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Book review: The Complete Catalogue of the Mini

February 13, 2017, 7:51 am
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When Chris Rees announces a new book it's something to look forwards to. When he announces a book called 'The Complete Catalogue of the Mini' it's hard to find some sleep until it arrives! Well, that may be a bit of an exaggeration but this tome was eagerly awaited at Maximum Mini towers anyway. Chris wrote about low-volume sports cars before and is an authority on three-wheelers (one review here). He also proof-read Maximum Mini 2 and Maximum Mini 3 (so blame him if you find any bad grammar in them) and supplied me with some great photographs for these two books. This book is a grand update on his 'Complete Mini', which was published in 1994. In short: this man knows his stuff.

It comes in 248 pages and 14 chapters of which - my opinion - the last two are the interesting ones: 'Factory one-offs and prototypes' plus 'Coachbuilt Minis'. Chris focusses purely on anything that somehow managed to keep the Mini's original shape. That means no Mini based sports cars and kit cars here, but still quite a few quirky stuff that stands out from the Mini as your mother knows it. 'Factory one-offs and prototypes' covers the BMC or BL-built Beach Cars, the four-doors, twinis and hatchbacks plus the many prototypes that were bound to replace the Mini at one stage. But you will also find the Healey Mini roadster and Autocars Marcos here. Not exactly official prototypes, but ones with stories worth telling, too. The 'Coachbuilt Minis' chapter is more of a surprise with, apart from Hooper, Radford and Wood and Pickett, also more on the obscure Mini-outfitters who had a hand in turning unsuspecting Minis into miniature Rolls-Royces. Most descriptions are brief here, but exceptions are made for the MiniSprint and the Broadspeed and its replica-offspring. This chapter also features Convertibles, Coupes, Glassfibre Rebodies, 'Front & Rear end conversions' featuring some of the stuff by Kelform, Scorpion, Biota and Status plus 'The Outer Limits' with camper conversions, fire engines and invalid carriages. The book's blurb mentions 160 coachbuilt versions, but including all the convertibles and coupes, rebodies and conversions I counted no more then 90 of them, which at least leaves something to be desired.

The Complete Catalogue of the Mini comes at 35.00 GBP / 59.95 USD and is published by 
Herridge & Sons in the UK. ISBN: 9781906133726 
Picture Jeroen Booij

Factory one-offs and prototypes-chapter includes Healey Mini roadster 
Picture Jeroen Booij

Coachbuilt Minis starts with the well-known conversions from Hooper and Radford 
Picture Jeroen Booij

But contains stuff like the Tickford Mini, Marcos Checker Mini and New ERA Mini, too
Picture Jeroen Booij

… and my favourites: Front and rear end conversions, where the Mini shape starts to evolve...
Picture Jeroen Booij

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Nota Formula Libre racer is shrouded in mystery

February 14, 2017, 2:01 am
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Nota enthusiast Jon Scott of Australia contacted me about a Mini based racer. Jon owns two Nota Fangs himself and believes this car to link to Nota's history, too. He wrote: "It's an open wheel hill climb race car built as a prototype in the late 60s by Nota Engineering for what is believed to now be Formula Libra. It's got a Morris Mini 850 in it… thats all I know. I'd love to know more about it."

It's an interesting find. As you may know both Biota as Stimson played with the idea of a Mini based Formula Class at around the same time - see more about that here. But this effort from the other side of the world is new to me. Apart from the Fang, Nota Engineering also made the Nota Mini, but I doubt it links to this racer. Do you know more? Both Jon as myself would love to hear from you.

The supposed 'Formula Mini' by Nota Engineering of Parramatta, Australia
Picture Dave Greaves, via Jon Scott

It's an open wheel single seater with attractively lined fiberglass body. Were there more?
Picture Dave Greaves, via Jon Scott

Full Mini subframe and Morris 850 power in the back. Who knows more about this car?
Picture Dave Greaves, via Jon Scott

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Midas at MIRA - Confidential...

