83 replies to this topic

[tyrrellp346wheels]

Having just reas the Duckhams sponsered racing machines thread with interest, I wondered if anyone new about racing cars that where sponsered by unipart, a livery and logo witch I have always loved.

The only two I know of are the March F3 cars and the 1980 Ensign.

Anymore ?

Edited by tyrrellp346wheels, 18 November 2010 - 16:20.

[RTH]

At that time Unipart was the component division of the British Leyland empire. Long before the Rover Collapse Unipart was sold off and today remains an independant parts and garage equipment supplier

http://www.unipartlo...s/ualandingpage

[Derwent Motorsport]

They sponsored some the rally cars in the Leyland times. Dolmite and TR7/8 come to mind.

[bigears]

I recall them sponsoring the Jaguar XJ220(?) cars at the 1993 Le Mans 24 Heures race.

[alansart]

I recall them sponsoring the Jaguar XJ220(?) cars at the 1993 Le Mans 24 Heures race.

Metros and Rovers in the BTCC.

John McCormacks F5000 and Jag XJS in Australia

Edited by alansart, 18 November 2010 - 17:23.

[Speedy27]

They also sponsored the John McCormack McLaren M23 F5000 in the mid-to-late 70's in Australia.

This was the ex- Dave Charlton Lucky Strike car used in the South African F1 series in 1974 & 75. The series changed to Formula Atlantic in 1976 at which time the car came to Australia.

[Speedy27]

Metros and Rovers in the BTCC.

John McCormacks F5000 in Australia

You just beat me to it, Alan!

[Alan Cox]

The Australian connection
http://www.motorspor...alia-1978-1981/
Here is the Jaguar XJ220
http://www.racingspo...3-06-20-051.jpg
The TR7/TR8
http://www.tr7-tr8.c...ils.php?album=9
The Dolomite Sprint
http://forum.triumph...p...f=7&t=14075
I seem to recall that they sponsored a Dolomite Sprint for Brian Culcheth on one of the Tours of Britain.
Rover
http://www.philstott...oversd1v8s.html

Edited by Alan Cox, 18 November 2010 - 17:33.

[alansart]

Tony Pond in the Rover on a very short (for him) RAC Rally in 1984.

The number plate on the car sums it up really

[tyrrellp346wheels]

Great links alansart/Alan Cox, love the F5000 pics

Thanks for reminding me of the Jaguar in 1993 bigears.

Also remembered Alan Jones in the 1980 Australian GP

[Auroraf1]

Lest we forget the Ensign N180!

A BL affiliated company sponsoring a Ford Cosworth powered car made a bit of a stir in the press I remember.

[Les Dalton]

I was lucky enough to get support from Unipart between 1979 and 1981 whilst driving for the Army International rally team.
They provided me with a Unipart overdrive for my Alan Allard Turbocharged Land Rover and the combination of the overdrive and the Turbo were absolutely awsome, my Land Rover could pull 90mph in overdrive 3rd and I just had to drop into normal thitd for the tighter corners and up again, wow, that really was an Andrenalin fix.
They also helped me financially with some help towards entry fees etc.
I am attaching a couple of items pertaining to the Unipart support for everyone's perusal.
Regards,
Les Dalton.

[arttidesco]

Unipart also threw Tiffany O'Bell and a few shekels in the general direction of Ian Bracey's fabulous IBEC P6 for the 6 hours at Silverstone in 1980, I wonder, if the IBEC had not disgraced itself in an almost Connew like manner with a DNS, if that relationship might not have had the potential to go much further ?

[tyrrellp346wheels]

Great pic arttidesco, haven't seen it before seems they were quite busy (unipart) in 1980 with F1 also.

Also Les

Edited by tyrrellp346wheels, 18 November 2010 - 19:46.

[arttidesco]

Not the best photo but when Ron Dennis arrived at McLaren in 1981 he had Unipart sponsorship too, presumably taken over from Ensign ?

Edited by arttidesco, 15 April 2013 - 19:18.

[giffo]

Here's one. Picked it up from a mate.

Unipart March 77B _1978 Selangor GP BatuTiga Malaysia.

[Pullman99]

There was also John Bowtell's Rover powered F5000 McLaren M10A that was supported by Unipart from 1973. From Allen Brown's ORC site I see that this is chassis M10A 300-16. Would this have been the first rcaing car sponsorship from Unipart?

