London to Mexico  World Cup Rally

WCR40

40th Anniversary

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Photo Galleries

Looks like Abingdon, prior to the WC in 1970. Can't be sure but the 2.5 PI in the corner could be XJB302H, the Paddy Hopkirk car - I say this because of the positioning of the spot light mounts on the roof.

Abingdon Competitions Department, prior to the World Cup Rally 1970. One of the XJB series cars under construction, could it be XJB302H, Paddy Hopkirk's car?

No 98 Paddy Hopkirk and XJB302H at the start

Not a lot of roof for luggage! The rear of a works Workd Cup Rally 2.5 PI is a crowded place - when running on a long Prime (special stage) there would have been another spare wheel on top, hence the bumpy boot lid. Standard fuel tank is supplemented by two Autovita bag tanks in either wing. Twin Bendix pumps sit under the twin Lucas pumps on the left inner arch, the Bendix pumps were used to transfer fuel from the bag tanks into the main tank.

WJB189H the 1969 RAC service car that became the World Cup suspension test car and poster picture. Thanks to Phill Stonley for the picture.

Brian Culcheth looking pensive at the start in Wembley

At the start in Wembley, a gurning Lord Stokes suited with the crew of Car 92 - XJB303H. From left to right Evan Green, Hamish Cardno and “Gelignite” Jack Murray. Picture courtesay of John Lindsay.

UKV701H taken by a spectator in Uruguay - taken 10th May 1970 at the starting line of the Uruguayan Prime at Tacuarembó City. Thanks to Julio for the photo and Augusto for the detail.

World Cup Rally Official Regulations - featuring works Triumph Mk1 UJB643G. Picture courtesy of Dave Hiscocks

Competitors Information Bulletin featuring Triumph Mk1 UJB642J Picture courtesay of Dave Hiscocks

A photo of an an original poster removed from the railings at Wembley featuring a Triumph but which one? The competition number 48 is also seen on a Mk1 during testing (see my Mk1 album) so wasthis just a number used for mock up publicity shots? No Triumph had No 48 on the actual rally. Picture courtesy of Dave Hiscock.

World Cup Willie

Castrol Promotional sticker featuring my mother in law

BL Team photo of the official Works cars. There were 2 more Triumphs in the hands of privateers, Car No 1 - BYE377H Bobby Buchanan-Michaelson and Car No 39 UKV701H Brian Englefield

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XJB305H Entry 88 looking clean and fresh amongst other cars, could this be at the start? Picture courtesy of Brian Englefield.

BYE377H Entry No 1 - Bobby Buchanan-Michaelson gets a speeding ticket just after the start of the rally. This was on all the newspapers of the day, worth the price of the speeding ticket for the exposure :-) The car was equiped with super loud twin claxons and flashing beacons as well as, advanced for the day, headlight washer/wipers.

Picked up from a French internet forum. A really nice model of BYE377H Entry No1. Bobby Buchanan-Michaelson, Roy Fidler, Jim Bullough. The car survives, it's in good hands and under restoration.

UKV701H Entry 39 Picture courtesy of Brian Englefield.

XJB302H Entry 98 Paddy Hopkirk

XJB302H? Can't tell for sure - loading up in Europe?

XJB302H Entry 98 Paddy Hopkirk - on a ship in South America. I think this car has a unique spot lamp arrangement with a pair on the roof but set well back over the "B" posts.

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French magazine article with XJB305H Entry 88 the Culcheth/Syer car

UKV701H Entry 39 Brian Englefield, Keith Baker and Andrew Lloyd-Hirst. This car went on to become J6749 when it was repatriated to the UK via Jersey. Picture courtesy of Brian Englefield.

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XJB303H after the World Cup Rally and now in private hands having been bought by Brian Englefield from the works. The car still survives albeit comprehensively damaged following a roll on the Coronation Rally in 1985 and awaiting restoration at Souther Triumph Services. It's apparently for sale but only if the buyer has STS restore the car it seems. Picture courtesy of Brian Englefield.

Taming the rat's nest! Wiring a World Cup Rally Car

Preparing the cars at Abingdon

UKV701H Entry 39 - I think somewhere in Serbia. Picture courtesy of Brian Englefield.

UKV701H Entry 39 on the Wordl Cup Rally 1971. Picture courtesy Brian Englefield.

XJB303H in private hands, note tow hitch also, is that Martin Jupp in the background? Picture courtesy of Brian Englefield.

XJB304H - post WC and reshelled, 1970 RAC I think. Picture courtesy of Brian Englefield.

UKV701H appears in a Dunlop SP Sport advert. Picture courtesy of Brian Englefield.

