Tuesday 30 March 2021

Mystery Mini Derivative (73)

Over to day 2 of Three-Wheeler Week here at Maximum Mini, with a real oddity having been unearthed by Stewart Adeline O'Neil. He wrote to me about what he found since he had no clue about it: "Sorry to bother you Jeroen, but you have been recommended to me about this three wheeler. It's got an all-fibreglass body. Do you think this is a ABC Tricar? Regards, Stewart."

Well, I have no clue either! It looks to be professionally built to me, but I have never come across anything like it and wonder if it really is a one-off - just imagine the work that must have gone into building it. There must have been moulds made to make the body in the first place. The interior and some of the details make me think this was built in the late 1980s or even early 1990s but the chassis number seems quite a lot older. So... who knows more about this one?

UPDATE 31 March 2021: Now thought to be made from a much-modified modified FRA Mini, cut-off fibreglass rear end found near to it. Also Mini Rio (of around 1993) found near, which must have been a donor, fitting in with the interior at least. And the engine is believed to be a 1275 A+, probably from a Metro as it uses a Metro air filter. Thanks all for the comments!


Up until the b-posts this looks pretty much like a Mini, but it's all fibreglass
Picture Stewart Adeline O'Neil

The back is a whole different story, with just one wheel and small hatchback door 
Picture Stewart Adeline O'Neil

When and where was it built, by who and why? It looks not to have had plates?
Picture Stewart Adeline O'Neil

Is it me or the picture or do the proportions seem kind of odd?
Picture Stewart Adeline O'Neil

Under bonnet it's all standard Mini. That seems like a 998 engine to me
Picture Stewart Adeline O'Neil

There's also a chassis number, one from a Mini donor..?
Picture Stewart Adeline O'Neil

Interior oozes 1980s or even 1990s also. Who knows more about this 3-wheeler?
Picture Stewart Adeline O'Neil

3 comments:

  1. Hi Jeroen, The engine looks to be a 1275 A+ probably from a Metro as it uses a Metro air filter.

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  2. Hi Jeroen car is a modified Mini Tec Mirage built by Steve Palmer & Ian Gilmore who has sadly since passed away for guy called Gordon Stevenson who has several more Mini derivatives including one of my Sabre Sprints

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Steve, it is good to hear from you. I'll make a little update soon as the car is now also saved by a new owner.

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