Thursday, 9 March 2023

Monika and the Unipowers: more pictures

I have found some new pictures of the two Unipower GTs that were on display at the 1967 Racing Car Show, and several of these show our lovely model Monika Dietrich in the cars and notably on their bonnets. Yes, some of these have been shown here before. But hey, with these new ones, why not show these again and now the whole collection of them?

Monika Dietrich was born Monika Haberkamp in Cologne, Germany but came to London in the mid-1960s as an au-pair before she was asked to model for a number of advertisements. She had a few minor movie roles also and I understand she is still going strong.

The Unipower GTs on display at the '67 Racing Car Show were the ones wearing chassis number 1 and 9 and are both still alive and well also. The red car (number 1) is owned by Tim Carpenter, who takes it out to events and shows regularly; the white one (number 9) is a competition model, which was purchased by Jan Odor of Janspeed fame in '67 and was raced by Geoff Mabbs under the Janspeed banner before being sold to Cars & car Conversions magazine and repainted in red a year later. Like Tim's car it has been fully restored, too.

UPDATE 13 March: Unipower GT Owners Club & Register front man Gerry Hulford contacted me and he's not amused. He is convinced the red car is not chassis number 1 but chassis number 8. He may very well be right but I am not sure.


Olympia, London, January 1967. That's the Unipower stand in the front
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

The white GT is a competition model, the red one is chassis number 1
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Things start prim and proper. Monika joins Moss - on the bonnet of the white car
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Now get rid of that racing driver and apply the sexy look
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

More clothes off and in the door opening please
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

No, back on the bonnet and back to the sexy looks
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Now over to the red car, finding position first (note Pirelli Centuratos, too)
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

And smiles again
Picture Richard Hesseltine archive

And now in full colour!
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Suitable for a cover shot! That's Bilsport magazine of Sweden
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Bye for now!
Picture Jeroen Booij archive

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