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Ogles in Japan (5)

This bright tangerine coloured Ogle SX1000 wears chassis number #36 and was registered 'XSK 195' in the UK. The car was imported to Japan by Tetsuo Warashina in 1991, who ran Warashina Cars of Yaizu-shi in Shizuoka at the time. This company had an impressive collection of Mini based cars - apart from the Ogle there were several Mini Jems and Mini Marcoses as well as a Unipower GT. All of these were offered for sale in 1992 and I don't know if Warashina is still in business but do know that several of the cars are still being enjoyed in Japan, the SX1000 among them. 

The car was featured in a number of publications before being sold to another Mini specialist in Japan: Sophie’s of Hachinohe in 1997. The current owner told me recently that the SX1000 has never been extensively restored or repainted since it came to the country in '91. He says it is a bit tatty now, but is well maintained and roadworthy. I really like it.

More about Ogles in Japan here.

'XSK 195' as it was seen in Japan in 1994. It featured in a number of magazines

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

It was part of a broad collection of Mini based cars when at Warashina's in Shizuoka

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Engine is said to be a 1275. Brake booster well visible here

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

1992 ad from Warashina cars shows eclectic range of cars offered for sale

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Today the Ogle can be found in Sophie's Mini shop in Hachinohe for over 25 years 

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

"A bit tatty now, but well maintained and roadworthy" says its current owner

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Ogles in Japan (4)

In this little series we have a look at the Ogle SX1000s which reside in Japan, and this is the next in line. Car chassis number 21 was registered '992 VWL' and last seen in the UK in 1986 when it was offered for sale in Biggleswade 'for restoring'.

It is then believed to have been sold to Japan and now seems to be the only car there of which the current whereabouts are unknown. The few pictures that I have of it are all made in the UK and the colour ones show it in a light yellow colour with four-spoke GKN wheels. But it has been listed as being gunmetal grey before, and according to one of my on-site informants 'A metallic silver or champagne gold Ogle has been seen at a company named ‘Coventry Garage’ in Hyogo in the 1980s'. And since it needed restoring, I think it may well have been this car. However, the garage doesn't seem to exist anymore turning this lead in a dead end..? 

So far all further details are unknown, so if you happen to know more about this one - do get in touch.

'992 VWL' seen at the Chequered Flag garage in London in the 1970s

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Cosmic wheels, bumpers painted satin-black - very much in seventies fashion

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

And now in colour - as seen at a meeting in the early 1980s

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Is '992 VWL' the same car that was seen in Hyogo, Japan later in the 1980s?

Picture Wikipedia

The last trace of the car in the UK is this advert from 1986. 'For restoring'...

Picture Jeroen Booij archive via Kees Plugboer