Trevor Crowe's Group One Rally Avenger

[avenga]

After discussing the old OSCA Avengers in a previous thread I decided to email Trevor Crowe about his old rally Avenger.

He kindly set me some info and pictures of his rally winning Hillman Avenger from the late 70's

The Avenger started out as an 1800 and we ran it in Group A [sic] form for a season with help from McLaren Motors in the International Rally etc. It then had an Oldsmobile 3.5 V8 fitted. The diff remained an Avenger item which never gave any trouble as were the suspension struts, the spare struts later went into the first Starlet V8 I built. The car was raced around New Zealand in rallies and at Mystery Creek in its V8 form. It was sold to a guy in Ashburton who totalled it and reshelled it.

Here are the pictures he sent of the Avenger in action.

[avengertiger]

nice pics i see its running on exactons in the first photos would they have been imported or would todds have supplied these as an optional extra,they were original fitment on mk2 tigers

[avenga]

It was an 1800 Group One spec car so I suspect everything would have been imported, probably from the UK Chrysler Competitions Centre.

[NZTiger]

Small correction...it was originally built as a "Group One" car. Trevor bought in a heap of bits for the car from UK Chrysler Competition Centre through Todd Motors including the Brazilian wheels suspension etc.

I think the engine is now in Hamilton, it was on trademe several years ago and I spoke to the seller who said it came from Chch which makes me think it was Crowes. I think the diff is in my car? as my car came from Dunedin and the diff casing is the Heavy Duty type with thick tubes and Huck Bolts. To my knowledge only 2 HD diffs came to NZ, one was the spare for 76 Heatway that didn't go back and the second was for Crowes 1800 car.

[avenga]

Thanks for the update and correction. I shall modify the original post.

[avengertiger]

was there big money on the engine when it was for sale miles would be the part for the 2 door no?? or have you other plans.... is the guy in hamilton? still got it or did it sell at the time?

[JoKer]

Bet that motor is the one Mike uses & appears at Leadfoot

[avengertiger]

which is now toast!!!!