Thursday 28 December 2023

Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #4:


New series starts: 'Minis at the 'Ring'

Part 1: the Deep Sanderson 301 Prototype

New Ogle badges now available 

Mystery MiniSprints in Japan

Thursday 21 December 2023

Happy Christmas 2023

The year is almost over with the last days of 2023 being spent in festivities by many. It's been a good year for Maximum Mini. The Le Mans Mini Marcos project is finally seeing progress after a long standstill, while the Ogle SX1000 gave me lots of joy during the season. 

Apart from that Maximum Mini itself has seen a drastic change, too: it is now a paid newsletter for subscribers who pay 5 Euros per month or 60 Euros a year to receive all the words and pictures that were previously free to anyone. Do join if you want to know all about Mini derivatives lost and found as I will continue my work as always.

Thank you for your support and please do bring out your vote for the 'Best Find of 2023' here. Happy Christmas!


A Broadspeed GTS in winter wonderland
Original photograph Paul Stephens, picture editing Jeroen Booij

Tuesday 19 December 2023

Find of the Year 2023: the candidates

Ho-ho-ho, it's that time of year again! The time to traditionally decide which has been the best find of a Mini based car in the past 12 months. We've been doing it for the last 13 years, but this is the first time the poll is sent to the Maximum Mini Newsletter subscribers first. But... the more the merrier, and the better for the poll's results, so let me know what you think, too. 

You will know the drill by this time: the car with the most votes simply wins the 'Maximum Mini Find of the Year 2023' title. Over to the five selected candidates: Just drop me a line below, on Facebook or through my e-mail to tell me which of these is your favourite.


A Siva Buggy that has been hiding in a barn since 1982. Full story here

A Mk1 Biota put away in storage by its first owner in 1974! Full story here 

The first of the Bulanti Minis resurfaced in Australia in February. Full story here

 Not exactly a barn find, but thorough research revealed this Mini Marcos to be the 
actual 1967 Targa Florio car. Full story here

Original USA sold Ogle SX1000 has been languishing in Pennsylvania. Full story here

Friday 15 December 2023

Brand new Ogle badges now available

After I found an unused original Ogle antelope badge earlier this year, there was finally a template to have quality badges remade. And here they are. They are the exact same size as the originals and come in chrome, just like the Ogle SX1000 has them fitted to both c-pillars, and in the golden colour of the (optional) one that was fitted to the centre console of several cars. There are no pins at the back, so mounting them is easy with kit or double-sided tape. 

They are 25 euros for the chrome one and 35 euros for the gold one plus p&p. Drop me a line if you are interested. I will start sending them out next week - perhaps just in time for Christmas..?


New Ogle SX1000 'Antelope' badges


Monday 11 December 2023

Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #2:


Celebrity owned Mini Jems

Is this the sole surviving Status RR Mini front end?

...And that's a period picture of it...

Famous Foley Broadspeed GT restored Down Under

Friday 1 December 2023

An announcement from MAXIMUM MINI

MAXIMUM MINI is going to change.

The Maximum Mini blog was started in 2010. Some 1,600 articles have been published since. It has always been free to read to anyone, and all the stories of the past 13+ years will remain online to enjoy.

However, new articles won’t be free anymore. From now on Maximum Mini will continue in the shape of a paid newsletter. There are some very exiting stories on their way right now in the first issue: an update on the Le Mans Mini Marcos project, newly discovered photographs of a mystery Mini derivative and yet another re-discovered Ogle. Two new series about 1960s racers are in the making also. 

You can subscribe and will then receive the newsletter approximately 50 times a year. 
The price will be 5 euros per month, or 60 Euros per year. 
Just reply to me if you want to be part of it and I will send a payment request and put you on the list. 

I hope to be in touch soon, 
Jeroen Booij