This was, I believe, a very local arrangement as I think he worked for BL at Cowley at the time and the car (was it pale blue?) basically had stickers on rather than an overall livery. I was based at the Coventry end of the BL empire at the time and saw the car in a number of races as well as it appearing at a Silverstone promotion in 1973 where I organised a display of historic cars representing the BL marques. There was also a Clubman's spec U2 in Unipart livery at the time that was raced by one of the Unipart sales managers and I remember driving that briefly too. All well before the F3 cars. If I can find some pics I'll post them but some of our F5000 experts will know more I'm sure.

Edited by Pullman99, 19 November 2010 - 09:40.

[MCS]

Surprised nobody has mentioned the Dolomite-engined Formula Three cars in the mid to late seventies.

Tony Dron had the first in 1976 (March 763) followed by the 773s of Ian Taylor and Tiff Needell through to the 783s/793s of Nigel Mansell, Brett Riley and possibly others.

Edited by MCS, 19 November 2010 - 09:36.

[giffo]

773s of Ian Taylor and Tiff Needell

I was once told of a story relating to an unnamed driver changing the name on the cockpit on one of Tiff Needell's cars to Stiff Noodell. Can anyone elaborate on that one?

Edited by giffo, 19 November 2010 - 09:43.

[Alan Cox]

Surprised nobody has mentioned the Dolomite-engined Formula Three cars in the mid to late seventies.

I think they have, Mark

The only two I know of are the March F3 cars and the 1980 Ensign.

[tyrrellp346wheels]

Here's one. Picked it up from a mate.

Unipart March 77B _1978 Selangor GP BatuTiga Malaysia.

Great pic, haven't seen it before, nor have I heard of the event

Edited by tyrrellp346wheels, 19 November 2010 - 15:30.

[Nordic]

I recall them sponsoring the Jaguar XJ220(?) cars at the 1993 Le Mans 24 Heures race.

http://rupert8766.fo...t/p2809265.html

XJ220 at Le Mans

Where the broadspeed Jags sponsored in part by Unipart as well?

[tyrrellp346wheels]

I believe they where Nordic now you remind me.

[Arjan de Roos]

Having just reas the Duckhams sponsered racing machines thread with interest, I wondered if anyone new about racing cars that where sponsered by unipart, a livery and logo witch I have always loved.

The only two I know of are the March F3 cars and the 1980 Ensign.

Anymore ?

The answer is yes, now what's the question?

[Formula Once]

Not the best photo but when Ron Dennis arrived at McLaren in 1981 he had Unipart sponsorship too, presumably taken over from Ensign ?

Unipart sponsored McLaren in 1981, 1982 and 1983

[Arjan de Roos]

Looking back I wonder if Nigel Mansell was inspired by the Unipart livery (colors and arrow) to shape his helmet design. Just a thought.

[tyrrellp346wheels]

Surprised nobody has mentioned the Dolomite-engined Formula Three cars in the mid to late seventies.

Tony Dron had the first in 1976 (March 763) followed by the 773s of Ian Taylor and Tiff Needell through to the 783s/793s of Nigel Mansell, Brett Riley and possibly others.

The very patriotic Unipart F3 livery.

http://www.f3history...rch/march01.htm

http://www.f3history...rch/march09.htm

Edited by tyrrellp346wheels, 19 November 2010 - 16:04.

[MCS]

I think they have, Mark

Was that post edited after I made my comment?!

Er, no.

Oh dear, oh dear...

Edited by MCS, 21 November 2010 - 08:45.

[Rob29]

Great pic, haven't seen it before, nor have I heard of the event

I think this is Selengor 23 Sept 1979.Sony Rajah drove March 73B #3-Retired.Tiff Needell drove March 76B #4 -7th Team Unipart

[Pink Snail]

The ex Clay Reggazoni MN180 car is currently up for sale. I believe it may be the sister car to Tiff`s car. It has been running in the HFO Championship with Dave Abbott behind the wheel and always looks great on track. The Unipart livery looks really good on the car.

[BRG]

Weren't there Unipart liveried Mini racers? No details, I am afraid, just (probably faulty) memory!

[Kevan]

The TR7/TR8
http://www.tr7-tr8.c...ils.php?album=9
The Dolomite Sprint
http://forum.triumph...p...f=7&t=14075
I seem to recall that they sponsored a Dolomite Sprint for Brian Culcheth on one of the Tours of Britain.
Rover
http://www.philstott...oversd1v8s.html

Culcheth's Dolomite on the '74 Tour of Britain was Unipart sponsored- As I remember, many of BL's rally entries around that period were Unipart/Castrol-backed

We can add the Morris Marina to the list as well...
http://motorsportboy...arina_rally.jpg

Unipart were also involved with sponsoring a series of entries on the Himalayan Rally by Philip Young between 1980 and about 1985/6- these included an ex-Archbishop of Canterbury Morris Minor, ex-works Austin Healey 3000, TR8 and Rover SD1, and I think a Skoda (odd, given Unipart's BL links...)