February 17, 2017, 2:23 am
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Thomas of Sweden contacted me last week about my earlier message on crash testing Mini based cars (read it here). Thomas got hold of the full crash test report of the Midas Gold some years ago, classed as confidential. Naturally, I asked him how he got it and if he hasn't had any troubles with it. He wrote: "I have this document from a Midas Gold owner in Sweden, and he has got it from what he calls MED. I don’t know was this means but I think it was Midas Cars themselves. I think the document was confidential at MIRA when they did the crash test. But I asked him in 2015 if it was okay to publish it on my blog, which was fine." The crash test focusses on the movements of the steering column, or so it seems, but have a look for yourself. I have uploaded a few of the pages below. The full report can still be found on Thomas' website here.

Confidential Project No. 435500, carried out for Midas Cars Ltd. on 11 March 1986
Picture courtesy Thomas / Minimoke.se

The Midas was towed up to a speed of 49.2 kmh (30.6 mph) and crashed on a 90 Degrees barrier
Picture courtesy Thomas / Minimoke.se

Before the crash. The report states that six high speed colour films were taken of the test, too…
Picture courtesy Thomas / Minimoke.se

The Midas Gold passed the test with flying colours. All the photos and graphs are on Thomas' websbite
Picture courtesy Thomas / Minimoke.se

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Mystery Nota racer now named

February 20, 2017, 2:27 am
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Nothing beats a bit of old fashioned sleuthing work, and Jon Scott has put his teeth into the mysterious single-seater shown here last week (click). He found out quite a lot more and wrote to me: "The green single seater is called 'The Brickette' and was made by the Hume brothers here in Melbourne. Six or so made. I think the chassis was Nota and the body was by the Hume bros. There where three in the Victoria Mini Club way back, one yellow, one red and one green. I got some old photographs from Bob O'Grady in Melbourne, an old bloke who's deaf, which makes him hard to understand. He is also going blind and has badly fitting falses, nice bloke otherwise. Leave it with me for a bit and I'll get an old man translator to chat with Bob. I'll keep you in the info loop as more comes to light." Thanks Jon!

'The Brickette'is believed to be one of six racers, build by the Hume brothers in Melbourne
Picture Bob O'Grady, via Jon Scott 

Members of the Victoria Mini Club had three of them at one time. There is at least one survivor
Picture Bob O'Grady, via Jon Scott 

This is Bob O'Grady's car at an unknown venue, probably in the late 1960s
Picture Bob O'Grady, via Jon Scott 

Survivor (top) compared to Nota Engineering's Formula Vee chassis. Some similarities
Picture Jon Scott / Nota Engineering
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Al's Sarcon Scarab is still alive

February 21, 2017, 3:19 am
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The power of the internet! Hardly two weeks after Alastair Cox' search for his old Sarcon Sacarab was made public here (click), the car is found. Current owner is Dave Hayes, who wrote: "Hi Jeroen, I just saw the Maximum Mini blog - I still have the Sarcon Scarab that I bought from Alastair. It's still in more-or-less the same condition that I bought it. Cheers, Dave."

I love it when things work out as you hope they do!

Dave in the alloy bodied Sarcon Scarab that was owned by the Cox family for several decades
Picture courtesy Dave Hayes

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David Ogle demonstrates the Ogle SX1000

February 22, 2017, 1:53 am
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We've seen Ralph Broad demonstrating his Broadspeed GT (here). Now we can also see David Ogle demonstrate his Ogle Mini (which wan't namen SX1000 at the time), as some footage of the man driving one of the cars bearing his own name was unearthed. It must have been filmed in early 1962, months or perhaps even weeks before he sadly passed away in a motor accident. The car he is driving is the demonstrator and brochure car, also the fourth production car that was revived a couple of years ago and seen here before. Enjoy!

