Opel Monza Rally Car - Request for help...... [Archive]

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bstardchild

24th August 2007, 12:03

Hi All
This is a bit of a long story but I'll keep it brief Several people have been involved in this project so far so this is just a summary of all the efforts combined
Barn Find - Fire damaged barn - slightly toasted car
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/rodblack/PICT0340.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/rodblack/PICT0336.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/rodblack/PICT0337.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/rodblack/PICT0338.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/rodblack/PICT0339.jpg
It looks a right state doesn't it?
Thing is it's a seam welded shell, it's got a full rally spec roll cage in it, Manta 400 diff', foam filled petrol tank, Getrag (albeit slightly damaged!) box, that Swindon engine and various other goodies with the car and there's another alloy cage and a cylinder head that Bill Blydenstein built with his own hands.

bstardchild

24th August 2007, 12:04

So the detective work started - the paintwork looked familar.....
I'd found these images on the internet years ago
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n19/Bstardchild/unbenannt2.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n19/Bstardchild/unbenannt.jpg
looks like the same car and it would have been daft to pass up the chance to buy it so
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/rodblack/Monzas/PICT0390.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/rodblack/Monzas/PICT0391.jpg
Bit more detective work
Found out that It transpires that the car under the tarp' on the trailer in front of my house is, in fact, Ausin McHale's old rally car!!!! Not only that, the engine currently in it came from Tony Lanfranchi's track car!!! 8)
It seems that way back when, having bought McHales car off him a chap called Ken Lark had both of the cars in his posession. for reasons that weren't entirely clear during the brief phone call, he broke Lanfranchi's car and put the repaired engine in the ex-McHale car. The rest of Lanfranchi's car was sold.
Lark told me that although it was blisteringly fast in a straight line, due to it being so heavy and originally being set up for rallying, it was terrible for understeer and he never quite got to grips with setting the thing up properly.
Anyway, he then sold it to someone else who started to dismantle and sell the parts on, (hence the reason it doesn't have any brakes!!), which I assume is where the guy I bought the car from comes in.
So the plan is to "restore" as best as I can to original Austin McHale livery and thats where this post comes to a conclusion/point

bstardchild

24th August 2007, 12:05

These are the only pictures I have of Austin McHales car when co-driven by Christy Farrell in the 1987 Circuit of Ireland Rally - the quality is very poor as they have been extracted from low quality video footage
In Action.....
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m2/Senator36E/GSi99GZJ.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m2/Senator36E/AMa.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m2/Senator36E/AMu.jpg
And after Day one of the Rally....
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m2/Senator36E/GSIk.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m2/Senator36E/GSIj.jpg

bstardchild

24th August 2007, 12:06

Hmmm.... Near the end of Day three! :
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m2/Senator36E/AMb.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m2/Senator36E/Ouch2.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m2/Senator36E/Ouch1.jpg
Thats where I'd like some help if possible - finding some more pictures of the car so I can get as much detail right as possible
Any help gratefully recieved

bstardchild

24th August 2007, 12:08

Apologies in advance for

- Splitting the thread into 4 due to image restrictions on this forum
- Posting in the wrong section (if I have)
- Looking for information on a forum that I don't contribute to in other ways

Anything else that may offend or cause problems that I don't know about

LotusElise

24th August 2007, 12:29

There is an owners' club for Monzas and other high-powered Vauxhall/Opels of the era called Autobahn Stormers. I think they have a website.
Someone there might be able to help.

bstardchild

24th August 2007, 12:40

There is an owners' club for Monzas and other high-powered Vauxhall/Opels of the era called Autobahn Stormers. I think they have a website.
Someone there might be able to help.

Thanks for that - it's a good point and in order to keep this thread short I didn't mention I have been a member of the ABS for 16 years

www.autobahnstormers.co.uk (http://www.autobahnstormers.co.uk)

A lot of guys on there have been a great help too on aspects of the detective work but there is not a huge knowledge of rallying on there so I thought I'd cast my net wider ;)

bstardchild

24th August 2007, 12:48

I guess the big problems are time.....