Unknown French (?) registered 2.5PI on full chat. Interesting this one, it looks to be right hand drive, has World Cup spec hinged mudflaps and side exit exhaust, also looks like works type sump guard but no roof vent and no signs of wing vents or bonnet bulge. No air intake on front scuttle either so probably not a works car. The presence of bumpers isn't reallt helpful as they seem to have been one of the things that changes a cars class in rallies - and those Foreign types like their weird rules!

XJB303H Martin Jupp and his son apply stickers at the start of what I think is the Coronation Rally - could this be the car's last event before it's last big off?

SANTIAGO, Chile, May 13 (UPI) The 43 surviving crews in the London-to-Mexico City World Cup auto rally rested today after their grueling 3,800-mile nonstop drive from Rio de Janeiro. Use the zoom feature, this is a really BIG picture! Notice the positioning (or lack) of roof lights on the Triumphs - an easy way to identify who's who when number are obscured? Picture courtesay of Peter Lowry

SANTIAGO, Chile, May 13 (UPI) The 43 surviving crews in the London-to-Mexico City World Cup auto rally rested today after their grueling 3,800-mile nonstop drive from Rio de Janeiro. Use the zoom feature, this is a really BIG picture in three parts. No Triumphs in this bit. Picture courtesay of Peter Lowry

SANTIAGO, Chile, May 13 (UPI) The 43 surviving crews in the London-to-Mexico City World Cup auto rally rested today after their grueling 3,800-mile nonstop drive from Rio de Janeiro. Use the zoom feature, this is a really BIG picture, split into three parts, no Triumphs in this bit. Picture courtesay of Peter Lowry

UKV701H now registered J6749. Look at that rear camber! Picture courtesy of Brian Englefield.

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Included here only because the rally plate from this car, the last car to finish (and the smallest engined - 1300) is not in the hands of the owner of car No1 - I found it on eBay and bought it for him as he had no eBay account in those days. Update Feb 2010 - this car survives and is up for sale by H&H Auctions.

Escort 1300 Entry 45 Doug Harris

Escort 1300 - Entry 45 Doug Harris. I've included this car as I acquired the rally plate for this car from eBay - it is to be copied for a friend's car.

Escort 1300 - Entry 45 Doug Harris

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World Cup Willie by Bill Bolton from Six Appeal

World Cup Willie by Bill Bolton from Six Appeal

XJB305H, long after the WC Rally in Team Castrol days. Note the loss of the roof vent.

UKV701H now with it's new Jersey registration, J6749. Competeing on the TAP Rally of Portugal in 1971. The sign writing being a testament to how frantic the preparation was. Picture courtesy of Brian Englefield.

UKV701H now J6749 - I originally thought this was on the TAP Rally of Portugal 1971 but I think the number is 129 and that was the number used on the 1972 Scottish so I'm pretty sure that's when it was taken. Picture courtesy of Brian Englefield.

World Cup Willie by Bill Bolton from Six Appeal

World Cup Willie by Bill Bolton from Six Appeal

Borrowed from an eBay listing, a ticket from the start of the rally - 4 shillings on the day or 3 shillings in advance. Bargain!

BYE377H Car No 1 Bobby Buchanan-Michaelson on the start ramp at Wembley

One of the few pictures I have of car No 1 BYE377H - taken from a long lost home movie apparently.

BYE377H - A rather hazy still from a film apparently taken at the start of the rally. This shows Bobby Buchanan-Michaelson getting a speeding ticket just after fixing a problem with the car. Legend has it that the adjustable metering unit was set for the wrong height.

An interesting picture this one - note the large fuel tank on the boot floor and no wing mounted bag tanks. Filler is on the rear panel and it has standard rear light clusters. All the works cars had Autovita bag tanks and twin fillers, one in each wing. They also had special rear lights, not standard like this. In white this can only really be the private entry of car No 1 BYE377H

XJB305H Brian Culcheth

XJB305H Brian Culcheth in South America

XJB305H after the World Cup Rally and now in Team Castrol colours, I'm not sure when this was taken but I think it was on the 1970 RAC - put me right please :-)

Paddy Hopkirk have a dice with the pack on the drive into the Aztec Stadium in Mexico city - by this time the results had been decided.

The surviving British Leyland cars at the final service point in Mexico at Oaxaca

XJB305H Brian Culcheth having a majjor service including what looks like having new rear springs fitted. Culcheth and Syer are in the background looking on. Any ideas where this was taken?

The procession into the Aztec Stadium at the finish, the cars are in finishing order.

This is from one of the period Castrol Rally Books I have and shows Brian Culcheth solo in XJB305H after the World Cup and now in Team Castrol colours (note roof stripe over passenger side)

XJB305H in post World Cup Team Castrol days

XJB305H after finishing the World Cup and serving as the Team Castrol car - being ragged round Silverstone or Donnington at a BL press day in the mid to late 70's (post Dolomite Sprint launch).

