Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #99

 

Le Mans Mini Marcos: and now making all the gauges work

Mini Moke Sport Tottini spotted

ASP Prototype in 1968 - when it was Broadspeed powered

 

ASP 1300 'S': "An advanced Cox GTM and Terrapin"

There is some good news about the Mini based ASP 1300 'S' that resurfaced in Kansas, USA three years ago (click here). The car was sold to Jim Allen recently, who's started to recommission and who told me he is eager to find out who exactly designed and built it. I'd like to know, too.

With the car came some paperwork and particularly interesting is a letter from former UK based owner Stephen Langton, dated September 1983. In it he writes: "The name ASP does not stand for All Spare Parts, it's name is taken from the little snake that bit Cleopatra?! The car was built in 1965 and is totally unique (how about that centre back-bone cum fuel tank?). The Asp was an advanced design of the Cox GTM and the Terrapin, and was built to compete with the millions of rear engined Loti that were around at the time. That little car really could fly! I won many sprint and short circuit races with it, the handling properties are quite amazing, unlike some of the heavy metal that I race these days."

"The engine is very special, it's a works development unit of (from memory) about 105 horse power! It's a 1300cc Cooper S unit, and all the. normal Cooper parts fit it, i.e. rods, crank gears etc. The car originally ran on 13" Austin Healey wheels (Sprite), but the last time I saw t, it was on wide Mini alloys (didn't look so good)."

Interestingly, Jim also found a spare badge and noticed that on the back of it the name Cox GTM is visible. I don't see any relation to the Cox in the car's construction, but with both the letter stating it as well as with the badge I surely must be wrong here..?

The ultra-low ASP (or Asp?) 1300 'S' on Jim's trailer off to a new home

Picture Jim Allen

Without its front and rear bodywork it becomes clear the car is quite special

Picture Jim Allen

Nose section comes with windscreen

Picture Jim Allen

Note that the car's petrol tank is incorporated centrally in its chassis. Wow!

Picture Jim Allen

Cleaned and with the bodywork on again, it is now in Jim's garage

Picture Jim Allen

A spare badge of the ASP 1300 'S' hid a secret

Picture Jim Allen

On the back of it the words 'Cox GTM' become clear

Picture Jim Allen

The ASP when it was raced in the UK. What are this car's origins?

Picture courtesy Jim Allen

What is the Find of the Year 2019?

It's time to introduce you to the nominees for the 'Best Find of 2019', a contest held on Maximum Mini every year. Once again I picked out what I believe to be the 5 best finds and discoveries made in 2019. It's up to you to decide which one wins the title.

You will find the cars that have made it to the contest below. To vote simply drop a comment below stating your favourite (click here if you read this through an email message), or do it on my Facebook page (here). The one with the most votes wins - it's simple as that. Now, over to the candidates:

Long search ends in a London shed: MoBi One finally found. Full story here and here

Rumours of its survival came true: Australia's sports car 'Project X' survives. Full story here

The British-built ASP 1300 racer appears to be alive in Kansas, USA. Full story here

Unrecognzable as such but this really is the Salt & Pepper Mini Moke. Full story here

A surprise find at a New Zealand wrecker's yard: the Wellington mystery Special. Full story here

ASP 1300 survives in Kansas, USA

The British-built ASP 1300 has been a bit of a mystery for a long time. All the information that I had - and used for Maximum Mini 3 - was based on a (very comprehensive) advertisement of the car, dating back to 1967 when it was just a year old. But much more has now come to the surface, including the car itself!

Jason Harris, who is based in Kansas in the US owns it. He wrote: "My dad bought it in California in the 1990's, when it was gold. We painted it back to its proper BRG. He raced it a couple times, but it was overheating like crazy and wasn't happy with the handling so he parked it and went back to his Bugeye race car. My dad and I are currently rebuilding the engine and gearbox to get it back on the track hopefully this year. We're also going to also go though the suspension and cooling system to try to resolve those problems too. Let me know if you have any questions or want any pics of it."

To be continued.

The unique ASP 1300 was built in Britain, but survives in the US, seen here in the 1990s

Picture Jason Harris

The Harrises raced the ASP 1300 a couple of times but it had major overheating problems

Picture Jason Harris

ASP 1300 'S' logo on the car's nose. It is unknown to me what ASP stands for

Picture Jason Harris

I understand it was raced in 1966 by a man named Peter Tower. But there is also this decal. Stephen Langton was killed in a historic race in 1985 when he was driving a Connaught at Brands Hatch

Picture Jason Harris

Chassis construction is well visible here. The car uses a single tube frame 

Picture Jason Harris

No engine at the moment but Jason Harris and his dad are working on a full restoration 

Picture Jason Harris