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DRX255C

The BMC Competition Department campaigned MGBs extensively in motorsport and we feature a vehicle that was one of the very first MGBs to be shipped to the USA before it competed in the 1964 12 hours of Sebring. After a gruelling race, the plucky MGBs finished 3rd and 4th in class that year; the red car taking 17th overall and this, number 48, in blue, taking 22nd. It was a respectable result for the model’s first outing.
The following year, the MGB registered as DRX 255C ran in the 24 hours of Le Mans for what would be Abingdon’s final campaign in the world-famous endurance race. Paddy Hopkirk drove it with Andrew Hedges under the watchful eye of team boss Peter Browningand the car featured a “droop – snoot” nose design to gain extra aerodynamic advantage on the Mulsanne straight.
The bodyshell for the car was taken from the Abingdon production line and prepared by The Competition Department. The car had aluminium front wings, doors, bonnet and boot. The outer body shell had discreetly flared wheel arches. The car was sprayed Tartan Red and a 21-gallon fuel tank was fitted. The flip up roof was taken from an A35 Van. The nose cone fitted to the two previous years MGB entries was refined and used again. (This was removed after the race and has never been seen again!)
After Le Mans, ‘DRX’ was taken to the Targa Florio and Sebring where it was the test car, it also raced at Mugello.


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