XJB305H - this photo appears on teh cover of Graham Robsons book “The works Triumphs” a very good read - but where was it taken?

XJB305H now in Team Castrol colours, lightened and without it's World Cup equipment and minus it's roof vent. Team Castrol did just three events in 1971 - The Welsh, The Scottish and the Cyprus - I'm going to say it's the Scottish because the car wore No 1 on the Welsh and this doesn't look like Cyprus! If it is the Scottish, that makes this May 1971.

XJB305H in post World Cup Team Castrol days - Brian Culcheth did just three rallies in this car in 1971 so this is either the Welsh, the Scottish or the Cyprus Rally. As he had a couple of accidents on the Scottish I think that's where this picture was taken judging by the damage.

XJB303H for sale in 1970 - £1650! In 1970 this was about the list price of a new standard road car - note how some “salesmanship” creeps in, the engine now has 200 bhp and not the 138 bhp of the original rally cars. It's grown “aluminium body panels” well not really true - bonnet, boot and doors were ally. Four bendix pumps? For what - it should have 2 for transfers from the bag tanks and 2 Lucas ones for the injection. Mind you, who cares, £1650 - bargain, wrap it up I'll take it now!

Pencil drawing of XJB302H autographed by Paddy Hopkirk, thanks to Mike Robinson for the copy.

XJB302H disappears into a cloud of dust

XJ303H and XJB302H in convoy

XJB303H kicking up the dust on the Wrold Cup Rally

XJB303H approaching the starting ramp at Wembley

XJB303H after it's last outing and as far as I know it's pretty much in this state now, I'd love to go see it one day and update the story.

XJB303H in 1986

XJB305H after the World Cup became the Team Castrol car

XJB305H in post World Cup Team Castrol colours showing the spotlight arrangement - pointing out to the sides so the driver can see what's in front of him when he's sideways! The pipe in the middle is not a gun but the de-ditching jack point attached to the sump guard!

XJB304H after the crash which comprehensively wrecked the car. As with all the spares and cars taken to South America the wreck was brought home, there were punative import duties to pay if anything was left in South America. The wreck and spare body shell were sold and the car rebuilt by Brian Englefield himslef a World Cup provateer in Triumph UKV701H

WRX902H on the cover of Six Appeal again, still looking good.

WRX902H has been on the cover of Six Appeal a few times, it does look good!

WRX902H on BL's High Road magazine just after winning the Scottish Rally, 1970

WRX902H on the Scottish

WRX902H in Scottish Rally spec - lightened and without fuel injection but with triple Webers

WRX902H did just one rally after it's time as the World Cup test car, this was the Scottish Rally in June 1971. It was stripped out, substantially lightened and given a triple Weber set-up in place of the PI. Culcheth won outright.

WRX902H in Six Appeal 1986

Six Appeal 1986 article on Works cars out and about long after the Works ceased to be. Andy Thompson has confirmed that this rally was covered by him as a roving 17 year old, on his push bike. These photos courtesy of that intrepid cyclist.

XJB303H looking forlorn on a trailer after what looks like a roll. I've had information that this was how Del Lines bought the car sometime in the late 70`s or early 80`s this was when Del Lines was going to rebuild it but he couldn`t straighten the shell even with his Churchill jig and all his knowledge so he took some mechanical bits of it for his Stag estate and sold on what was left - did he sell it onto Mark Swingler at that point?

XJB303H another sad view of 303 looking pretty knocked about. This was how Del Lines bought the car in the late 70s early 80s.

XJB305H looking like a model. As it's in Team Castrol colours I think this is probably the Scottich Rally 1971

XJB303H on the San Remo Prime in the South of France before losing a wheel and crashing into a tree - they managed to patch it up and get going again

Coltelloni in the Citroen takes a detour whilst the crew of XJB303H try figure out what to do about a blocked road caused by a couple of crashed trucks. Somewhere on the Serbian Prime

Here's XJB302H at the finish of the 1975 RL Brown Trophy rally, driven by Hartley Timmins. The car looks well used indeed. Picture coutesy of Rob Lees

XJB303H - post World Cup and driven here by Hilebrand Bos with Ann Bos navigating - 6º Rallye TAP, 1972. Beleived to have retired due to gearbox issues. Picture courtesy of Phill Stonley

XJB305H - Culcheth looks on as the car is serviced but why are the World Cup Rally numbers taped over? Was it in Italy where you couldn't display numbers? Picture courtesy of Phill Stonley

XJB305H very sideways, excellent!

