram, Epic! … my mate had a Tiger, rolled it 🤪 my wife’s first car was an Avenger 1200 DL comfortable but oo so slow! … good for a cheeky wrestle in the back though 😁
This has to be one of the best video`s i`ve seen in ages... Such a brilliant insight in to the late great Colin McRae`s early days of rallying and the superb if sadly underrated Avenger GT rally car, who cares what its worth now? we already knew it was a better car than the Escort.. Thanks for sharing..
Great story , thankfully there is still a sprinkling of ' Rootes Group ' cars taking part in the Historic British Rally Championship, well worth seeing if you get the chance . Avengers and Horizons at full chat in a forest .......bring it on 😁
I love this channel! I genuinely believe that this is the best channel on RUclips devoted to cars, of all the very many. Carfection is great with brilliant production values but for range, depth and interest The Late Brake Show nails it. 👍
Thanks so much 👍🏻
Brilliant video and it's this type of content why I think this channel is so good. On a personal note I remember my dad having an Avenger in the late 70s to around 1981 when he bought a Sunbeam, so fond memories.
Amazing stuff, I was aware of the Avenger GT but seeing it now in your upload is pretty special, an old pal of mine from Bathgate knew Colin and told me some good stories about his early days.
Thanks again Jonny.
Lovely car. It would be great if there was a modern-day equivalent. Imagine if Toyota-Subaru took the GR86 platform and made it into a 4-seat car. Now that would be fun and practical, much like these classics.
I owned from new in 1973 a 1500GT two door in white. The build quality was shocking. However, I loved it and rallied and drag raced it. By 78 the body was very much lighter and could not be left out in the rain as it filled up. Great memories.
I know this is about Colin's Avenger GT, but I had an Avenger Tiger - UDJ455L when I was 19 and watching this video brings back so many good and happy memories, if only we could bring back those years!. If any of your viewers can shed a light on seeing or having UDJ 455L I would be so grateful for some info.
What a fantastic film. Johnny, you seem so at home making this sort of content atm and it’s great to see. Maybe this is what you always wanted to do during the fifth gear days? This shits on current fifth gear imo
Absolutely brilliant yet again!
I remember my dad taking me to a classic car show at the NEC and I saw an Avenger for the first time that and the imp became my favourites for a while.
Great to see the Avenger. You may be interested to know they developed a 16 valve 2L to challenge the Ford BDG but it only got as far as prototype as the oil crisis hit and it was scrapped, but a company called Jodal based in Northamptonshire has the original drawings of this engine and are reproducing from there own castings.
Cracking vid...always quite liked the Avenger (And the Hunter). Top film and thank for the history.
Wow I've always liked the avenger the rounded rear lights thank u 2 the owner and u Johnny Smith awesome memories 👍👍👍👍
This explains why you glossed over it, What a story though and what a car.
I see the flash up on my feed and think"Wait, that's wrong: Colin Malkin drove plenty before he drove a works Avenger!"
Nice... My first car was an Avenger Alpine, it was my mothers old club race car/road car and handled like it was on rails, it had the bigger 1800cc Brazilian block, I still miss the sound of those twin 45mm dellorto's on full song.
My father had a tiger race car and 2door ex works rally car he raced aswell.
I held onto mine for years but sadly sold it before I left New Zealand to live in Australia. Would love another one but Australia never had them
This is really cool!
Love to see the old man having a blast in that classic rally car
Such a great video. I used to race/rallly a Hillman Avenger and this pretty much sums up why I loved racing them. I have owned Avengers ever since and I still have 2 Avengers. A 1980 Chrysler Avenger Estate that I engine swapped with a 4L V8 and a 1975 Hillman Avenger 4 door sedan running my old race car twin 40's. I still race both at trackdays, as well as taking them to car shows and drag racing. I also run the New Zealand Avenger forum, they are still quite popular down here but as you said, they lived in the shadow of the Escorts.
Great video. Really interesting. I worked as a supplier to SWRT for a good few years, and have a few bits of merch and memories (mainly from later eras of Tommi and Petter), but loved it because of being a big McRae fan. I have the entire SWRT historic photo library on a DVD somewhere, which it's a real shame they haven't pushed up to a historical web site for all to see. Feel there would be a lot of Mits and SWRT fans who would be all over stuff like that. Anyway, I digress... :) Thanks Jonny.
Thanks Jonny, what a great episode and a great story. Oh, and my word that 2 door Avenger looks good 👍🏻❤️
If not for the BDA power unit, the Escort would not have been quicker than the Avenger. The BRM Brazilian was no match, and the gear box was not that strong.
Top quality content and presentation.
Cheers, here's another subscription.
Welcome aboard TLBS Luis.
it does look from the front like and classic version of opel
If you're ever in Canada you can try out my american equivelent of this car: A 1972 Plymouth Cricket. Sadly not a rally seutp, and certianly no rally heritage, but one of very very few left aha
Great video though! Happy to see somene showcasing an Avenger!
You own a Cricket? A true Mopar unicorn!
@@TheLateBrakeShow Yep! It was my first car, ended up getting rid of it so I found another after a couple years of searching and it's not going anywhere! aha One of less than 10 in canada and under around 30 in the states.
I own a 1974 Sunbeam Avenger and i must agree the gearbox is great, shifts so nice, only bit of critique is it only being a 4 speed, which after watching period reviews was critiqued even back then. Some money is needed to get it back in good order, electronics need going over.
Or sell it to me?
@@TheLateBrakeShow Find yourself in Finland and i'm sure a deal can be made :D.
Talk to me. Perhaps email the show?
Sure you trust rally drivers but still, squeaky bum time there