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Beyond the books: the Halec Special

February 24, 2017, 2:08 am
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Tim Harber is a regular contributor to my books and blog, with material unseen before. And he did it again a while ago. Tim wrote: "I finally may have notified you of a special that you never heard of! This machine was done for racing in the sixties. I came across it 15 years ago or so, with one of our locals when he was racing it. He subsequently converted it to run on the road. 18 Months ago he had an accident and broke his back and now he’s in a wheelchair. He’s been trying to convert it to hand controls and is struggling and has considered converting it to automatic. I will try to go and see it and see what we can suggest and I have put him in touch with a local who also is now wheelchair bound but is a Mini nut. The car (bike?) is called the Halec Special. Sounds like the usual Harold and Alec mash. The owner is now 70 – odd but shows no sign of giving up being silly. I’ll keep you posted on progress. Oh, the 'Dandy Dragonfly' that you put in Maximum Mini 3 nearly caused a heart attack with the owner. I think he said when he first saw the picture "I used to have a bike a bit like that!” and it took a few minutes for him to comprehend it all. Well done you for giving another oddball Brit a bit of joy! Tim"

Funnily, just weeks later I received a bit of film footage from French Mini based three-wheel-fanatic Damien Lescroart, showing a race of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club of 1999 with sidecars and three-wheelers racing at Lydden Hill. Some real off-centre stuff. Damien wrote: "Car number 12 seems Mini based. Anyone knows what it is?" And, you guessed it. It happens to be the very same Halec Special. I have included the video clip below, which shows some good racing. When you look closely at the end of the film, you'll see that the Berkeley three-wheeler - number 13 in the race - was also Mini powered. Thanks chaps!

Halec Special is a three-wheeler in the spirit of the Greenwood 'sidecar' and Curley trike
Picture courtesy Tim Harber



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Is Mike's MiniJem a works racer?

February 27, 2017, 3:07 am
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Mike Brown has a soft spot for Mini Jems and that's how he got hold of the cars moulds, too. But they came with a car of which he'd like to know a bit more. This is what he wrote to me: "Hi Jeroen. My name is Mike Brown, I have had numerous Mini based cars but my main love is the Mini Jem. My father built a Mk2 Jem in 1974, which was the first car I traveled in when I was born the following year. When I was 19, after having a couple of Minis and a Mini Marcos restoration project, I finally managed to get a 1971 Mk2 Jem. I did a rolling restoration on this car and it ended up with a Metro turbo engine. Fast forward to about two years ago when I bought another 1971 Mk2 Jem after looking for one for 10 years. This car is currently waiting for restoration. I then got a call from the owner of the Jem production moulds asking if I could give them a new home (he was moving house). Obviously I jumped at the chance and went to collect them. Now for the part I need help with upon collecting them I ended up with another Mk2, said to be Malcolm Fell's (ex-Jem manufacturer) rally car. I would like to try to trace this cars history so I can re register it correctly. Mike"

Mk3 front wheel arches, but it is a Mk2 that may have been used to plug a mould for the Mk3
Picture Mike Brown

But '947 DBL' may also have been Malcolm Fell's personal rally car. Mike Brown would love to know
Picture Mike Brown

The moulds of the Mini Jem lead to the supposed Fell rally car / Mini Jem works racer
Picture Mike Brown

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Autocrossing an early MiniJem

March 2, 2017, 1:05 am
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We saw Mike Brown's MiniJem moulds and possible works racer earlier this week, but how about this photograph, sent over to me by Nick Yarrow? It's of a Mk1 Jem being autocrossed at Wildcam in 1979. Driver is believed to be Jeff Hawkins, who was the BTRDA Autocross champion of 1978. I couldn't find anything else on him in the Maximum Mini files, but did find another photograph of a Mk1 Jem in autocross. This one taken much earlier, in July 1967 at Orchards. It may be the same car? Registration is 'OLL 390E', which is a London number issued that same year. Who knows more about it or them?

