The LOST CARS OF BRITISH LEYLAND SPECIAL TUNING - From Incredible Morris Marina V8 to a 4x4 Mini!

Рет қаралды 27,515

3 ай бұрын

In this video we explore some of the most incredible and mysterious British Leyland cars ever made, from Mad Morris Marinas, Austin Allegros, 1100s 1300s and 1800s to Triumph 2000s and 2500s built as race cars for the road. This is the story of the rise and fall of the forgotten British Leyland Special tuning or Leyland ST department which started as BMC Special Tuning.
I have credited where possible these works are transformative.
ARonline is a great source of information; www.aronline.co.uk/
METRO MADNESS! - The FORGOTTEN, FUTURISTIC! Austin and Rover Metros!
• METRO MADNESS! - The F...
Follow me on Instagram for more cool stuff: / tomisdrivingcars

Пікірлер: 155

@john1703 3 ай бұрын

Two half inch SU carbs? I think not. HS2 is 1.25", HS4 is 1.5", HS6 is 1.75" and HS8 is 2.0" .

@usernamesreprise4068 3 ай бұрын

I physically laughed out loud when I heard him say that, but the young man isnt dim or misinformed it was probably just a feu pas from speed reading a script.

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

@@usernamesreprise4068 I actually cut it out by accident like an idiot 😂 I mean I do wonder if the car would even start with the incredibly small carbs.

@usernamesreprise4068 3 ай бұрын

@@tomdrives An 850 on a standard cam would actually run if it had twin one inch throat size carburators but it would rev up about as fast as an ice age glacier, and oddly enough would be pretty smooth due venturi/vortex swirling but would be hugely down on specific power output - even compared to a standard 40 bhp A series powerhouse lol, it is all well and good having massive carbs but if the inlet throats/valve size/camshaft duration and lift, restrict them then you wont get anywhere. too great a carburation size versus the inlet system as a whole causes the throat to reduce gas speed preventing correct fuel atomisation and therefore robs power at the cost of ghastly fuel economy.

@usernamesreprise4068 3 ай бұрын

@@docdelete Glad you approve, anything else you want to get off your mind Einstein ??? I WAS writing it at three in the morning after a very long day after all.

@AntonHoward-mx9sb 3 ай бұрын

You must be doing ok with your vids, you got priority over Late brake show & Tyrrells classic workshop this evening!

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

Two amazing channels I watch on the regular, quite flattering.

@integralevideo 3 ай бұрын

But not harry.

@GrandadTinkerer 3 ай бұрын

1.5 inch (inch and a half) not 'half inch' SU Carburetors. Not a criticism, just a correction. Brilliant videos. Nice to see somebody celebrating this subject.

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

yes noticed that one as well myself! It’s good that people point these things out so I welcome it :) can’t get better if nobody gives feedback so thank you!

@geoffbrassey2142 3 ай бұрын

Very interesting BL tuning but a mention should be made about Dave Vizard ? Built a few motors to his specifications.😊

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

He’s a video in himself, what a brilliant man. I’ve seen a lot of his books, basically brought tuning to the masses.

@ratty383 3 ай бұрын

Wow, that’s a really interesting vid, I’ve no idea how you find this footage /photos but having owned a 1.8 Marina in the day I had no idea this tuning stuff existed. Top job.

@BillOdyssey 3 ай бұрын

That P6 looks hench!

@jimtitt3571 2 ай бұрын

Interesting, my brother worked a few years for Downton Engineering as a manifold welder so we had more trick exhausts on our cars than you can imagine! A bit later after Downton had folded I ran the machine shop for Janspeed (who had taken over production for ST) and the rubbish we tried to work with was horrific, I well remember the new O-series engine they sent us and we gleefully ripped it apart, took one look at the cylinder head design and sent it back. The turbo Metro was one of our projects, we were already doing Rover SD1 ones at that time as well as Pinto engines in attempt to get the then current Mustang to actually move at all (another huge failure). The turbo Metro was predictably rubbish as was our (hold your breath) 660cc ultra-short stroke turbo A series engine and coolest of all (take a real deep breath) 998 Desmodronic engine. It ran, would do 10,500rpm was unbelievably noisy and somewhat unreliable. My last effort for Leyland was cutting two BOP blocks in bits, welding and Aralditing them together and machining a billet V6 crank as proof of concept for the VR6 rally car. I then left for Lola to make suspension parts for F1 and Indy cars for change of scenery.