Opel Monza's were used in rallying for a short time in the early to mid 80's

Digital cameras weren't used/invented back then

I've got an article from Car & Car Conversions on Austin Mchale on the Circuit of Ireland Rally but thats it

Opel Dealer team were quite thrifty and it is likely that the cars were recirculated amongst the motorsports activities

Gerry Marshall drove an Opel Monza in circuit racing but I thing that one got comprehensivcely destroyed at Snetterton

John Cleland and Tony Lafranchi both also campaigned Opel Monzas in the touring car series - this car is definately not TL's car as at one stage a previous owner of this car owned that one as well

Gavin Cox campaigned Opel Monza over several years in the Lombard Rally of GB not sure where that one came from or even where it went

So I guess I am just hoping that someone who has been a long standing keen rally fan will have maybe some pictures, old programmes or maybe even magazine articles that can help me to get the detail right

It a big ask I know but if I don't ask I get nothing - I really want to do this right first time

bstardchild

24th August 2007, 12:56

I suppose I'd better also clarify that scans of pictures, programe info, magazine articles or anything would be fine I'm not requiring the originals but the more information I can gather the better

Once again sorry for a historical thread in current forum

LotusElise

24th August 2007, 15:18

Daniel

24th August 2007, 15:53

Can't help but wish you the best of luck :) Always good to see people trying to preserve a bit of rally history :)

FAL

24th August 2007, 16:55

Losing the rear screen (and, more to the point, failing to make any serious attempt to get a replacement during that event) was considered a bit of over the top gamesmanship at the time, that was widely criticised.
Wasn't Sydney Meek involved in running it? The Monza was one of many dead ends pursued by many people in an attempt to find a suitable GroupA car when the FIA overreacted by banning Group B over 2000cc, when all it should have been doing was address a very small number of "supercars" within the category.
The Lanfranchi race car was a "Prodsaloon"? - sponsored by Monorep, the Southall GM dealer (and prepared there?).

bstardchild

24th August 2007, 17:18

Your best bet is to find a mechanic or engineer who worked on the original project. Do you know who ran McHale's team at the time and have you contacted them? In the very least, they might have some good-quality pictures and it's likely someone still has the technical docs.

I've been doing at lot of googling and the closest I found to anyone that may have something to do with these cars is a fella who still runs a rally prep company - I've emailed him but no reply yet

It was prepared 20 plus years ago so finding stuff out is really hard

bstardchild

24th August 2007, 17:25

Losing the rear screen (and, more to the point, failing to make any serious attempt to get a replacement during that event) was considered a bit of over the top gamesmanship at the time, that was widely criticised.

I did wonder - can't have been nice driving without a screen with all the exhaust fumes being dragged back into the car - I thought it had a plexiglass one but maybe that was another car

Wasn't Sydney Meek involved in running it?

Never hear of him - I'll see what I can dig up and that as a lead but google didn't bring anything up

The Monza was one of many dead ends pursued by many people in an attempt to find a suitable GroupA car when the FIA overreacted by banning Group B over 2000cc, when all it should have been doing was address a very small number of "supercars" within the category.

I did wonder about the history of it all - I am surprised a Monza was even considered as my track day car is 1400 kgs fully fuelled up and without a driver

The Lanfranchi race car was a "Prodsaloon"? - sponsored by Monorep, the Southall GM dealer (and prepared there?).

I don't know I have found some info on it but it was a dead end as the car I have wasn't his although it did alledgedly have it's engine in at one stage but that doesn't make sense as the prodsaloon regs wouldn't have allowed for many modifications

But I know sooner or later I will find enough info out to really put the pieces together

bstardchild

24th August 2007, 17:27

Can't help but wish you the best of luck :) Always good to see people trying to preserve a bit of rally history :)

Thanks for the support anyway it is appreciated

cut the b.s.

