1979 Opel Monza "Rally Car Ex Austin McHale"

Right now I've talked to Mick Eiffe 8) (He's the guy who prepared the car for McHale)

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

I'll make life easier and simpler for you

24V AFM is same size as Gold top 12V engine and is 25% bigger than the original 12V one

Not only that but a certain club member has already bored one of the 12V Gold top engines throttle body out to 68.5mm - thats a nice increase in area too

Once you've done all that the "chip" that is so commonly used to hot up the 24V's ain't far off whats needed in a breathed on 12V Gold topper
Doesn't get much easier does it

Glad to see you´ve made some progress on the history side of things...hows the car getting on mate?

Wow! Just spent most of my lunch hour reading this, fantastic thread!

I might be talking to myself here but I'm beginning to think this car is a bit like Christine in the Stephen King Movie of the same name

Built in 1980

Crashed same year (too badly to be sold on thro dealer network)
Repaired by Frank O'Rourke

Crashed by Frank on a hill climb
Left for dead for a while

Bought by Austin McHale - repaired
Rallied for two events

Crashed on the first one - rear 3/4 damage (Circuit of Ireland)
Repaired for the Manx

Crashed on the Manx - Front nearside
Repaired and sold

Trail goes cold

Bought by Ken S - rolled it
Repaired (I think) and sold

Most recently involved in a barn fire

Could you possibly imagine a more unlucky car!!!

That was the other comparison I had in mind!!!



Not actually planning on them ever being in the same garage

And definately not planning on using any of the parts from it on my existing Monza ;D

It´s not unlucky mate, just had a bad set of drivers in the past...but things have changed for the better

If i were an old Lagonda or Bentley they´d just call it "race history"!

Well, many of the previous owners of the engine I'm keeping off it are now pushing up daisies!!

Gerry Marshall and Tony Lanfranchi.

Dead unlucky car!!

Quick BC, come and take it out of my garage before it does something to it!!!!

fantastic thread, don't know how i've missed it before

Good luck with it look forward to the updates