@matt44128 3 ай бұрын

Great video…never knew they were doing all of this

@shaunw9270 3 ай бұрын

Great video. I was a car mad child in the 70's and must admit, much of this info I wasn't aware of.

@MrORLY 2 ай бұрын

My Dad has an 1800 B Series from Special Tuning in his A60 Cambridge Estate. Circa 120bhp, lumpy cam, weber carb, 4 branch manifold, lightened and balanced. We've got no idea what it was in originally, but it was sold to him as a 'normal' 1800 so he was surprised when he picked it up to see the trick bits. His Traveller is now at least as quick as his old 2.1 Pinto swapped Cambridge saloon was.

@jamespoyser106 3 ай бұрын

I love the v8 marina i also love a lot of the Aussie's Austin's they've all got big engines in them there great.Great video again Tom love um👍

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

Thanks James, hoping to cover Leyland Australia soon

@jamespoyser106 3 ай бұрын

@@tomdrives Brilliant 👍

@daveslife9486 3 ай бұрын

The videos just keep getting better. Keep them coming 😊

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

Thanks Dave :)

@peterriggall8409 3 ай бұрын

Top job Tom. Loving these videoes. 👍 As you are calling for suggestions. Maybe one on Alec Issignosis and another on Alex Moulton.

@joellamoureux7914 3 ай бұрын

A performance allegro, just what was needed. A swift eyesore

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

I love the allegro but that’s a good comment 😂

@anusername8350 3 ай бұрын

At least it gets out of your field of view quickly

@lordleonusa 3 ай бұрын

I had a tweaked Herald 1200 Cv, SAH tuned engine, tubular exhaust, 8 port head, cam, twin webers, overdrive, full synchro gearbox, LSD, Swing Spring, 107bhp, 110mph, 0-60 in 10.6 secs, fun car, later with a Shorocks Supercharger, then a Triumph 1300cc engine. Loved that car. I never broke a crankshaft, half shaft or vertical link. Now I have a similarly tuned Vitesse 2-litre Convertible, the main benefit being that most parts are stronger.

@wyleegiles2936 3 ай бұрын

My grandfather was in the BMC competition team, from the, 3000 healeys to mini Cooper's, there were lots of stories about driving some of the iconic cars on the local roads...

@NBMedia8928 3 ай бұрын

I worked for a Rover dealer in 1990/91, just as the branding was being changed from Austin Rover to just Rover. I've always had an interest in British car manufacturers. I also managed to get a closer look at the former Longbridge factory last week week, I was very surprised by what was left outside to rot, the video is on my channel

@Freebird67 3 ай бұрын

Very interesting had quite few tweaked cars Dolly sprint, triumph 2000, etc

@article21gdpr 4 күн бұрын

great vid tom good to see a decent young chap whose into classics

@tomdrives 4 күн бұрын

Thanks Darren, appreciate it

@lordleonusa 3 ай бұрын

Closing the competition dept because that Rover's gearbox was weak was a very shortsighted decision when you consider how well it did against the Porsches! They should have improved the strength of the gearbox and come back the following year! (I don’t think the gearbox casing cracking really constituted the car falling apart!)

@ColineRusselle 2 ай бұрын

Someone working at Triumph told me that they were going to get gearbox contract to improve Rover but triumph was closed...

@markjones-vx3kp 3 ай бұрын

Another cracking video Tom I’d still love that V8 marina. 😬😬

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

Thanks Mark, it’s a stunner isn’t it. They even put the sticker on the filter housing to finish it off

@alancobbin 3 ай бұрын

Another great video,Cheers Tom,I’m learning so much I never knew👍😉💪

@a11csc 3 ай бұрын

another brilliant vid Tom

@davidpeters6536 3 ай бұрын

Great video with so much packed in. Thanks.

