1992 Pilbeam MP62/82 - Race Car/Hill Climb

After a successful career in Formula 1 with BRM, Lotus and Surtees, Mike Pilbeam launched Pilbeam Racing Designs in 1975. Based in rural Lincolnshire, the company quickly established itself as the premier manufacturer of Hill Climb single seater and sports racing cars. 17 UK Hill Climb titles in the last 21 years are ample testimony to the company's expertise in this field. But PRD is much more than just a specialist Hill Climb chassis manufacturer, F3, Formula Renault, Rally (Group A, WRC and F2), GT and Super Touring Car projects have all been undertaken, with much success, for customers including General Motors, Ford, Honda, Peugeot and Hyundai.

Offered here for auction without reserve at Race Retro 2023 is this Pilbeam MP62 built in 1992 as an out and out hill climb car. This particular car is chassis #4 of around 14 MP62 constructed in total with slicks and wings and it was later upgraded to MP82 specification which added some carbon fibre parts and additional aerodynamic features. It was run competitively by Andrew Henson & his daughter in 2015/16, mainly in the MAC events, with its original Vauxhall XE and Hewland gearbox set up finished in blue and silver.

The car was subsequently sold on to its current owner who has undertaken a 'nut and bolt' restoration and a full respray in bright orange. More recently, chassis #4 has been professionally converted to run a Honda CBR1100XX superbike engine (164bhp @ 9500rpm when new). The lightweight and powerful unit is mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox and chain drive to a Westgate Engineering limited-slip differential. The specification also includes adjustable Koni dampers, adjustable anti-roll bars, new aero wishbones, Stack digital dash, removable steering wheel, dry sump with scavenge pump and a full stainless-steel custom exhaust system. The engine conversion and chassis development were professionally carried out by TS Historic of Newbury, Berkshire, with a total investment well into five figures.

The Pilbeam is supplied with a history file, period photographs of it in competition, set up sheets and its original RAC Competition Car Logbook (which will require updating) and spares package including a full spare set of wheels, hub nut socket, Honda dash & other parts

The car has not been driven in anger since its restoration so will require some initial set-up, and renewal of its safety equipment, before it takes to the hills again.

Recently restored and offered without reserve, this fast little bike-engined, hill climb car will offer relatively affordable access to many competitive Hill Climb events across the country and a really fun community of great racers.