Le Mans Mini Marcos project: the build continues

Time for another update on the Le Mans Mini Marcos project. As you may recall the car is now back in The Netherlands after a very lengthy stay in southern France. My friend Joost van Diën and I picked it up there in June (click here) and it is now parked at Joost's place, where the build continues. Now, this is still almost 300 kms from my own home, so while that's not as far away as it was in France it's still a trip to do. 

We planned a weekend to continue work when Joost told me that I was more than welcome, but only if I came over with the Ogle. Ha! A good excuse for me to pack the little thing and steer it southwards. I really want to thank him and also his dad Cor, who assisted us in what was a superb weekend with excellent hospitality and all I could wish for. Here's the report in pictures.

The Ogle ready to go. Passenger seat out to make place for Sprinzel seats of the Marcos, assorted boxes with bits, windscreen behind me plus extra bonnets and a set of 10" wheels for Joost

Picture Jeroen Booij

3 and a half hours later - arrival at Joost's place where drinks and a barbecue await!

He has Mini Marcoses Mk1 (orange), Mk2 (red) and Mk3 (under yellow tarp)

Picture Jeroen Booij

Next day: work begins with the installation and securing of brake lines and clutch lines

Picture Jeroen Booij

Meanwhile I placed the indicator stalk and steering column shroud and made extra rods to keep the column steady in its place, which it really needs since the column was much lowered

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Seen from the other side. Yes, the rods will be painted satin black also

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Joost continued with the fitment of the shock absorbers. Rear ones went in easy, front ones not quite so. The car originally used Konis, as recorded in the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest) paperwork

Picture Jeroen Booij

Joost is a real Jack-of-all-trades so when one of his dad's Gilbern Invaders suddenly needed work he was naturally there to help, too. This car is an estate, and a real beauty too

Picture Jeroen Booij

Back to the Marcos, with the seats now finally installed. There are no good period interior shots of the car, but driver Jean-Louis Marnat sold these exact seats through his accessory shop in Paris in 1966, so these were the ones to go for. Same went for the Britax harnesses

Picture Jeroen Booij

The refurbished hand brake is now installed and working, too

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I have been carrying the Mk1 windscreen, provided by the Mini Marcos Owner's Club, with me for years. It is now finally placed and we managed not to break it. Joost and Cor on the job here

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Health & Safety managers, look away now! Making the side pipe exhaust, like the car had during the Le Mans 24 hours race. Joost handling the grinder, Cor keeping it in position

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It needed some bending at the local garage but fits perfectly now just like it was in '66

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Again, it needs a lick of paint but that's for the next time. Mind you: there's no damper so this car will certainly be noisy. A start-up-video is for the next time

Picture Jeroen Booij

Great line-up. Joost's Mk1 Mini Marcos, my Ogle and Cor's Gilbern Invader Mk3 in front of the garage. The latter is one of very few lhd coupes originally sold to The Netherlands

Picture Jeroen Booij