The Christopher Mini is alive

Remember this one? The Mini based Lotus Seven lookalike known as the Christopher Mini made it to these pages in January 2013. It was built in the early 1990s by Mike Christopher of GT Developments in Poole and shown on a Bristol show in November 1991. Jim King wrote me a message saying he'd seen it at a fuel satiation on the A38/B4008 junction near Gloucester and was pretty surprised about its appearance there.

Jim: "As an ex-Mini owner and an owner of one of the first Domino Pimlicos, I recognised the wheels and the bonnet suggested an A series. I chatted very briefly with the owner who told me it was a one-off made in Poole and he bought it in 1995 - I got the idea that he wanted to pass it on to an enthusiast? Didn't get a name or address, but he drove south on the A38 after filling up…" Now, if the owner would indeed like to sell it, why not get in touch..?

Based on a 1970 Morris Mini 1000 - this appears to be the only Christopher Mini in existence

Picture courtesy Jim King 

 The roof construction is pretty odd with a Targa bar leading to a closed rear with buttresses

Picture courtesy Jim King 

Mystery Mini derivative (29)

There have been several attempts to build a Lotus 7-type car with Mini motorisation. The Status Minipower, designed by an ex-Lotus engineer, and the Australian Nota Fang may spring to mind, although these were of course both rear wheel driven. So how about this one? All I know is that it is supposedly called the 'Christopher Mini'. I looked up the registration 'UEL 175J', and that told me it is based on a 1970 Morris Mini 1000; is blue in colour and... is still on the road, too. But that where the track ends. I wonder if it is on its own, as it looks to be built well. Thanks to Peter Camping for sending in the picture!

UPDATE 25 January 2012. I have mistakenly mentioned Roald Rakers as the source for this picture - that should be Peter Camping. Luckily Peter knew a bit more about it, too. He wrote: "I do not know its exact name, but the car was built by Mike Christopher. The picture came from Kitcars International magazine in February 1992. Then-editor Ian Hyne wrote: "The editor paid a quick visit to the Bristol show back in November and among the various exhibits, (...) there was a car entered in the auction that is worthy of mention. A quirkily styled machine built on Mini mechanics, it was in fact designed and built by Mike Christopher, son of Ray Christopher of Poole based GT Developments, manufacturers of the GTD 40 and T70 replicas. The car has a tubular spaceframe chassis and a 20 gauge mild steel body and standard Mini mechanics. We don’t know who bought it or even if it is sold but if it did, the new

owner might be interested to know a little more about it." Well, that's a lot more then we did know, isn't it? Time to get in touch with the Christophers. And appologies to Peter again!

UPDATE 16 May 2014: It's alive! See pictures here

 

Mystery motor that's supposedly known as the Christopher Mini. Who knows more?

Picture through Peter Camping