24th August 2007, 17:41

Interesting find, good luck with it

Sydney Meeke, father of Kris and preparation expert who did a lot of work with GM in the mid 80's

bstardchild

24th August 2007, 17:41

The only place I can find where the Opel Dealer Team is mentioned is here

http://www.btrprep.com/history.htm (http://www.btrprep.com/history.htm)

"BTR Preparations was formed in 1982 by owner Tim Ashton
to offer design, build and maintenance services for both rally cars and production vehicle based race cars. Prior to starting the company, Tim Ashton had worked with the UK Dealer Opel Team for many years. "

I've sent him an email - it hasn't bounced - but no reply yet

bstardchild

24th August 2007, 17:44

Interesting find, good luck with it

Sydney Meeke, father of Kris and preparation expert who did a lot of work with GM in the mid 80's

Bingo - better spelling and moving on at a pace again - I'll see where that takes me :D

bstardchild

24th August 2007, 20:45

Bingo - better spelling and moving on at a pace again - I'll see where that takes me :D

OK Exhausted that search learnt a lot about Bertie Fisher and Sydney Meeke but it appears he wasn't involved in the Dealer Opel Team that supplied/loaned the car to Austin McHale

bt52b

25th August 2007, 18:51

The are some pic's on Rally Retro (http://www.rallyretro.com/detailedview.asp?PicID=4804&Event=Circuit%20of%20Ireland%20International%20Ral ly&Year=1987)

Wasted Talent

25th August 2007, 20:29

Gavin Cox is the workshop manager at BTR:

http://www.btrprep.com/

WT

bstardchild

25th August 2007, 23:36

Gavin Cox is the workshop manager at BTR:

http://www.btrprep.com/

WT

Wow - he campaigned a Monza on the rally of GB for several years - I've got some pictures of his car after it floundered in a ford one year.......

I've aready emailed Tim Ashton without reply because he had a lot to do with the Dealer Opel Team and I had hoped he would have some knowledge of the car.

Thanks for that info - might try the telephone approach next

bstardchild

25th August 2007, 23:40

Can I also say thank you to all those forum members who have PM'd me with information - I will reply individually where I can......

I know Opel Monzas were never competative and aren't a well known car but my road going original one has done autotesting, standing quarter miles, trackday work and sprint work and the harder you drive it the better it likes it

bortaf

27th August 2007, 22:37

bstardchild

27th August 2007, 23:27

Good luck with the search mate :D
I know how hard it can be to try and trace an unusuall rally car but you're in the right place, they guys on here helped me loads in tracing info on an obscure 80's rally car :s mokin:

Once I have all the pieces in place I'll update everyone - very gratefull for the info so far

BDunnell

28th August 2007, 23:27

Out of interest, here's a quick vignette from Steve Rider's narration of the 1987 Circuit of Ireland on the BBC:

"McHale, up to fifth for Ireland, minus the tailgate on the Monza. The mechanics apparently removed it after the tailgate worked loose — the scrutineers noted the weight loss with interest."

As others have said, good luck with the project. The idea of rallying that car always fascinated me after seeing it on the Circuit!

LotusElise

29th August 2007, 11:57

"McHale, up to fifth for Ireland, minus the tailgate on the Monza. The mechanics apparently removed it after the tailgate worked loose — the scrutineers noted the weight loss with interest."

That's funny.

Someone I used to work with had a dark red Monza. It looked like a great car and it sounded nice.

bstardchild, are you going to any of the classic motorsport shows this or next season? There's a good one at Stoneleigh in Feb (I think) which has a big autojumble section.

bstardchild

29th August 2007, 14:37

That's funny.

Someone I used to work with had a dark red Monza. It looked like a great car and it sounded nice.

LOL - this is my current trackday, sprint event, drag racing, autotesting and general do anything I can with it I will do with it Monza :D

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n19/Bstardchild/Retro%20Rides%20Show%202007/100_1535.jpg

Photo taken at mallory park couple of weekends ago

In car footage if anyone is intersted

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_PmZcv7A20

PS need a better gearbox for that sort of thing - synchros are going in 3rd and 4th and the ratios are miles out for sprint work!!

bstardchild, are you going to any of the classic motorsport shows this or next season? There's a good one at Stoneleigh in Feb (I think) which has a big autojumble section.

NEC in November but thats never very good as far as parts go :D

Pieter

29th August 2007, 21:36

Hi there,

There are still some rallymonza's in Belgium...not really impressive but that might be a drivers thing.

