READER’S STORY
Not just any replica Chris Scutt’s homemade, Toyota-engined Metro 6R4 is unique
INTERVIEW CHRIS LOFTHOUSE PICTURES JAMES WALSHE
Ialmost bought an Imp to begin with, with a mind to swapping the MR2 running gear into that, but as soon as I had the idea to build a 6R4 I just went with it. I used to race Minis a long time ago and as soon as these started appearing on the tracks, I just couldn’t keep up, so the idea of making my own excited me.
I’m no stranger to a big project having built a couple of BMWs, including a fast-road spec 2002 and an E30 peppered with M3 and Alpina parts, but this was something much more in-depth, needing a huge amount of fabrication. It was a case of finding the right ingredients and putting them together.
Being a fan of the Toyota MR2, I bought an old Metro and the donor MR2 followed. The idea to use the running gear in the Metro looked simple enough. The 6R4 engine sits between the cabin and the rear axle just as it does in the Toyota, but it still presented a good challenge for me to tackle.
Next in the process came the body kit that we sourced via Facebook and collected from Kent. It was sat in a garden but still cost £1000 as it was a complete kit with bumpers, arches, sills and spoilers. I am really pleased with the fit and finish and I’ve even added a couple of little touches here and there which I think improve the overall look. Even after studying hours of Group B footage to get things just right I couldn’t help myself – I’m not that much of a purist, so if I liked the look of something I did it.
As well as the outrageous body, the bonnet vent is an original Metro item, the roof vents are from a Mini van and the bulkhead plexiglass is an original 6R4 piece, as well as the plexiglass side windows with the vents. I relocated the entire cooling system to make the best use of these, but that wasn’t a problem as the running gear had to be adjusted anyway. Almost every bracket and mounting point inside and out is hand built, from the custom twin ignition coil setup to the latches holding the rear clamshell, and even the tabs holding the front windscreen. I made every single one.
The engine received a small rebuild but it was mainly dressed up, cleaned and powder coated in places to sit nicely under the rear clamshell. You can see a lot of it from every angle, so it had to be right. I made a jig from the MR2 with all the suspension pick-up point lugs in place. This ensured that the bottom arms, suspensions struts and tie rods would fit properly. It was then a case of making a 2in box-section chassis the length of the Metro. The plans for the 6R4 chassis are all online so it was very straightforward. I made the roll cage using 2in seamless tube, bent and welded in my workshop, with the door bars and rear upright towers made from 1.5in tube. The suspension reinforcement plates and the sump guard, the suspension rose joints and the coolant tank mountings were all made by hand in my workshop.
Finishing touches included the Rothmansesque livery, but I didn’t want to go too loud so I decided just to have little touches of the blue and gold to give it a tarmac rally theme. I added a Toyota Hybrid badge to the tailgate, which gets funny looks but it’s always fun to explain. Split rims by Image fill the arches, 17x8 at the front and 17x10 in the rear, hiding MR2 calipers with drilled discs and adjustable coilovers all round. A few new-old-stock Austin bits like light lenses have also been fitted.
Inside the seats are from an MG ZS or ZR. I completely fabricated the dash, fuses, transmission tunnel and rally-style switchgear around the original Toyota clocks. With the ear defenders and co-driver mic it’s great for spirited driving, perfectly in keeping with the theme I had in mind.
INTERIOR
Chris wanted to go for a rally look, so he fitted exposed fuses and switchgear, and the biggest warning lights he could find. The seats are from an MG ZS/ZR.
BODY
The 6R4 donor body kit was in a garden in Kent but still cost £1000 as it was complete with bumpers, arches, sills and spoilers. These days you just can’t find them as nobody builds a replica 6R4 any more, so Chris couldn’t walk away.
ENGINE
The engine just needed cleaning and dressing up. It’s more than capable of giving this car the power and noise it deserves, given how light it is.
WHEELS
Chris chose Image split rims to fill the arches all round, nicely framing the upgraded Toyota braking system, which works a lot better than the original Metro system, he thinks!
Practical Classics Restorer of the Year 2025
Chris Scutt is entered into our 2025 Restorer of the Year competition. You can vote for your favourite in a future issue of Practical Classics magazine.
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