Morris Minor:
http://www.thecarmus...;g2_itemId=2052

Rover:
http://farm3.static....a84ae37d0_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.co...57623890248898/

Healey
http://www.heritage-...age-721/page-8/
http://www.kandrrepl...o.uk/HIMRAC.htm

Edited by Kevan, 20 November 2010 - 11:47.

[arttidesco]

17/07/81 Brett Riley the (ex Philippe Colanna) DPR Unipart March Toyota, Q21, DNS, Engine.

[arttidesco]

We can add the Morris Marina to the list as well...
http://motorsportboy...arina_rally.jpg

Is this the legendary MG Marina from the 1974 World Cup Rally ?

[Kevan]

Is this the legendary MG Marina from the 1974 World Cup Rally ?

No, the World Cup Rally car was Major John Hemsley's Rover V8-engined Marina- IIRC a private entry (sponsored by Foden Trucks?), although I think the car was built by Special Tuning at Abingdon.

BL rallied the Marina in 1300cc Group 2 spec between 1971-75- Brian Culcheth picked up a few class wins on major events with one including the 1971 RAC and 1973 1000 Lakes.

http://www.morrismar.../rallysport.htm
http://www.coventrya....uk/marina.html

[arttidesco]

Thanks for the links Kevan

[wagons46]

Lakis Manticus ran a Capri in 1979 in full Unipart livery in Australia.

[arttidesco]

Last night in the middle of a flu fever I had a recollection that Guy Edwards Lola T600 carried Unipart sponsorship in 1981.



Recovered from the fever looking through my Silverstone 6 hour pics I was disappointed to find my memory was not quite 100%,



until I found my Le Mans pics :-)

[tyrrellp346wheels]

Great find

[Kevan]

Weren't there Unipart liveried Mini racers? No details, I am afraid, just (probably faulty) memory!

Don't know whether I remember Unipart sponsoring indivudual cars, but they certainly sponsored the Mini series in the UK at one time

[Alan Cox]

Don't know whether I remember Unipart sponsoring indivudual cars, but they certainly sponsored the Mini series in the UK at one time

Yes, the DCM Unipart Mini Miglia and DCM Unipart Mini 7 Challenges

[tyrrellp346wheels]

Not that nostalgic but I found out that Unipart sponsered cars in the Grand Prix Masters Series.

[tyrrellp346wheels]

Both Andrea De Cesaris and Christian Danner raced under the Team Unipart Banner.

[RTH]

Last night in the middle of a flu fever I had a recollection that Guy Edwards Lola T600 carried Unipart sponsorship in 1981.



Recovered from the fever looking through my Silverstone 6 hour pics I was disappointed to find my memory was not quite 100%,



until I found my Le Mans pics :-)

Quite a wild looking car that Lola T600.

Do you remember the Ted Field Interscope car in black which I think carried 00 number ?

[arttidesco]

Quite a wild looking car that Lola T600.

Do you remember the Ted Field Interscope car in black which I think carried 00 number ?

Certainly was IIRC Edwards and Vilota won the Pergusa and Brands 6 Hour races with it, there was another T600 at Le Mans in '81 a Cooke Woods a 935 Porsche turbo powered job for Bobby Rahal and Brian Redman, unfortunately it was a complete disaster that competed a couple of laps of practice and then disappeared without trace.

Redman won the GTP (?) series with a Cooke Woods Chevy powered T600 in the states something like 6 out of 7 rounds with a second place to Ted Field thrown in I believe.

I have only seen pics of the Interscope T600 like all of Ted Fields sports cars which seemed to favour the #0 or #00 numbers it looked thoroughly menacing in black :-)

[Brimen]

Team UNIPART Rally, service & Promotional team at Abingdon 1975.
Left to right with cars,
B. Culcheth, P. Ryan, J. Syer, J. Gittins.

(From the book: "The BMC/BL Competition Department")

http://www.flickr.co...57608734124638/

[BRG]

You have to feel a bit sorry for the two at the back forced to run the works Princess. No wonder nobody remembers who they were....

[Thundersports]

Not that nostalgic but I found out that Unipart sponsered cars in the Grand Prix Masters Series.

Really? Which ones?

[tyrrellp346wheels]

In the first South African race Christian Danner and Andrea De Cesaris competed under the Team Unipart Banner and carried unipart logos on the rear wing.

[elansprint72]

I think that in questions about any sponsorships, Guy Edwards name must come up at some point.