1959 BMC Mobile Training Unit - Transporter

The British Motor Corporation Competitions Department was set up in January 1955 and became one the biggest competition operations in the world. It continued to flourish for twenty-five years until 1970 when it changed to Special Tuning in a attempt to capitalise on the bludgeoning aftermarket tuning business. The enthusiastic and now renowned team turned production vehicles into world beaters from race to rallying. During its heyday it transformed works drivers into household names with the likes Paddy Hopkirk, Pat Moss and Timo Makinen with the international successes of the rally Mini Coopers and Austin Healeys. With such an extent of race and rally programs it required a fleet of vehicles for transportation throughout Europe. Drivers of the these BMC transporters were very competitive themselves often proclaiming them to out perform the "opposition team trucks' up hills and on the flat!

In 1958 the service manager at Nuffield Exports Ltd, George King, commissioned Marshall Motor Bodies Ltd in Cambridge to build a series of Mobile Service Training Units. Referred to as MTUs by most of the people associated with them, they were manufactured from October 1959 on BMC coach chassis. They were designed by Pininfarina and built to a very high specification with all-aluminum frame with 18 gauge aluminum exterior panels.

This vehicle was one of a series designed to serve as a mobile classroom, to travel around the dealership network training mechanics in the procedures required to maintain the newly introduced front-wheel-drive Mini.

The driving cabin could accommodate five, with three passengers on a bench seat behind the driver. Access to the rear classroom area was through a sliding door in the double-skinned bulkhead. The classroom could accommodate up to nine students plus instructors.

This MTU had already been converted into a transporter when it was discovered by the late Graham Galliers in a disused railway station at Rednal near Oswestry, Shropshire in the early 1990s, but four years would pass before he finally managed to persuade the then owner to part with it. The restoration took nearly ten years and was not completed until 2005. While researching the vehicles history Graham contacted Basil Wales formerly Head of BMC Special Tuning Division.

Basil was very helpful and soon discovered that this particular truck was his: the one that was transferred to the Competitions Department, believed to have been registered BMC 43. In its new role it was used to transport display boards, store and sell Special Tuning parts, as well support the works rally program as a mobile stores and workshop on UK rallies carrying spares, welding equipment, a Hydrolastic pump, etc.

After the Leyland merger with BMC, this vehicle was refinished in Unipart livery and used during 1975 by Leyland ST, which was running a team of Triumph Dolomite Sprints and a Morris Marina for promotional purposes. This was the white livery, which it carried when purchased before restoration.

Graham decided to restore the transporter as a replica of BMC 34, which was the MTU converted into a transporter in 1966 by BMC Competitions to carry two Minis. One of the first events for the vehicle was the 1967 Marathon de la Route and it became a regular team fixture at rallies and races latterly supporting minis in the British Saloon Car championship. Sadly BMC 34 no longer exists as it was destroyed by fire.

Graham's skillful conversion of 168 XUS has created an extremely practical transporter, ready to use for historic racing events.

Loading the transporter is simplicity itself, with a hydraulically operated rear tailgate incorporating integral slide out ramps. A new electric winch has been discretely fitted and the profile of the ramps allows even low ground clearance cars to be easily loaded.

The cab offers ample seating and there is a small galley and side opening doors. Unusually for a vehicle of this age it was originally fitted with light and direct power steering, making it easy to drive. The original BMC engine has been replaced with a more powerful modern six cylinder 6.0 Litre Cummins 180 turbo diesel engine driving through a six-speed syncro gearbox to the original 2 speed Eaton back axle. This set-up makes the vehicle very practical for long distances with a 60mph cruise and gives excellent trailer towing capability.

Should the new owner ever wish to revert to the original BMC engine, it is available, including the original engine cover and gearbox. In addition a spare brand new windscreen is available. Described by the vendor as in good condition, this historic ex-works BMC is offered with assorted correspondence, copies of period photographs and related literature, 'as found' photographs, restoration invoices, current road fund license and Swansea V5.

Although the V5 for this vehicle records it as being manufactured in 1959, the vendor believes that it may date from 1961.