I have come across pictures of this golden shortened Mini several times now and remember having read somewhere it was a professionally coachbuilt car. However, I cannot find back anything on it now. It does seem to have been marketed well in its day, though, with a number of staged publicity photographs available, made in 1971 or 1972 or so my limited information tells me. A clue to its origins may be the Swiss made 10" Edgar Schwyn wheels?
The only unstaged picture that I have of it seems to be of a slightly later date, now with Cosmic wheels, added bull bars and a number plate that does indeed seem to be from Switzerland.
I'm sure somebody here will be able to tell me more.
UPDATE 22 April 2020: More info about a possible multi-millionaire first owner - click here.
UPDATE 9 January 2023: The car survives. Click here.
Shortened Mini seems to have been built professionally but information is hard to find
Picture Jeroen Booij archive
Was it ever marketed as a coachbuilt Mini? Wheels, too, point towards Switzerland?
Picture Shutterstock
I think the number plate reads 'Super Mini '71' here. Who was behind this conversion?
Picture Shutterstock
From the files - squeezed in a tiny spot and with added bumpers and different wheels. Swiss plate.
Picture Jeroen Booij archive
I think that it´s the Mini modified by Schwarzenbach, that appeared in the book "Les Véhicules Hors Série" from Jacques Borgé and Nicolas Viasnoff
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! I noticed a copy for sale on Ebay. Worth the buy?
DeleteYes, a little book, but very interesting
ReplyDeleteThank you, I have now placed my order.
DeleteLooking at the book, IMHO it's really the car made by Ernst Schwarzenbach
ReplyDeleteThe book just arrived and what an interesting read! The car certainly must be the same. Shame there is so little information.
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