Monday 28 February 2011

Mystery Mini derivative (8)

Why is it that so many creatures in Mini Moke style are named after animals? There is the Moke in the first place, but apart from that there is the Cub, the Yak, the Mule, the Bug, the Gecko and the Mongrel (still an unsolved mystery on its own - do have a look by clicking here, thank you).
But how about the Beaver? Really, that appears to be another mock-Moke. I'd never heard of it until Roald Rakers of The Netherlands sent in an old advertisement with a car that is apparantly one. I quite like its shape. But who built it? Where? Why? And in what quantity?

Hat tip to Roald Rakers. Keep them coming!

UPDATE 1 March 2011:
Thanks to a reaction on this blog I have now been in touch with the man who built the Mini Beaver. In fact, he built seven of them! More information will follow.

11 comments:

  1. Hey - that was my car / advert. Must have been around '94 when I sold it. Can't even remember advertising it. Small world eh!

    ML

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for popping in here. Have you got any pics of the Beaver when you owned it?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes somewhere - I'll try to find / scan them. It was originally yellow, but I resprayed in Java Green with a new black hood. Ran it for a couple of years as my only car. Sold it to a friends brother near Bradford. Not sure where it went after that.

    ML

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks again. Brave man to use it as a daily driver!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hang on. Was your car registered PYG534W ?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sure was. I must dig out some pictures.

    ML

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great. I look much forward to it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I ended up owning this car, PYG534W

    ReplyDelete
  9. Photos of the car are here.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/cms2011/sets/72157631650187415/

    I added many new things to the car after buying from 'Anonymous' New wheels and tyres Yokohama A008, headlights and chrome surrounds, spot lights, seats, Pico exhaust, chromed the bumpers, made a new grill, and panelled the dashboard out with black fux leather and added a stereo. I think I put a K&N filter on the engine. Replaced the rocker cover with a polished alloy one and repainted painted the engine. I sold it to a garage in Morley, Leeds for £1445 Cannot remember how much I bought it for. I think it was around £800

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lee,

      Thanks very much for your message. Could you please drop me a line on jeroen@jeroenbooij.com ?

      Best,

      Delete
  10. I worked on a burgundy red beaver circa 1990 in Castleford West Yorkshire. It would be nice to know if she's still kicking around. I'm not sure of the reg but there were only a handful made. Cheers guy's.

    ReplyDelete