Maximum Mini: Is Nick's Heerey the missing show car..?

The Heerey GTM found by Nick Wilkins in a farm yard earlier this month (click here) may hide an interesting background. Its ultra-1970s metalflake purple paint has struck a chord by builder Howard Heerey.

Nick wrote: "The car is getting more interesting. Howard Heerey remembers a nail varnish purple show car being built... This one was built to a very high standard and was fully trimmed in side with purple carpet. It’s fitted with a servo and the full heater. It’s got Cibie Iode headlights. 6 inch Cosmic wheels with Goodyear Rally Specials on. The speedo only shows 19 miles, which looking at the tyres would be right as they still have the moulding tits on them. The engine is an 1098 with extra stays off the remote. The body is in fantastic condition with traces of the twin pin stripe still visible on some of the paint. The tub is very rotten so will need lots of love or even a new one. It’s just turning in to a fun car to try and trace its history as it must have been quite special to have been finished to such a high standard. The windscreen is dated 1971 and I will look at the dates on the switch gear when we get it apart. The story continues... who knows might be the missing show car…"

Well, that is interesting indeed. Does somebody remember having seen the car in the early 1970s? I guess it's one you wouldn't forget about too soon...