Early MiniJem being in Wildcam autocross in 1979. Does it survive?
Picture via Nick Yarrow

And could this be the same car, snapped 13 years before? Registration is OLL 390E
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

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Boxer Sprint found

March 6, 2017, 2:45 am
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You know the Nimbus Coupe, do you? Then you may have heard of the Boxer Sprint, too. This car was developed by Ian Shearer, who came up with the Nimbus, too. However, the Boxer was never a success, and apart from the 1986 prototype, no more cars envisaged despite it being a cover car for Kitcars and Specials magazine in September '86. Shearer sold the car many moons ago, regretting it very soon after, but he never found it back. And so, I dropped him a line immediately after I'd been sent over a picture of the car. It looked rather sorry for itself but at least it was still there. You can imagine Ian's urge to see it. He wrote to me:

"My old Boxer looks complete, any idea where it is?? I would love to get it back."

I only knew it was photographed in Lydd, and Ian replied: "Wow!! Lydd is not far away and I've brought my trailer with me, perhaps I might get lucky." A day later he came back to me: "I have had a quick look around the most obvious yards in Lydd, but as it is very rural and a bit of a rabbit warren, I have not yet found any leads to the whereabouts of my old Boxer. I just hope I can find it before the yard owner disposes of it. I don't suppose the chap who spotted it has got back to you with a more specific location?"

Unfortunately he hadn't.

Ian again: "Thanks Jeroen, I have a couple of places to search tomorrow, but when the weather improves; hopefully at the weekend, a friend who runs air taxi/medivac from Lydd airport said he would give me 30 minutes in one of his helicopters to help with the search."

But then the photographing guy did come back to me with a location. Ian was over the moon: "Well! That's saved a helicopter ride. Today would not be a good day for air recon, everything is covered in a light dusting of snow. We're off to make contact straight after breakfast and too take a few pics. Thank you sooo much for your input Jeroen, lets hope I can secure it quickly!"

So far, so good. Ian went over to the place to have a look, but still hasnt bought it. He wrote: "All is very slow, the owner tells me that the car is part of a company and will only be sold as such? I am meeting with him next week, hopefully to sort out the details. Fingers crossed that it does not take to long, although I not to worried about extended time scales, as long ad I achieve my goal…"


The sole Boxer Sprint, found on a farm place in Lydd recently. Hopefully soon to be moved
Picture Tobe Bailey

The car being built at Ian Shearer's place in the mid-1980s. Note the moulds behind it
Picture Ian Shearer / Jeroen Booij archive

Completed at Tollgate Garage in Rye, from where it was marketed, too. Prices started at 695 GBP
Picture Ian Shearer / Jeroen Booij archive

September 1986: cover star of Kitcars and Specials magazine. It did not help sales though…
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

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Mini Marcos moulds resurface

March 7, 2017, 1:34 am
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This month appears to be Moulds Month! only a couple of weeks ago we saw Siva Buggy moulds turn up in New Zealand (click here), followed by the rediscovery of a set of Mini Jem moulds soon after (click here). And now, a set of moulds for the Mk3 Mini Marcos has turned up. They are, in fact, the moulds made by Brian Raubenheimer in South-Africa where the Mini Marcos was made under a license from 1967-on. Raubenheimer did not produce an awful lot of African Marcoses (the Mini Marcos Owners Club believes there were about 40), and that may be the reason why these moulds are believed to be in a fine shape - the pictures seem to confirm it. The new owner, who bought them together with the rights of manufacturing new bodies, wishes to remain anonymous but told me: "If someone is interested in new made parts, they can contact you first." Drop me line when you are.

Mk3 Mini Marcos moulds seems to be in a fine condition. They date back to 1967
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

About 40 Raubenheimer Mk3 Mini Marcoses are believed to have been built in South-Africa
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

The moulds have now been sold, together with the right to remanufacture new shells
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

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McCoys - a market round up

March 8, 2017, 2:46 am
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When you're in for a Birchall McCoy, this may be the time to take your chance as several have made it to the market in the last couple of weeks, with prices going up quickly now, or so it seems. Let's have a closer look at them.


