Thursday, 22 April 2021

For sale: the Scamp Motor Company

This came as a surprise! 'Happy Scamper' Andrew MacLean (62) has decided to sell his beloved Scamp Motor Company. Back in 1987 he took the business over from founder Robert Mandry and started in the old vicarage of his dad. He soon expanded and built around 400 cars since. Robert Mandry built at least 2,000 between 1969 and 1987, making the Scamp the Mini derivative built in the largest numbers. 

Andrew wrote: "Hi Jeroen, It is the hardest decision of my life so far to be parting with the Scamp Motor Company. Hope you can share my sad but also exciting news on your excellent Maximum Mini website. Loss of premises is the main reason. But I do think it has a lot more to offer, perhaps a lightweight electric quadricycle might be a way forward. There are many restart (post Covid-19) small business grants available, which might be encouraging to the new owners. I am also hopeful to sell on the RTVs. I actually own the manufacturing rights to it and a huge quantity of Mini based RTV spares. Kind regards, Andrew"

Last year I asked him what four decades of Scamp building brought? “Fame, not fortune!”, he laughed. "Well, it brought me many happy memories and also some sad ones. But I’ve learned to make the best out of things!” All the best to you Andrew, and that the Scamp may have long to live, too!

Contact Andrew directly on andrewmmaclean@gmail.com or (+44) (0)7719-816493.


Early (Mk1) Scamps ready for transport to Spain. The company is now for sale
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Andrew in one of the last Scamp chassis he made, photographed March last year
Picture Jeroen Booij

And another... He owns the company since 1987 and built some 400 cars
Picture Jeroen Booij

The workshop with a Mk2 chassis under construction. Tools will be included
Picture Jeroen Booij

That's what it could look like fully built. This demonstrator will be included with 2 others, too
Picture Jeroen Booij

As will be the machine that's been used to make all the Scamp body panels since 1969
Picture Jeroen Booij

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