Corgi model of Morris 1800 Mk2. This car took part in the 1970 World Cup Rally it came 2nd in Ladies’ Prize, 18th overall. Jean Denton, Pat Wright, Liz Crellin. ‘The Beauty Box’.
The Mk2 ‘Landcrab’ was launched in 1968 and this, the sixth produced, is the oldest known survivor. It was initially used for publicity work and tested at 100mph by John Bolster for Autosport magazine before being ‘purchased’ by BMC/BL champion rally and racing driver Jean Denton. It was one of five ‘Super-Landcrabs’ prepared by Basil Wales’ Leyland Special Tuning at Abingdon as private entries for the World Cup Rally to back up BL’s official Triumphs, Maxis and a solitary Mini. NOB 284F was sponsored by ‘Motorwoman’, the motoring section of Woman Magazine and, because of the female crew, was christened ‘The Beauty Box’ by the magazine’s editor Barbara Buss during a pre-event champagne launch.
Entering a Motorwoman car was motoring editor Jean Barrett’s idea but after Denton and Wright took her on a tough recce in Yugoslavia she withdrew! Regular rally competitor Liz Crellin joined and the experienced girls avoided the problems that beset others although, even with oxygen, they suffered altitude sickness in South America; remedied with coca leaves. The most serious mechanical problem, a cracked sump in Lima, was solved with Araldite and otherwise the car needed only a new starter motor. The team covered over 16,000 miles in 39 days driving and finished 18th of 23 finishers from 106 starters. Restored by Ian Feirn in 2008, ‘The Beauty Box’ is now owned by David Scothorn who regularly uses it for historic rally events and shows.
