Happy new year!
Let's start 2015 with the announcement of the 'Best Find of 2014'.
You voted for the Mini engined Méan Sonora, which resurfaced last year in a Belgian garden. The car is currently under restoration by Louis Lempereur who is very happy with the results of the poll. 57% of the 131 voters chose his car as the Find of the Year. Louis wrote: "That is good news! The Méan friends here in Liège will also be very happy! I am busy now and my son who helps me with the project is currently in China, so there is not too much time for the Méan currently… But I promise to send you some info and pictures within 2 or 3 weeks. Thanks again for your support!" Looking much forwards to that, of course.
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Meanwhile, we have another winner here, as I have had a good look at the answers that came in for the Christmas Puzzle. Only 4 of you decided to give it a go and among them Paul Wylde, once more, was the one with most right answers! Paul, let me know if you want another Maximum Mini 2 book, or somethings else. Of the 50 questions Paul gave 11 fault answers. Runner-up was Dean Renwick, who had 15 faults, but to my surprise he answered the more difficult questions perfectly right and made mistakes with the (in my opinion) easy ones! Arunas Racelis made 20 faults and Mikael Pettersson 21. All the right answers are listed below.
1. Which comical 1970 film featured a Unipower GT?
'Crimen Imperfecto'
2. In which television series a Siva Buggy was used frequently?
'The Perishers'
3. What 1968 James Bond parody featured a Mini Moke based vehicle?
'Salt & Pepper'
4. Which television series used not one but two Stimson Mini Bugs?
'The Freewheelers'
5. The 1964 movie ‘Beach Blanket Bingo’ features which Mini based one-off?
(Ed Roth's) Surfite
6. What kind of equipment was once fitted to the Nimbus Don Parker Special’s engine?
A Wade supercharger
7. What carburettor(s) ran the Deep Sanderson 301 at Le Mans in 1964?
A 45DCOE Weber
8. What is the main (technical) difference between the Cox GTM and Heerey GTM?
The subframe holding the Mini engine made place for a space frame
9. What special cylinder head is fitted to the Fisher Spider?
An Arden 8-port head
10. What was unusual about the chassis construction of the Sekura Mini?
It was made of steel profiling for the tractor industry, allowing super-slim pillars with no welding
11. What was the price that a Beach car fetched last August at an auction in California?
$165,000 ($181,500 with the auction fee on top of it)
12. What was the original selling price for the MiniSprint Traveller?
£750
13. What was the base price of the ‘Hustler in Wood’ in 1980?
£595
14. What was the price that Peter Sellers supposedly paid for his coachbuilt Hooper Mini?
£2600
15. What was the base price of the Wildgoose conversion on an existing Mini Van?
£425
16. What was the nickname of the Le Mans Mini Marcos in 1966?
'La Puce Bleue' (the blue flee)
17. The Unipower GT initially had another name. What was that name?
Hustler GT
18. What was the nickname of the original Deep Sanderson prototype?
Perfume Delivery Wagon
19. The Roamer was built under at least two more names. Which ones?
Arrividerci Winchester and Moons Moke
20. What was the name of the Dutch-built Stimson Mini Bug?
Barclay Mini Bug
21. Which British newspaper gave away a Broadspeed GT in a very easy contest?
The Daily Express
22. The only British-built Nota Fang does not survive. What happened to it?
A Friesian bull decided to sit on it!
23. What was the only colour available for the Status 365 and why?
Yellow - it was the cheapest ready mixed (marine) gelcoat that the makers could get
24. Which famous Italian designer offered a coachbuilt version of the Mini saloon in 1966?
Bertone (the Bertone Mini Minor VIP)
25. Which other Mini based vehicle was designed by Scamp instigator Robert Mandry?
The RTV (Rough Terrain Vehicle)
26. What happened to the roof moulds of the Ecurie de Dez?
They were destroyed by Des Higgins himself, who soon regretted doing so!
