Mystery Mini Derivative (73)

Over to day 2 of Three-Wheeler Week here at Maximum Mini, with a real oddity having been unearthed by Stewart Adeline O'Neil. He wrote to me about what he found since he had no clue about it: "Sorry to bother you Jeroen, but you have been recommended to me about this three wheeler. It's got an all-fibreglass body. Do you think this is a ABC Tricar? Regards, Stewart."

Well, I have no clue either! It looks to be professionally built to me, but I have never come across anything like it and wonder if it really is a one-off - just imagine the work that must have gone into building it. There must have been moulds made to make the body in the first place. The interior and some of the details make me think this was built in the late 1980s or even early 1990s but the chassis number seems quite a lot older. So... who knows more about this one?

UPDATE 31 March 2021: Now thought to be made from a much-modified modified FRA Mini, cut-off fibreglass rear end found near to it. Also Mini Rio (of around 1993) found near, which must have been a donor, fitting in with the interior at least. And the engine is believed to be a 1275 A+, probably from a Metro as it uses a Metro air filter. Thanks all for the comments!

Up until the b-posts this looks pretty much like a Mini, but it's all fibreglass

Picture Stewart Adeline O'Neil

The back is a whole different story, with just one wheel and small hatchback door 

Picture Stewart Adeline O'Neil

When and where was it built, by who and why? It looks not to have had plates?

Picture Stewart Adeline O'Neil

Is it me or the picture or do the proportions seem kind of odd?

Picture Stewart Adeline O'Neil

Under bonnet it's all standard Mini. That seems like a 998 engine to me

Picture Stewart Adeline O'Neil

There's also a chassis number, one from a Mini donor..?

Picture Stewart Adeline O'Neil

Interior oozes 1980s or even 1990s also. Who knows more about this 3-wheeler?

Picture Stewart Adeline O'Neil

Quite a line up of Mini derivative shells and moulds!

Arch Maximum Mini enthusiast Tony Bucknall of ABS MotorSport has been buying, selling, building and modifying Mini based cars and moulds for them for decades now, and continues to do so. As a matter of fact he has just emptied one factory of its composite shells and moulds as he plans an expansion of his premises. That gave quite a nice overview of Tony's projects, amassed over the years. Mind you: there is lots more in ABS' Alladin's cave, but what we see here, from left to right:

McCoy moulds with extra moulds for skirts plus the estate (McIvoy)
Mould for a lowered Mini race shell with added arches
Mould for a MiniSprint replica
Complete shell for a Stimson Mini Bug
Shell for a space framed MonteCarlo Mini
Shell for a space framed Mini Dominator
A complete full fibreglass bodied FRA Mini
Complete shell of a TiCi including moulded-in interior
Complete shell of a Domino Pimlico
Complete shell of a Phoenix Estate
MINI Countryman display shell

Thank you very much for sharing Tony!

Panoramic view of some of Tony's projects, shells and moulds

Picture Tony Bucknall / ABS MotorSport

This is the McCoy with all the moulds including those for added skirts plus the estate option

Picture Tony Bucknall / ABS MotorSport

Space framed Minis? Tony is your man if you want to build one

Picture Tony Bucknall / ABS MotorSport

A Stimson Mini Bug in its bare essence

Picture Tony Bucknall / ABS MotorSport

FRA Mini, TiCi, Domino Pimlico or Phoenix Estate, you'll find it here!

Picture Tony Bucknall / ABS MotorSport