This blue car has turned up for sale in Kings Lynn. The seller states it comes with massive history file including wiring diagrams, receipts for parts, details of work carried out and even a log of petrol used! Ad here. Oops - just sold for 2,500 GBP.


Then, there's a red car in Hull, looking just about as good. It's based on a 1979 Mini 1275 GT, says the seller and he also states the car comes with a history file including the original purchase invoice, previous annual test certificates, McCoy Owners Club magazines and more. Ad here.


Up next, is a body shell in Lincoln. An unwanted project, says the seller in his ad. This McCoy does come with valid registration though - a Q-plate dating back to december 1986. Ad here.


Last is a car that was recently sold at an auction, but which I want to include here never the less. It's another good looking example and was estimated to sell at £1500 - 1900. That proved to be a judgement too low as it made £2450 + buyers premium. See it for yourself on the auctioneers website here. I told you Mini derivatives are in the lift…

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The Stimson Safari Six on Tomorrow's World

March 9, 2017, 7:49 am
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Oh, the 1970s! This video was uploaded from the BBC archive and shows the Stimson Safari Six in its full splendor in Tomorrow's World. Just a quote: "The trappings of the good life are so freely available that every individual is now in danger of looking like everybody else… But here's the prototype of a new British line of cars which the makers claim is the first to combine fun and individuality with sheer practical motoring." You'll have to love this.

Video courtesy BBC Archive
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Le Mans Mini Marcos - wheels found back, engine bought

March 14, 2017, 2:45 am
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Preparation work on the Le Mans car is in full swing, and the best news may be that I have now signed a contract with an engine builder. It took me some time to consider and reconsider things (it's going to cost me an arm and a leg - another!) but I think this little car deserves the right built. And I believe Philippe Quirière of France is just the man to do so. Philippe runs Mini World Center in Serres-Castet in south-western France. His father started the company after having bought, raced and tuned his first Mini Cooper in 1964, so there is no shortage of experience. During the last Rallye Monte Carlo Historique, four Mini Coopers and Cooper 'S's were prepared by Philippe. What's more: he has an impressive stock, having taken over parts from several French tuners and specialists. One of the persons he took over truckloads of bits from is José Albertini, who actually owned the Le Mans car in 1970. I got in touch with José some two months ago, when he told me he'd kept several original parts from my car for ages, until selling them to Philippe about a year ago. Among them the car's original wheels. So not just the same type of early magnesium Minilites, but the actual ones that were fitted to the car when driven at Le Mans in 1966! And it's not just one set, but two of them, both magnesium; one with the groove and one without, as they can be seen on many historic photographs with the grooved ones on the front and the smooth ones on the back.

Then there is the engine, of which I will tell you more in the near future. What I can say for now is that Philippe will use a 1275 Cooper 'S' block that is believed to have ran under a thousand kilometers from new. Try to find that! The crankshaft that is going to be used is quite something, too. This is an AEG 480 Cooper 'S' crank that was bought in 1968 by Jose Albertini from Jim Whitehouse, who'd bought it two years before directly from BMC's Special Tuning department in Abingdon. Whitehouse was, of course, the man who set up Arden Engineering and developed the 8-port head, of which he sold the patent to BMC in 1967. The crank for my car has never seen use. The AEA 649 Cooper 'S' camshaft that Philippe will use also comes from the new old stock of Albertini.

But I get carried away by all this exiting mechanical news. First I need to work on the car's body. Quite a job on its own. I have started sanding down the layers of paint, which turns out to be kind of nightmarish. The original layer of blue and yellow as well as the white racing roundels are sprayed on as thin as they get, and the same goes for the next layers (light blue, green, orangey-red, maroon). However, then there are two more layers of red, which are considerably thicker and on top of that there is a massive layer of primer. Even with a very rough sanding paper it takes ages to get that off! Never the less it was fun to do it at places where I knew there should be a hole, and then discover it, too! I'll try to get off as many of it in order to show it nicely at Blyton Park, without upsetting the neighbors too much here...

