TON 792 was built in 1956, the third 100/6 ever built and the first in right hand drive finished in Reno Red over Black with a black hard top. Used as a demonstrator for B.M.C. (British Motor Corporation) and was the personal car of Sir George Harriman, hence its nickname ‘The Chairman’s Car’.
Pictured team of 110-Sixs photographed at the Hotel Rose The, La Ciotat Plage, France
Top left: Originally, the personal car of BMC Vice Chairman George Harriman, TON 792 (2nd from the right)
In 1957 Sir George Harriman agreed to TON being requisitioned by “Marcus Chambers” of the Competition Department to become part of the five car Works Rally Team for the 1958 Alpine Rally. Where his original plan was to run 5 MGA Twin-Cams.
In 1958 it was a Works entry in the Coupe des Alpes for Nancy Mitchell and Anne Hall, they led for a while and finished 12th overall and Mitchell finished 2nd in the Ladies Category. (See pictured below)
Later in 1958 TON was prepared for the Liege Rome Liege rally, Mitchell and Hall were one of three from four entries to finish the rally, classified as 15th. The successor the three cars gave BMC the Manufacturers’ Team Prize
Bought by John Clarke in late 1958, he raced TON with the Cambridge University Automobile Club, painting it the Club colours of black with a white stripe. TON finished second at the C.U.A.C. Sprint at Snetterton in 1959.
Clarke decided to enter TON at Le Mans for 1961 and gave TON to the Abingdon Competition Department to prepare the car to the same specification as David Dixon’s car DD 300, but in the event the car was run as per the specifications in the above letter, with triple SU carbs even though the intention had been to run Webers.
Nancy Mitchell and Anne Hall drivers in the 1968 Liege-Rome-Liege rally, pictured alongside TON 792
In practice at Le Mans TON was running at the same times as the Works entry DD 300, even though they were just running a modified production engine and the SU’s.
TON was originally 5th Reserve for the race and were down to 1st reserve, waiting on the line to take the place of the next car to drop out, and when it did drop out the organisers would not let them start because they said they would have been on the finish line before the prescribed time.
Later in 1961 TON was entered into the 3 Hours Race at Snetterton, finishing 4th. TON was entered in the Tour de France in 1962 and despite reasonable times on the circuits during their practice recce (Pau, Brussels and Rouen), John’s co-driver’s father died the morning of the start, so they had to abandon the Tour and drive home.
Above pictured in CUAC Colours of Black and White stripe.
TON was passed to a couple of owners in the early 60’s and was owned by F3 and Healey Motor Company contract driver Clive Baker for a few months in 1964 where TON competed regularly at club meetings around England including Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Castle Combe and Llandow. In the early 1970’s TON under the ownership of Dick Slaughter, ran as a ModSports car and was restored over a 4 year period from 1977.
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