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

Thanks David

@pauldavies9464 3 ай бұрын

My father had a stage one conversion on his 1800 with a straight through exhaust,flew along.

@gafrers 3 ай бұрын

Mini 4WD FTW. Dream Quality and interesting video as always

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

Thanks :)

@patbutete1722 3 ай бұрын

The Twini was done way back in the 1960s

@gafrers 3 ай бұрын

@@patbutete1722 This is different than the Twini. This had "only" 1 engine

@adamrudling1339 3 ай бұрын

done a bit quicker than a certain project binky ...

@gafrers 3 ай бұрын

@@adamrudling1339 You mean the dead project called Binky and the 2 thief/scammers building it

@arkhsm 2 ай бұрын

AWESOME MATE, my sleeper would be a 1972 Austin 1300 GT, with no outside mods, but all the available goodies, especially that aluminium 8 port head A Series @ 124 BHP !!

@martinda7446 3 ай бұрын

The 914 beat everything, including the 911... That P6 must have been awesome when on song.

@michaelh.9866 3 ай бұрын

Well done!

@SimonGreenway-ih8lh 3 ай бұрын

Excellent as always

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

Thanks Simon

@alantaylor353 3 ай бұрын

Nice one mate.! 👍 👍 👍

@tonyseath2278 3 ай бұрын

Fantastic Many thanks 😊

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

Thanks Tony

@Jonathan-dq8hb 3 ай бұрын

Great video ! Got me thinking , were there performance parts for the Stag ? Did any of the Italian coach builders ever produce a special bodied Stag ?

@alanwayte432 3 ай бұрын

My late Father had a number of Mini Mk 1s and your absolutely right the 100mph was the holy grail, he also had a GT6 Mk2 a MGBV8i. 1977 he purchased a new Rover SD1 V8s in green, unfortunately the power steering pump failed on the way home, and In The year he owned it he had according to his Diary 8 different courtesy cars a SD1 2600 was good, but living in Brackley Northamptonshire he drove past Eddie Knott garage and paper exchanged the Rover for a Range Rover and purchased a Gordon Keeble one of only 99 he sadly sold that for a BMW323 in 1980 which was the perfect car alongside his Range Rover ..

@gypsymusik4251 3 ай бұрын

Love your videos! BL is daily life for me in NZ, 2500tc 1275gt ect... Please do a video on the Triumph 2000/2500!

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

That’s amazing! I need hands on to do individual cars I’m afraid. I need a willing volunteer

@hgg795 2 ай бұрын

Really do enjoy your videos Tom....you should have been on top gear in the 1980s lol ....Great stuff mate I'm only 38 but I love this 👍

@alanforsyth2628 3 ай бұрын

Can you do a video on the London to Mexico World Cup Rally where the Triumph 2.5 PI won in 1970 and 1971?

@dodgydruid 2 ай бұрын

Aside from owning an Equipe, I also had two F reg dark metallic blue SD1's one a 2600 VDP the other a 3.5EFi VDP both sumptuous vehicles the 3.5 an absolute beast. Back in my younger years I had a strange black Mini "Special" which had a 1275cc engine, twin carbs, gas shocks and a full walnut dashboard with extra dials and a sling under walnut trimmed console which had a couple switches, ciggy lighter and a stereo. I stuck on a set of Lotus Mini wheels before selling it on and regretted it as sold it to a mate who rammed it under the back end of a flat bed lorry turning it into a Mini ball of shame... I always wonder what happened to RCD 91R, ex Royal protection Met Police dark green Triumph 2000 I had, man that was a lovely driver and only had to let it go as coming up to a rising junction I hit a pothole and one of the pressed metal wheel trims scythed off straight through the rear windows of a passing police Metro and poor copper nearly died of heart failure and well they threw the book at me over that one, cracking motor lovingly looked after by the Met's motor department and she had the guns, very spritely and not a wallowy beastie like most the 2000 range were known for so likely the suspension was tightened up by the old bill.