These cars are not ex-factory or so but still big 3.O machines. they sound great...

the guy who build them is Mr.Goudezeune. He has several nice opel machines and also some very rare TransEurope's.
His company is called godrive and this is the link www.godrive.be (http://www.godrive.be).
The engines are done by www.lahoutermotorsport.be/ (http://www.lahoutermotorsport.be/)

Cheers ( hopefully it helped )

bstardchild

29th August 2007, 23:13

Pieter

30th August 2007, 11:32

Did you see the ones on the lower part of this page ?
http://www.lahoutermotorsport.be/paginaen.php?pagina_id=15

bstardchild

30th August 2007, 18:46

Did you see the ones on the lower part of this page ?
http://www.lahoutermotorsport.be/paginaen.php?pagina_id=15

Nope - couldn't find that page by navigating round the site - have now tho

- Right click save as :cool:

bstardchild

11th September 2007, 21:05

Right now I've talked to Mick Eiffe 8)

Car registered new in Ireland so 99 GZJ was it's first registration in Ireland or anywhere for that matter and it was not previousy used anywhere else in the UK - Opel Ireland Company Director Car (company perk I guess)
Purchased at 6 mths old by Frank O'Rourke who ran an Opel Franchise so may have got a good deal on price v sponsorship as he ran it in what was at the time Opel Dealer Team colours

Frank O Rourke converted it from normal road spec for use in hill climbs, sprints and possibly some small circuit races or tarmac rallies (detail is a bit sketchy but I need a medium to talk to Frank O'Rourke so further exact details might be hard to come by!!)

Frank O'Rouke used it from very Early 80's till sometime pre 1986 when he had some acident damage

Chassis leg bent - straightened by Micky Eiffe
Front Wing and inner wing
Lower front panel

All the parts to repair were supplied with the car by Frank O'Rourke - unknown if parts were new or used but assumed to be new or new ish

Important point - Slam Panel never changed

Austin McHale purchased either late 86 or early 87

Fresh Engine built by Swindon (this was a surprise but that's what was said)
Cyl Head was by Emin?? need to find some info on them
Biggest AFM they could find (maybe 735 BMW?)
Dyno'd at 245 bhp
Doesn't know anything about the ECU set up
- either supplied with engine
or
- what was already in the car
or
- fitted since

Manta 400 CW & Pinion in Monza Diff casing ZF LSD

Manta 400 Gearbox so need to have custom AP clutch because the splines are different to Monza box and that was sourced and fitted by Micky Eiffe
Had std tank so all the work to fit the alloy tank. fuel lines and boot floor carried out by Mick Eiffe - very distinctive floor pan etc - I described it and he said thats exactly how I made it

Competed in Circuit of Ireland Rally and Manx

Car Spec

- No Perpex windows all glass (perspex not permitted)
- Alloy tank
- Colins Seats (only fitted with one seat when F O'R sold it so two new ones purchased)
- Sabelt Harneses
- Interior believed to be black painted
- Electric windows retained (not 100% sure but 90%)
- Sunroof and cartridge removed and steel skin welded in - (B1tch of a job says ME who farmed it out to be done and the chap who did it cursed like hell)
- Twin Circuit Fire extinguisher - internal controls on an alloy plate in centre console - external controls on scuttle pannel in front of screen
- Modified rear shock mounts 10mm plate 1 inch lower down so they could use Manta 400 dampers and uprated rear springs
- Front legs converted to use 2 1/4 springs with Bilstein adjustable dampers
- Group 4 Escort brakes (bells and rotors) bells made by ME
- Custom hand made pedal box by Mickey Eiffe
- Twin Handbrakes
1 Hydraulic with button pressed in to lock and 1 cable conventional parking brake

First event 2nd stage (he thinks) - front turrets got pushed together after a jump - 1 inch box section strut brace welded in situe after hydraulic ram used to push turrets back out again (he reckoned the front end was a bit delicate)

Shortly after Slight rear offside damage (broke rear quarterlight and damaged rear wing - maybe taillight not sure) Tailgate "broke" at time too or later in service trying to repair wing - OK maybe it didn't but the weight loss was a handy bonus

Damage professionaly repaired after the event according to Micky Eiffe

He's going to think if there is anything else relevant over the next week and I've agreed to call him back and check to see if anything else comes back to him

So some progress then