Thursday 14 April 2011

Innocenti based Beach cars

Let's stay in Italy for another while after our Targa Florio exploits. Lovely food and wine, nice folk and some great cars there. Hang on, forget the obvious stuff from Modena and Maranello, I'm talking Mini derivatives here. What else? And the Minimach certainly is not on its own. How about some sunny Mini based beach cars from Italy? They're different from the English ones. And just three of these were built on Innocenti Mini base by a coach builder named ORO. They were given the name 'Mini Mare' and at least one is known to have ended up as a tender to the private yacht of Mister Ferdinando Innocenti himself. All three cars were said to be similar with wood surrounds plus wicker work seats, boot, grille and bumpers although they came in different colours: white and ivory. One of the three cars was also said to have been forlorn in a fire but that now seems to be untrue as pictures of a third car were made by Francesco Marziali of Florence, Italy recently. And with bright orange paint and an unusual spot light at the roof that third Mini Mare is least as striking as the other two.

First of the Mini Mares was owned by Ferdinando Innocenti. Picture: Mark Zerafa

And Innocenti Mini Mare number 2 in ivory paint. Picture: Mostra Scambio 

And the missing number 3 with unusual roof spot. Picture: Francesco Marziali

7 comments:

  1. We've just spotted "missing number 3" in Florence...

    We'll send you pics ASAP!

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  2. Well done! Do send them in and I will do a little write-up about it.

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  3. I've seen one of them yestarday in Portofino...

    http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/191/img4482se.jpg/

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  4. http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C351213


    this must be number four then

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    Replies
    1. Thanks!
      In fact it's number 6.
      Mini Mares have turned up from all parts in the world, see more articles about them here:
      http://maximummini.blogspot.com/search/label/Innocenti%20Mini%20Mare

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  5. Saw and photograghed one in Sicily about 10 years ago. Lovely condition but with basic 850 Morris engine John

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    Replies
    1. Thank you John. It would be interesting to see the pictures and see if it's a known car.

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