@172rally 3 ай бұрын

Patrick Hopkirk was always known to everybody throughout his life as Paddy. Again, just a correction, not a criticism.

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

Correct but I wanted to use his full name.

@Mancozeb100 3 ай бұрын

@@tomdrivesYeah, Paddy was so well known as Paddy that it sounds weird to hear him referred to Patrick! He called his own motor accessories company (in Peterborough) “Paddy Hopkirk (Motor Accessories) Ltd “ and signed all of his own press releases and statements as Paddy Hopkirk. He was friends of some of my extended family, both here in Ireland and in the UK and he always introduced himself as Paddy ( in the unlikely event that someone didn’t know him 😂!!)

@DarrenJones042 3 ай бұрын

So.... where does the MG Metro 6R4 factor into this?

@user-gu5us6yb1n 2 ай бұрын

Working for British Steel in the 70's as an engineering apprentice, the same management malaise with workforce growing indifference was a problem. I eventually left as I couldn't take it any more

@mjg6966 3 ай бұрын

Very interesting 👍👍🇬🇧

@tomdrives 2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@BulletmanDoom 3 ай бұрын

We had an Austin 1800 with the twin carb and dual exhaust. It was a great car and I would have another one in an instant.

@martinandersson1049 3 ай бұрын

Never heard of the v8 Marina, would love to learn more about that project! The story of the AWD mini is just epic. I remember the MiniWorld article about it several years ago. Column gearchange and all in 2 weeks!

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

Incredible isn’t it

@andrewbradbury4433 3 ай бұрын

There will be a Marina V8 rally car at the UDT World Cup Rally 50th anniversary at the British Motor Museum on April 21st

@colinhead284 2 ай бұрын

Wayne Carini (chasing classic cars ) even ended up with one of the buses in the U.S.

@htimsid 3 ай бұрын

Downton modified many BMC and BL cars and some of them were really special. For example OMW777G, their ADO61.

@ChrisHipkiss 3 ай бұрын

Brilliant. I owned WOK108J which had been a demo car for plus parts. Still have the bill of sale from Newbury Motors (Halesowen) Birmingham. You can see it on the ramp at Abingdon through the open doors in the advert which shows the Maxi with the stripes on it. It also featured in a publicity film to sell parts, the script was cheesey as follows. Large engineering firm has sports club which puts on rally events. These are constantly won by smooth guy in a Ford. Nondescript accounts bloke fancies pretty girl who is attracted to smoothie coz he wins! Account guy ownes Marina Coupe (mine) bolts on ST bits, wins rally, gets girl! The end.

@andytolland3877 2 ай бұрын

Hi Tom any more info on the 16v Metro at the end of the video? I have fond memories of it being driven by Jackie Harris in rallycross in the 80's such a Giant killer!

@sneekeruk 3 ай бұрын

Looking at the metro plus shown, I couldnt imagine using it as a road car if its got a straight cut box and drop gears. Straight cut drops alone are louder then the engine on a motorway, coupled with a staright cut box, you would need ear defenders to not have a headache after going near a motorway with it.

@glen1555 Ай бұрын

Paddy, never heard him called Patrick until you did

@simonsutton5499 3 ай бұрын

The (Downton engineered engine) 1800S had a soundtrack and a half, fwd transmission whine + MGB exhaust note - like the Italian Job minys on steroids

@mossi408 3 ай бұрын

I used to work in Longbridge until the end... 😞

@jamiewallace7685 3 ай бұрын

@5m12s- That P6, is the coolest fucking car I have *ever* seen.... :O

@DrivermanO 3 ай бұрын

I am a little intrigued why there are 2 clips of what appears to be a Scorpion light tank crossing a river!

