Saturday 31 December 2022

Barry Stimson dies at 82

A real shocker on the last day of the year: Barry Stimson died at the age of 82 yesterday. Barry was the man behind a great number of designs, many of them Mini based. Best-known of these was the Stimson Mini Bug, but there were also the Stimson Safari Six, Stimson Scorcher, Stimson Trek and many more. Apart from cars there were also boats, camper vans, bikes and even the odd amphibian or tracked vehicle, most of them coming to life in the 1970s and 1980s. He once told me: "Oh, there were plenty of other plans, I mean, I had some sort of design diarrhea at the time." Some of his ideas never reached production while others made it to the prototype stage. But apart from being a very prolific designer, he was a lovely and funny man in the first place who was always happy to see you and dish up some good stories from his many travels and all the vehicles he used on them.

Barry's wife Caroline told me that in September he'd had a stroke and had to have a blood clot removed from his brain. This morning she wrote: "Hi Jeroen. Just wanted to let you know that Barry passed away peacefully last night" I will start the new year with a series of articles about this very special man. Meanwhile, I wish all the best to Caroline and the rest of the Stimson family.


Barry Stimson with one of his more controversial designs: the 1976 Stimson Scorcher
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

He designed anything from amphibians to six-wheelers, here the Stimson Safari Six with its creator
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

And working on the Stimson Trek here: his personal favourite vehicle design
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

This was his best-known and best-selling Stimson: the Stimson Mini Bug
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

 But there were many more, not all of them Mini powered and not all reaching production
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Apart from cars Barry had a great love for traveling. Here at age 17 in Venice on his way to Africa
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Caroline and Barry a couple of years ago at their home in Portsmouth. He will be much missed!
Picture Jeroen Booij

2 comments:

  1. Such a nice guy with a lovely family .Will be sadly missed . One of the best out of the box designer I have ever meet . Hat tip sir . Paul Wylde .

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  2. Very sad news...such a lovely man. I was very lucky to meet him by chance at the Southampton boat show some years ago, and you could see this wonderful creative intellect shining through. A special delight for me as a Minibug owner. Sincere condolences to his wife, family and friends. Nigel.

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