This is one of the two original sets of magnesium Minilites the car used at Le Mans in 1966
Picture Philippe Quirière

 The Cooper 'S' block for the car. It has run a thousand kilometers at maximum. When do you find that?
Picture Philippe Quirière

AEG 480 crankshaft and AEA 649 Cooper 'S' camshaft, both new old stock from José Albertini
Picture Philippe Quirière

The '66 crank was bought from Jim 'Arden Engineering' Whitehouse in 1968 and has never seen use
Picture Philippe Quirière

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Autocrossing an early Mini Jem (2)

March 15, 2017, 2:11 am
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Earlier this month, I wrote about an intriguing photograph of a MiniJem Mk1 in a 1978 autocross - see here. I hoped somebody would recognize the car and tell a bit more about it. Well… I didn't have to wait long! Ian Davies wrote: "Hello Jeroen. Thank you for you interest in the autocross Jem. I have attached some images of the car as I bought it, then a few of it in restoration, though the methods used are a bit primitive, the end result was acceptable. The original semi short stroke engine was built by Bob Fowden in Llanelli. He is still rallying!  I ran the car with a 998 on twin SU carbs. The early Jem had real issues with headroom, especially when wearing crash helmets, hence the roof bumps. Jeff Hawkins and his brother, John I think?, used the car in the BTRDA autocross champs for 1977, '78 and '79. He told me that he actually made money from sponsors and prize money! If I remember right, he won his class in the 1979 championship."

"I took the car to Le Mans in 1989 and used it for 6 months on the road, then was tempted to sell after trying out the white Mk2 in the image. This belonged to Chris Merrick from Stroud. He went on to hillclimb in the British championship for many years and now circuit races a historic single seater. I am in the process of rebuilding the Mk2 to carry on hillclimbing. I currently hillclimb a single seater in the 1100cc class, quick enough but the cars lack character. Hope this info is helpful and good luck with the Le Mans Marcos. I used to own a very early Marcos chassis 6009. Sold to fund house purchase - it was a small house!" Thank you very much Ian, for this lovely story. And keep in touch if you ever come across another Mini-powered hill climber!

Another photograph of the car at the Wildcam Autocross, this one dates back to August 1977
Picture courtesy Ian Davies

This is how Ian found the car in the 1980s, still in its autocross livery and needing serious work
Picture courtesy Ian Davies

The methods used were a bit primitive, says Ian, 'but the end result was acceptable'
Picture courtesy Ian Davies

The roof bulges, added for head clearance, gave the car a new nickname: Mae West
Picture courtesy Ian Davies

ACY 33E in april 1989 - taxed and MOTd again. The wind screen proved a headache as the car had been rolled at some time in its life, pushing the pillars out of line
Picture courtesy Ian Davies

The wheel arches needed serious repair, too, as the fronts had been cut to accommodate
 13" mud and snow tyres!
Picture courtesy Ian Davies

May 1, 1989 at the Singleton Park Show. Ian changed they colour from light blue to dark green
Picture courtesy Ian Davies

September 1989, just before the car was sold. It supposedly lives in japan now. 
Let me know if you have seen it recently
Picture courtesy Ian Davies

Ian's Mk1 Mini Jem, together with the Mk2 Mini Jem of his friend Chris Merrick
Picture courtesy Ian Davies

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This GTM is not coming over to Blyton Park - others are

March 17, 2017, 2:19 am
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It's only six weeks before the Mk1 Performance Conversions / Maximum Mini Action Day will take place again (it's the fourth in a row) at Blyton Park. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Grand Touring Mini or GTM (more info here) there will be a great display of cars, ranging from very early Cox GTMs to GTM Rossa Mk2s and anything GTM in between. 

Unfortunately Alexis Bouvard is not coming over with his beautiful GTM Coupe from France, but he did send me these lovely studio shots of his car for you to enjoy. Hope to see you somewhere else soon Alexis!