@robingray1302 3 ай бұрын

Interesting stuff BUT the 4WD Rallycross Clubman had nothing to do with the Ant which had a hideously complicated system which was extremely heavy and incurred huge mechanical losses (I discovered this many years ago when answering an ad from a guy who was invloved with the development and selling parts of an Ant), having examined the underside of the actual Mini in the metal the conversion is actually quite simple, the only tricky bit was a transfer case on the side of the front diff, a propshaft ran to the conventional rear diff mounted within the remains of the rar subframe, radius arms had bits of front hub welded on with simple hardy spicer shafts.

@vickielawless Ай бұрын

The 4wd rallycross Clubman used the mechanical parts from an experimental 4wd Moke that was being used to tow cars off the production line..

@michaeledwards427 3 ай бұрын

As always with your videos interesting to watch as i never feel tempted to turn off. One of those service and display trucks was in America on the tv show Chasing classic cars. I remember watching Wayne Carini buying it, then he got it up and running. He kept it for a couple of years then sold it. Wonder where it is now? Id never heard of these before i saw it on his tv show.

@adamweston4152 3 ай бұрын

Well done, you beat me to it, I saw that episode with Wayne and the bus.

@michaeledwards427 3 ай бұрын

@@adamweston4152 if I remember rightly the vehicle was based on the TS3 2 stroke Commer engine and chassis. I don't know how much these vehicles are worth but it's strange to think that the Ecurie Ecosse race car transporter was based on the same chassis. As it had a fantastic provenance the Ecurie Ecosse truck went for £1.8 million on it's own when one mans Ecurie Ecosse collection was sold off. Its remarkable what a bit of stardust can do.

@mikeroz6549 3 ай бұрын

Excellent video, but no mention of the Dolomite Sprint. 😢😢

@gordonsimpson3235 3 ай бұрын

I have had a number of Dolomite Sprints over the years, including one which we rallied. I seem to remember it was a stage 2 conversion, I think....may have been stage 3. When the Allegro launched, we prepped a 1300 Stage one as a demo car ....it went really well, Black with gold stripes, Ochre interior spotlights and alloy wheels. 1973 that would have been..

@C119G 3 ай бұрын

@@gordonsimpson3235 And there you have it,you rally prepped one,S.T didn't put enough into it,they left the way clear for the "Big Rumbly" TR7 V.8's to take on the might of the Escort BDA's.

@alexandermathar7780 16 күн бұрын

A crying pity they didn't pursue the 4x4 mini and it stayed a one off! Would have been the Yaris GR of the 70's!

@mrcogginsgarage7062 3 ай бұрын

Tom you seem to have lost the image of the lip spoiler on the boot of the coupe as well as the roof aero.

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

I did… :( not much I can do now I’m afraid it’s been a nightmare putting this one together but worth it.

@MrSharpe95 2 ай бұрын

Would love to build a V8 Marina coupe.

@nikjames2965 2 ай бұрын

I believe a v8 Marina was very successful in South African rallies

@freemanjackmsiradio 2 ай бұрын

The concept of a V8 morris marina is only an appealing idea to someone who doesn't know that the marina was essentially a rebodied morris minor, sharing most of the 1950's suspension parts including the acme threaded upper trunion 'bearings', hanging a V8 off the front of those would be suicidal!

@nikjames2965 2 ай бұрын

The Rover v8 was lighter than the 1800 B series

@JohnSmith-pl2bk 3 ай бұрын

The tail light "wings" on the rear of the early tuning bus look suspiciously like the rear tail lights on a Mk2 Zephyr....

@kevinmanns7170 3 ай бұрын

They look more like Farina Austin Cambridge rear lights to me, but I know what you mean.

@jamesadair8124 3 ай бұрын

What about the big Healeys and the TRs

@tjxkeith 2 ай бұрын

Triumph is a mark in its own, not a mixture of lesser makes that were put under British Leyland mark.

@tonypacke6954 3 ай бұрын

Why did your previous video of the same name end up being unavailable?

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

I made a community post, there was an error with the video.

@waitakereman 3 ай бұрын

There's a utube thing on the bus 😮

@Mini13Mini 3 ай бұрын

More info please… or do you mean this?