27. The Gecko was developed by a one-model specialist? What model did they specialize in?
The VW Beetle
28. Before the Butterfield Musketeer, Richard Butterfield (re)designed which car?
A Triumph TR3 named 'Mulsanne'
29. The Fletcher GT features a redesigned Ogle rear with light clusters of which car?
The Austin 1800
30. In which Mini derivative was the Minister for Interior of Uganda supposedly interested?
The ASD Hobo
31. In what kind of premises was the Lightspeed Magenta built?
In a former British Railways goods shed
32. In what kind of premises was the mould of the Taylorspeed MiniJem made?
In a surfboard factory
33. In what kind of premises was the Ranger Cub built?
In a former Cinema theatre (which was supposedly haunted...)
34. In what kind of premises was the Libra Magnum built?
In a barn next to the house of Trevor Foxen's mother
35. In what kind of premises was the first AF Spider built?
In Alexander Fraser's kitchen
36. How many records did Allan Staniforth set with his original Terrapin in October 1968?
9
37. How many records that the TransXL Mini Marcos broke stand to this day?
4
38. Which Mini derivative amassed 10 sidecar records in one year?
Owen Greenwood's Mini 'sidecar'
39. Which 3-wheeler is said to have driven round Malory Park at under the lap record?
The ABC Tricar
40. Which car set a record at Bathurst, Australia, when it was clocked at 127.8 mph?
The Broadspeed GTS by Brian Foley
41. How many inches shorter than a standard Mini saloon was the Gordon Mini?
14.6 inches
42. How many Mini powered Davrians were officially built?
10 (5 Mk7s and 5 Mk8s)
43. How many years did it take Robert Lawther to build the Lawther GT?
5 years
44. What is the number of Camber GTs and Maya GTs tracked down for this blog?
10 (5 of each)
45. What was the capacity in ccs of the Kingfisher Sprint's engine in Turbosport guise?
1480cc
46. How many Ogle SX1000s were built?
69
47. How many Codford Minis were built?
3
48. How many Foers Nomads were built by John Foers?
164
49. What is the kerb weight in kgs of the Hrubon Phaeton?
220kgs
50. What was the age of Desmond ‘Dizzy’ Addicot when he passed away in 2005?
83 years
Let's start 2015 with the announcement of the 'Best Find of 2014'.
You voted for the Mini engined Méan Sonora, which resurfaced last year in a Belgian garden. The car is currently under restoration by Louis Lempereur who is very happy with the results of the poll. 57% of the 131 voters chose his car as the Find of the Year. Louis wrote: "That is good news! The Méan friends here in Liège will also be very happy! I am busy now and my son who helps me with the project is currently in China, so there is not too much time for the Méan currently… But I promise to send you some info and pictures within 2 or 3 weeks. Thanks again for your support!" Looking much forwards to that, of course.
The Méan 'BMC Mini' Sonora when it was brand new back in 1967
Picture Maximum Mini archive
Meanwhile, we have another winner here, as I have had a good look at the answers that came in for the Christmas Puzzle. Only 4 of you decided to give it a go and among them Paul Wylde, once more, was the one with most right answers! Paul, let me know if you want another Maximum Mini 2 book, or somethings else. Of the 50 questions Paul gave 11 fault answers. Runner-up was Dean Renwick, who had 15 faults, but to my surprise he answered the more difficult questions perfectly right and made mistakes with the (in my opinion) easy ones! Arunas Racelis made 20 faults and Mikael Pettersson 21. All the right answers are listed below.
1. Which comical 1970 film featured a Unipower GT?
'Crimen Imperfecto'
2. In which television series a Siva Buggy was used frequently?
'The Perishers'
3. What 1968 James Bond parody featured a Mini Moke based vehicle?
'Salt & Pepper'
4. Which television series used not one but two Stimson Mini Bugs?
'The Freewheelers'
