1970 marked the return to road racing in North America by MG.
Under the ownership of British Leyland, 3 US teams were chosen
to pioneer the new Factory Supported team model. Overseas Motors
Incorporated had tremendous success with the famed Purple People
Eaters and was the natural selection as the first team. With a
$70,000.00 partnership, Gene Fisher, (owner of OMI) set his
competition department to the task of building three racers.
BLMC 041-076 is car one of that team and believed to be the
first of the British Leyland factory cars. It is also believed
to be the only remaining OMI vehicle. Under Overseas Motors
Incorporated, this car was piloted by Wayne Rutherford and
Carlos Garza. It was campaigned in the 1970-1972 Southwest
Region SCCA series as well as participating in 3 National
Runoffs and several out-of-region races in the northern US. In
1973, the vehicle was donated to the Northwood Institute where
it was campaigned in 1973-1974 before being sold to privateer
Les Conner. Robert Hutchinson purchased the car in April of 1983
and actively raced her until 1988. It changed hands 3 additional
times before becoming part of the Hutchinson Collection in 2016
where she has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment to its
current state.
The car is being preserved as a means of honoring the men who
raced her, the engineers and mechanics who kept her going and
the thousands of memories and smiles she has brought to the
faces of fans and family alike. Current keepers of the keys are
Karen & Bryan Hutchinson, The Hutchinson Collection, Justin,
Texas. The car resides on temporary loan to the British Sports
Car Hall of Fame in Petersburg, VA.
| Engine | Built 1800cc |
|---|---|
| Cooling | Mechanical fan with open ports (parade mode) |
| Exhaust | 3 into 1 Hufaker long tube w/3.5” collector |
| Transmission | 4 speed non overdrive |
| Rear Axle | Interchangeable rear differential gears with live-locker welds |
| Front suspension | Highly modified Armstrong with stabilizing systems |
| Rear suspension | Full custom Watts-Link 5 point adjustable with highly modified Armstrong shocks |
| Brakes | Disk front/drum rear |
| Electric | Minimum, custom electric w/no charging system |
| Instruments | Combination of Smith & Jaegar |
| Body | Highly modified MGB body with integrated roll cage |
| Paint | British Leyland Glacier White and Bronze Yellow |
| Completed | April, 2017 |
| Wheels | Factory Minilite magnesium with Hoosier 14x8.5 race tires |