XJB305H - borrowed from an eBay listing

XJB305H from one of the Castrol Rally manuals I have, wearing No 1 I think this was probably taken on the 1971 Scottish Rally

XJB305H - ignore the caption, it's misleading. WRX902H was the test car and 1970 Scottish Rally car, not XJB305H shown here - note the stripe over the bonnet and roof, these are Team Castrol colours

XJB305H in Team Castrol colours

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XJB305H - Team Castrol colours, No1 - probably the Scottish Rally May 1971

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XJB305H form a series in the Castrol Rally Manual

XJB305H bearing No1 so this must be Team Castrol days - looks dry and dusty, could it be the Cyprus Rally? I must find out what number the car had on the Welsh and Cyprus rallies so I can identify the pictures better! It wore No1 on the Scottish in May 1971

WRX902H the World Cup test car - this is an often used photo to show the packed boot. Twin Autovita bag tanks with separate wing filler caps and Bendix transfer pumps. Twin Lucas pumps for the PI and twin spare wheels - there was room for a third spare on top as the cars had a special bump in the alluminium boot lid. Note WRX always retained standard rear lights, the XJB cars did not.

XJB304H at the start of the 1970 RAC Rally. Brian competed in XJB304H and had XJB302H as the service car. He had bought the rolled 304, the spare works shell and 302 from Abingdon with some spares for the princely sum of £650 only a few months before, transferring the mechanicals from the wreck into the new shell. Contrary to popular befeif he did not swap the engines, he's very clear on this. Picture courtesy Brian Englefield

XJB304H on the 1970. Picture courtesy Brian Englefield

XJB304H entry number 124 on the 1970 RAC with Brian Englefield and Keith Baker. Picture courtesy Brian Englefield

XJB304H on the 1970 Picture taken after Brian's "indiscretion" with a gatepost, christening the brand new shell with a o/s/f dent. Picture courtesy Brian Englefield

XJB304H on the 1970 Picture taken after Brian's "indiscretion" with a gatepost. Picture courtesy Brian Englefield

J6749 formerly UKV701H on the Scottish Rally 1972. Picture courtesy of Brian Englefield

Car 39 crew tag. Picture courtesy of Brian Englefield.

J6749, formerly the World Cup car UKV701H. Running on the 1972 Scottish Rally with Brian Englefield and Keith Baker. Picture courtesy of Brian Englefield.

UKV701H on the World Cup Rally, looks like near Rezzo Norther Italy. Picture courtesy of Brian Englefield.

UKV701H Engine bay, at the start of the World Cup.

UKV701H final preparations at the start of the World Cup.

UKV701H first few miles from the start of the World Cup.

BYE377H gets a speeding ticket at the start. Look how scruffy that copper is! Also of interest is confirmation of the crew, Jimmy Bullough was not in the initial crew and a lot of the early paperwork had the third man as David Benson. Benson was at that time a journalist for the Daily Express who refused to give him the time off to do a Daily Mirror sponsored event!

Daily Mirror 20th April 1970 - Gelignite Jack Murray in trouble following a firecracker incident at the start.

J6749 formerly UKV701H on the Scottish Rally 1972. Picture courtesy of Brian Englefield

XJB303H on full chat on the Eppynt stages of the Coronation Rally in 1985 just moments before it's last big off. Picture coutesy Andy Thompson.

The route cards - Brian Englefield allowed me to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn't recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!

The route cards - Brian Englefield allowed me to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn't recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!

The route cards - Brian Englefield allowed me to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn't recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!

The route cards - Brian Englefield allowed me to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn't recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!

The route cards - Brian Englefield allowed me to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn't recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!

The route cards - Brian Englefield allowed me to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn't recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!

The route cards - Brian Englefield allowed me to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn't recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!

The route cards - Brian Englefield allowed me to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn't recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!

The route cards - Brian Englefield allowed me to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn't recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!

The route cards - Brian Englefield allowed me to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn't recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!

The route cards - Brian Englefield allowed me to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn't recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!

The route cards - Brian Englefield allowed me to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn't recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!

The route cards - Brian Englefield allowed me to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn't recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!

The route cards - Brian Englefield allowed me to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn't recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!

The route cards - Brian Englefield allowed me to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn't recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!

XJB303H at Billing in 1985 or 86

UKV701H in Uruguay - taken 10th May 1970 at the starting line of the Uruguayan Prime at Tacuarembó City. Thanks to Julio for the photo and Augusto for the detail.

UKV701H in Uruguay - taken 10th May 1970 at the starting line of the Uruguayan Prime at Tacuarembó City. Thanks to Julio for the photo and Augusto for the detail.