@colinreadwin2387 3 ай бұрын

We are campaigning an ex ST Allegro in classic rallying

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

You’ve got the car now?

@colinreadwin2387 3 ай бұрын

@@tomdrives Yes, ran it last year and completed the RAC Rally of the Tests, and this year have competed in the HERO PIAA where we came 23rd and 2nd in class

@colinreadwin2387 3 ай бұрын

@@tomdrives yes can supply photos from last years and this years events if you want

@AldershotDave 3 ай бұрын

What benefit does extra head studs on a Mini give?

@JohnSmith-pl2bk 3 ай бұрын

Keeps the compression in....? Seriously, the better the placement and more head studs the less likely the head is to twist and the head gasket to let go when under competition conditions of all-out driving...

@nikjames2965 2 ай бұрын

@@JohnSmith-pl2bk The extra head "studs" were actually bolts. They were pretty superficial requiring only a very low torque setting. The MG1300 had these - the head part number was 12G1805

@timothyburrows8385 3 ай бұрын

Leyland p76

@KarlHamilton 3 ай бұрын

Is this a reupload or am i losing my mind? Lol

@Low760 3 ай бұрын

Yes. He had an error and dropped it after 20mins

@DavidNichols-lx8us 3 ай бұрын

A V8 in a Marina in standard form would be nothing short of dangerous. Morris minor front suspension from the 50's Horrible brakes and unpleasant gearbox but the engines were good.

@davidbarnsley8486 3 ай бұрын

How come no pianos fell on them marinas 😂😂

@oligoon 3 ай бұрын

how sad that with the typical British poor management of the period in failing to understand and adapt their business the tuning dept was shut in it prime.

@BobAbc0815 3 ай бұрын

Sub.. what was it again? Merged? Verted? Mited? Whatever.

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

I don’t know what you’re talking about? Can you elaborate?

@AldershotDave 3 ай бұрын

"Janspeed" is pronounced with a "hard" "J".

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

Completely wrong.

@deetesmin 3 ай бұрын

½" SU's?

@johngibson3837 3 ай бұрын

Eco carburettor

@integralevideo 3 ай бұрын

I've never heard if the Anal carbs before.

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

Amal 😂

@philhealey4443 3 ай бұрын

@tomdrives Yes, my 1935 and 1947 Dennis lawnmowers sport Amal carburettors and they are very reliable.

@johngibson3837 3 ай бұрын

Were quite common on motorcycles

@Flysarse 3 ай бұрын

Blame Lord Stokes

@nikjames2965 2 ай бұрын

He had a truck mentality - didn't understand sports cars

@schanche1965 3 ай бұрын

Half inch SUs really??

@adamweston4152 3 ай бұрын

That's what I thought 😂.

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

I missed the 1 out 😂

@jeffvaljean6030 3 ай бұрын

They can stay lost they was rubbish but i did like the marina

@patbutete1722 3 ай бұрын

BMC=>British Leyland .An exercise in rebranding fail surely!

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

I thought that as well but the British comes from BMC and the Leyland from Leyland.

@nikjames2965 2 ай бұрын

Young man, I think you know nothing. What was this 1/2" carburettor?

@tomdrives 2 ай бұрын

Nik. Read the pinned comment. Reading is a life skill.

@busterruff9369 3 ай бұрын

Shocking cars ,just rust buckets and poor build quality,

@tomdrives 3 ай бұрын

The same as all other cars back then?

@helenlloyd6564 3 ай бұрын

Somethings haven't changed, still rust boxes. Although car design is so boring, with lots of SUV's looking identical to the next. B.M.W. series 6 similar to the Mercedes-Benz similar to the Citroën similar to Tesla. Not many cars are distinctive. I drive a Bentley T1 and a Jaguar XJ8. I can afford a new box on wheels but I don't like boring.

@philhealey4443 3 ай бұрын

@@tomdrivesSpooky for me was reading a biography of Issigonis and seeing a photo there of a 1950s prototype car looking 99% like the second generation BMW Mini.