5. The 1964 movie ‘Beach Blanket Bingo’ features which Mini based one-off?
(Ed Roth's) Surfite
6. What kind of equipment was once fitted to the Nimbus Don Parker Special’s engine?
A Wade supercharger
7. What carburettor(s) ran the Deep Sanderson 301 at Le Mans in 1964?
A 45DCOE Weber
8. What is the main (technical) difference between the Cox GTM and Heerey GTM?
The subframe holding the Mini engine made place for a space frame
9. What special cylinder head is fitted to the Fisher Spider?
An Arden 8-port head
10. What was unusual about the chassis construction of the Sekura Mini?
It was made of steel profiling for the tractor industry, allowing super-slim pillars with no welding
11. What was the price that a Beach car fetched last August at an auction in California?
$165,000 ($181,500 with the auction fee on top of it)
12. What was the original selling price for the MiniSprint Traveller?
£750
13. What was the base price of the ‘Hustler in Wood’ in 1980?
£595
14. What was the price that Peter Sellers supposedly paid for his coachbuilt Hooper Mini?
£2600
15. What was the base price of the Wildgoose conversion on an existing Mini Van?
£425
16. What was the nickname of the Le Mans Mini Marcos in 1966?
'La Puce Bleue' (the blue flee)
17. The Unipower GT initially had another name. What was that name?
Hustler GT
18. What was the nickname of the original Deep Sanderson prototype?
Perfume Delivery Wagon
19. The Roamer was built under at least two more names. Which ones?
Arrividerci Winchester and Moons Moke
20. What was the name of the Dutch-built Stimson Mini Bug?
Barclay Mini Bug
21. Which British newspaper gave away a Broadspeed GT in a very easy contest?
The Daily Express
22. The only British-built Nota Fang does not survive. What happened to it?
A Friesian bull decided to sit on it!
23. What was the only colour available for the Status 365 and why?
Yellow - it was the cheapest ready mixed (marine) gelcoat that the makers could get
24. Which famous Italian designer offered a coachbuilt version of the Mini saloon in 1966?
Bertone (the Bertone Mini Minor VIP)
25. Which other Mini based vehicle was designed by Scamp instigator Robert Mandry?
The RTV (Rough Terrain Vehicle)
26. What happened to the roof moulds of the Ecurie de Dez?
They were destroyed by Des Higgins himself, who soon regretted doing so!
27. The Gecko was developed by a one-model specialist? What model did they specialize in?
The VW Beetle
28. Before the Butterfield Musketeer, Richard Butterfield (re)designed which car?
A Triumph TR3 named 'Mulsanne'
29. The Fletcher GT features a redesigned Ogle rear with light clusters of which car?
The Austin 1800
30. In which Mini derivative was the Minister for Interior of Uganda supposedly interested?
The ASD Hobo
31. In what kind of premises was the Lightspeed Magenta built?
In a former British Railways goods shed
32. In what kind of premises was the mould of the Taylorspeed MiniJem made?
In a surfboard factory
33. In what kind of premises was the Ranger Cub built?
In a former Cinema theatre (which was supposedly haunted...)
34. In what kind of premises was the Libra Magnum built?
In a barn next to the house of Trevor Foxen's mother
35. In what kind of premises was the first AF Spider built?
In Alexander Fraser's kitchen
36. How many records did Allan Staniforth set with his original Terrapin in October 1968?
9
37. How many records that the TransXL Mini Marcos broke stand to this day?
4
38. Which Mini derivative amassed 10 sidecar records in one year?
Owen Greenwood's Mini 'sidecar'
39. Which 3-wheeler is said to have driven round Malory Park at under the lap record?
The ABC Tricar
40. Which car set a record at Bathurst, Australia, when it was clocked at 127.8 mph?
The Broadspeed GTS by Brian Foley
41. How many inches shorter than a standard Mini saloon was the Gordon Mini?
14.6 inches
42. How many Mini powered Davrians were officially built?
10 (5 Mk7s and 5 Mk8s)
43. How many years did it take Robert Lawther to build the Lawther GT?
5 years
44. What is the number of Camber GTs and Maya GTs tracked down for this blog?
10 (5 of each)
45. What was the capacity in ccs of the Kingfisher Sprint's engine in Turbosport guise?
1480cc
46. How many Ogle SX1000s were built?
69
47. How many Codford Minis were built?
3
48. How many Foers Nomads were built by John Foers?
164
49. What is the kerb weight in kgs of the Hrubon Phaeton?
220kgs
50. What was the age of Desmond ‘Dizzy’ Addicot when he passed away in 2005?
83 years