Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #61

Barry's Big Sale - all these cars are now for sale

New picture emerges - but where is this Mk2 Biota now?

The Aga Khan's Wood & Pickett Mini Margrave

Market round up (Spring 2022)

Another market round up to see what is for sale for those wanting to buy a Mini based car right now. Once again there is lots to choose from, from the weird to the wonderful and from the cheap to the expensive. In alphabetical order I present to you:

A beautiful AEM Scout with 1965 registration. Ad here

Andersen Cub in the UK with hardly any miles. Ad here

Andersen Cub Six, a.k.a. Sundancer in St. Tropez. Oh-la-la! Ad here

Banham Sprint with 1275 engine and 1970 reg. Ad here

Gorgeous 1992 Domino Pimlico in The Netherlands. Ad here

Grantura Yak needing TLC but correctly registered. Ad here

GTM Coupe project in Austria. Ad here

1980 Hrubon Phaeton in sunny France. Ad here

Hustler 6 with 1965 registration in Wales. Ad here

Rare Jimini 1 with gull wing doors. Love it! Ad here. 

Jimini 2 that was featured in Maximum Mini 2. Ad here. 

Mini Jem Mk2, ready to go, in France. Ad here

One of 4 Mini Marcoses offered for sale in France. Ad here

And another Mk4 Mini Marcos in green. Ad here

And yet another Mk4 in white (that's not a '66 car!). Ad here

Plus a Mk3 Mini Marcos in red. Ad here

1966 Mini Moke with rare Barton hardtop in Spain. Ad here

Barn find Stimson Mini Bug in Northern Ireland. Ad here

Stimson Trek in bits at an eye-watering price. Ad here

Genuine Wood & Pickett Mini needing serious work. Ad here

For 100s more Mini derivatives seen for sale previously, have a look at previous market round ups:

Summer 2020

Autumn 2019

Autumn 2018

Winter 2018

Summer 2017

Summer 2016

Autumn 2015

Summer 2013

Autumn 2012

And then there's the Maximum Mini Marketplace

Is Sue's Grantura Yak really a 1967 car?

Sue Willis wrote to me about her newly purchased Grantura Yak: "Hello Jeroen I am a new subscriber to your blog and wonder if you can give me any help with my new purchase of a Grantura Plastics Ventura Yak. I purchased it from a friend who is 92 and hasn't driven it for some years but it's a runner and I intend to spend the winter sorting it out properly. He needed the garage space for his mobility scooter and I happened to be in the right place at the right time!"

"There doesn't seem to be much information on the internet and it has a Q registration meaning 'indeterminate age' (as I'm sure you know). The log book gives it a date of 1988. However the chassis number is GP/YAK/011/67 - does this mean it was built in 1967? Looking forward to hearing from you. Kind regards Sue".

I had to dig into the magazine archive as the original press release that I have of the Yak is unfortunately undated. But I found that the first appearances of the car in the motoring press date back to October 1969 (The Autocar, Hot Car plus Car & Car Conversions), so I think it's safe to say the first production Yaks appeared in late 1969. So... what does that make of Sue's car? Anyone who has an idea, let me know!

Sue took over this Grantura Plastics Yak from its former 92 year old owner

Picture courtesy Sue Willis

"It's a runner and I intend to spend the winter sorting it out properly"

Picture courtesy Sue Willis

The chassis number seems to indicate it was a '67 build. But is that even possible?

Picture courtesy Sue Willis

The Grantura Yak is not mentioned in the motoring press before late-1969

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Market round-up (Summer 2020)

Just a few remarkable Mini derivatives that have made it to the market lately. Perhaps there's one for you among them..? Keep those tips coming.

That Autocom Buggy again! Snapped up by a Frenchman who had big plans for restoring it (here), but offering it once more. It doesn't seem much happened to it (click here)

What's better than a TiCi? Two TiCis of course! Great project cars for sale in Billingham, UK

Good looking Magenta with 1275 engine is seen for sale in Sawbridgeworth here

This tricycle was advertised as Owen Greenwood's famous trike but it's certainly not that!

I quite like this neat GTM Coupe that is offered for sale in Brittany, France (here)

And another one in France, just a bit more work to be done on this one! (here)

Let's continue the GTM theme. This looks like a great Rossa Mk1 in white with blue to me

Or do you prefer yours with red instead? This one is seen for sale in Lincolnshire here 

Strong money for a Scamp Mk1 but at least it looked to be a proper car (here)

And another Scamp Mk1 that seems cheap compared to it. Still for sale here

UPDATE 10:15: Buyers beware. I have been tipped off about the ad which is very likely a scam

This AEM Scout is badged as a 'Mole', which I found rather funny!

Grantura Yak looked okay and wasn't expensive I recall. Can't find the ad now. Anyone?