Alexis Bouvard's GTM Coupe looks to be in a superb shape
Picture courtesy Alexis Bouvard

The car is rallied in France, hence the added spot lights
Picture courtesy Alexis Bouvard

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Scamp stolen - help needed (UPDATE: Now found)

March 19, 2017, 3:52 am
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A cry for help from Mark Sago Saxton of Leicester. He writes: "Scumbags have stolen my Mini Scamp! I built this car by hand 17 years ago. I am absolutely devastated. A much loved member of my family is missing!" The Scamp was stolen on the night of 15 March from Mark's drive in Leicester, who continues: "I am so upset… I just want my little car back!". If you have seen the car, or am offered it or parts from it, give Mark a call on XXXX XXXXX.

UPDATE 20 March: Good news from Mark: Now found! It was joyridden and found in Eyres Monsall! Police have it in for forensics today but it should be back with me tomorrow. A massive thank you to all in their help and support during this time… I was really quite overwhelmed by the compassion and lengths you went to. Thank you!

Mark's Scamp is a Mk3 that was built up by him plus a friend in 2000
Picture courtesy Mark Sago Saxton

1970 registration is on a black 'Leyland cars estate'. It had 18137 miles on the odometer
Picture courtesy Mark Sago Saxton

Like so many Scamps Mark's car is very distinctive.Have you seen it? Then let him know
Picture courtesy Mark Sago Saxton

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Mini Marcos four-door - it lives

March 20, 2017, 7:22 am
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Remember the lengthened and four-door Mini Marcos, seen here before? Well, it was spotted last weekend again, this time on a car park in Grimsby of all places. The man who saw it there immediately took out out his camera to shoot some pictures of this unlikely creation. And he spoke to the owner, too: "This was in Tesco car park yesterday. I was busy snapping when the old chap turned up. It was originally a Mini Marcos which he has owned and modified over the last 40 years. Now running a Mondeo 1.6. Best car in the whole car park."

There is no doubt this Mini Marcos is much, much modified. The front is hardly recognizable
Picture courtesy autoshite.com

But then, the Mini engine had to make place for a Ford Mondeo mill… Oh, and it has four doors
Picture courtesy autoshite.com




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The 2017 season is here!

March 22, 2017, 6:46 am
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This is the time of the year to start planning your trips and events. What are yours? Let me know if you have something Mini based to tell or show. Stories and photographs of races, projects, road trips and holiday travels: anything goes! Remember this weblog cannot exist without your help.

A spaceframed Fortech Mini racing in the USA
Picture source unknown

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For sale: the Deep Sanderson 301 moulds

March 24, 2017, 2:15 am
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With all those moulds coming out of the woodwork lately, ideas spring to people's minds. And so, I was made aware of the fact that the moulds for the Deep Sanderson 301 may also be for sale. And after a while some photos and a price came over, too. I'm not sure if the rear end is included, too, but fact is that this is an interesting lot. Oh - and if you need a rear end, you'll find two of them, taken from these very moulds, for sale here (click and scroll to below). The price is 5,000 GBP. An opportunity for budding car manufacturers? You'll need to fabricate chassis', too, but then you can build what is regarded as one of the most desirable Mini derivatives… Let me know if you are interested and I'll bring you in touch with the seller.

More moulds? See the ones that have turned up very recently here, together with those for the Deep Sanderson. These four were all unearthed this year! What's more to come?

Mini Marcos
Mini Jem
Siva Buggy
Reptune Gullwing


The Deep Sanderson 301 is rare. Approximately 15 were made with just a few survivors
Picture courtesy Carrie Lawrence

The moulds for the Deep Sanderson's low doors come in the deal, too
Picture courtesy Carrie Lawrence

As do the door skins, which come in this box
Picture courtesy Carrie Lawrence

And this is the mould for the car's bonnet
Picture courtesy Carrie Lawrence

Main tub with sills and the signature small air opening at the car's front
Picture courtesy Carrie Lawrence

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