Yak owner needs your help

Wednesday's Party Yak prompted Kevin Hook to write to me about his own Grantura Yak. He wrote: "Hi. I have a Grantura Yak but the registration plates are missing, except for one piece with the first digit, an 'E'. The chassis number YAK70032 seems short, making it impossible to find the reg number. Do you have any ideas please? It's been on the back burner for years now as I got disappointed over the reg... Two weekends would see it finished as its only paint now. It had a full nut and bolt rebuild, including a rebuilt 850 engine. I think the last digit was possibly 'J'. We thought a 'D' or a 'J' as it was broken. A 'J' would make it right for the year 1970. My fingers are crossed..."

Well, first of all, the chassis number 'YAK70032' seems all fine to me, as this has to be the 32nd Yak built in 1970. But then the registration. I have been searching the Maximum Mini files for pictures of a Yak with registration starting with 'E', but couldn't find any. Maybe a reader knows more..?

Kevin's Yak is 'on the back burner for years now' since he got disappointed over the registration

Picture courtesy Kevin Hook

He thinks he could finish the car's restoration in two weekend now. It's had a full nut and bolt rebuild

Picture courtesy Kevin Hook

But the registration remains a mystery. This is all that's left of the car's plates. It started with an 'E'...

Picture courtesy Kevin Hook

And that's the chassis plate. YAK70032 surely is for the 32nd Yak built in 1970

Picture courtesy Kevin Hook

Trinidad's Party Yak in action

A message from Trinidad & Tobago, where Richard Sookdeo still enjoys his Grantura Yak and where tuning is taken to whole new levels. I was sent these little movies of the car known as the Party Yak (more here) in action and wondered what the other cars were. I now understand they are Mini Mokes with extra 24" inches of metal added to the back and 18 " to the front to be able to install a Datsun 120Y engine including its transmission and diff!

Video courtesy Ramesh Sookdeo

Video courtesy Ramesh Sookdeo

We now know the Party Yak, in yellow. But what are these other beasts..?

Picture courtesy Ramesh Sookdeo

Much-modified Mokes, is the answer. They have some skills in Trinidad & Tobago!

Picture courtesy Ramesh Sookdeo

Meet the Party Yak

Think of the Grantura Yak as a Spartan workhorse? Think again. World most lavish Yak lives in Trinidad and Tobago with Richard Sookdeo. Richard purchased the car from an oil company called Trintoc (now Petrotrin) and wrote: "They used the car for expats to drive between buildings / plants and it was eventually left abandoned (the shell alone) and we made the necessary arrangements and purchased it. We later bought a classic Austin Mini and started our restoration project . The car carries a two series number plate which shows how old it is in Trinidad (PH - 8414) and our schemes go like PH-PZ; PBA-PBZ; PCA-PCZ; PDA… with PDM being present. The yak now has a Metro 1300 engine with a Weber installed and is upgraded to original Mini disc brakes at the front. It was further customized with a sound system which compromises of some dvd screens and a box in the back of the car - everything could be removed to show the original car at any given time."

It seems Richard even used the car at his marriage. Thanks for getting in touch!

This looks like a fairly standard Grantura Yak, but then you haven't seen all of it...

Picture courtesy Richard Sookdeo

 … television screens, neon lights, stereo systems and a dashboard unlike any other 

Picture courtesy Richard Sookdeo

 It's Richard's pride and joy and he even used it at his marriage. Congratulations mate

Picture courtesy Richard Sookdeo

World's most colourful Yak is sold once more

I love it when cars keep on being offered for sale, every time in a different guise and with increased price. This Grantura Plastics Yak, judging by the number plate based on a 1964 Mini, is a great example. The first time I saw it was in 2009 when it changed hands for just over 800 pounds. Next, it was painted green, rather hastily or so it seemed as the red was already coming through. To give it an extra bit of flair the doors were fitted, albeit unpainted, and new seats covers were installed. Oh, and somebody decided it would look better with the grille upside down. It was sold again, now for just under 1,500 pounds so it nearly doubled. Not much later in 2012 it appeared in an auction of Barons auctioneers. The vendors got rid of the doors once again, but decided to give the wheels a striking yellow layer of paint. Plus also new bucket seats. It did not sell though - with the reserve now set at 2,250 pounds. Latest reincarnation was this year, when offered for sale by a Dorset dealer. This time in yellow. The wheels were painted silver once again: asking price 3,995 GBP. It sold, too. I just wonder when it will be offered next and in what colour...

2009: red. Not sure if this was the car's original colour though...

Picture courtesy ebay.co.uk

2012: green. With doors now. New seats covers, too, but grille is upside down

Picture courtesy ebay.co.uk

2012: green, still. Now with yellow wheels and new seats once more

Picture courtesy Barons auctioneers

2013: yellow. Also freshly painted wheels and hardtop. And it sold, too

Picture courtesy Panorama Bay