Mystery Mini derivative is a Napier. But what's that?

First there was this sketchy group picture with a bright green Mystery Mini Derivative (click here) in which reader Colin Baines recognized himself. Then there was a better picture of the thing dug up by Kees Plugboer which gave the registration away and with that a bit more info, too (click here). Now it's time for another shot, from Kees again, showing the rear of the car. 

The DVLA previously learned us that 'Q412 NTR' used to be registered as a 'Tourer' of 'Other British Makes' in July 1984, but by this time the system has it as a 1300cc Napier! Does that ring any bells to anyone here? I also noticed that it is remarkably close registered to another Mini derivative: a Langridge Navajo with the number 'Q413 NTR' (more here) and in an equally bright green colour, too. A coincidence? Or do these two cars have something in common after all?

First picture of the rear end of 'Q412 NTR', which turns out to be a Napier 1300

Picture courtesy Kees Plugboer

The only pictures of the thing date back to 1984 - also the year it was registered 

Picture courtesy Kees Plugboer

This Langridge Navajo must have been registered on the same day. A coincidence?

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

12 Little Navajos - how many left?

When a Navajo, or Langridge Navajo, was offered for sale recently I received a great number of messages about it and dug out the files again. The Navajo really was an interesting little car built between 1984 and 1985 by racing car builder Alan Langridge in his ‘Image Race Cars’ workshop at the Super Shell building, on the Goodwood grounds and just next to the track. The Duke of Richmond was a backer of the project and worked with Alan Langridge to get the Navajo on to the road. The car was originally based on the 1100 or 1300 but Langridge reputedly didn’t like the Hydrolastic suspension and converted the cars back to coil shock absorbers. A basic kit consisted of a mig-welded and zinc-plated monocoque with a fibreglass bonnet, windscreen, and all the necessary mountings, brackets, fixings, nuts and bolts. The Duke of Richmond was quoted: “I could have a lot of fun around the estate with this car”, but it’s unknown whether he ever had one. Langridge moved to South Africa in the late 1980s and later to France.

I wondered wether the car for sale was one I'd seen before. It wasn't and I decided to make a list of cars that I know about. Supposedly 12 Navajos were made and have pictures of 10 of them, while one of these - the prototype - has been confirmed scrapped. Know more? Let me know.

SWY 185 was the Navajo demonstrator / brochure car. It's been scrapped

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

The Navajos were built by Langridge's Image Race Cars in Goodwood's Super Shell building

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

SWY 185

ADE 378A

TSN 442M

Q279 EGV

Q413 NTR

Q494 XUX

Q580 CGY

Q621 FVT

Q683 CGY

Q627 ODW

Market round up (Autumn 2015)

Let's make a little round-up on what is on the market at the moment. Quite a lot Mini based vehicles to choose from, ranging from plain weird to pretty wonderful. At your service!
PS: You know where to find more of them - click here for Deep Sanderson, Unipower, Ogle et cetera...

A Jiffy project, this one comes with six wheels! Jiffy registrar Glen Bowden says: "I dont think Indespension built it. I havent heard about 6-wheelers and I have only seen two." 

See the ad here

A very nice Freestyle, built with auto testing in mind. Not cheap though but ready to go

See the ad here

Or do you fancy a buggy for the rough? Then this NCF Blitz with off road tyres is yours
See the ad here

Speaking about rough: this Mini Marcos is advertised as a Mk1 or Mk2. I'd say it's a Mk3

See the ad here

Another part of the DART family: a rare Kingfisher Sprint, this one is in Ulverston

See the ad here

Built at the Goodwood track in the 1980s and with 1100 underpinnings: a Langridge Navajo

See the ad here

I really like this Mk1 Scamp. For sale in Ryde, on the Isle of Wight. Combine it with a holiday!
See the ad here

And it's not the only one seen for sale at the moment. This Mk1 is offered for sale from Louth
See the ad here

For wicker men: An Innocenti Mini Mare, seen in central France but until recently in Italy (click)
See the ad here

Also in France (Colmar): a beautiful and pretty rare Mk3 Mini Jem. Tres chique but not cheap

See the ad here

This gorgeous 1964 Radford Mini de Ville has been featured in Maximum Mini 2 before

See the ad here


Or do you prefer a coachbuilt Mini by Wood & Pickett? This 1988 car was built for Sir Jeffrey Archer
See the ad here

While this Mini Marcos Mk3 racer is in Bradford on Avon - where Marcos Cars were based

See the ad here

Also close to where it was built: an AEM Scout on a stones throw from Merthyl Tydfil in Wales
See the ad here

This Nimrod is in the USA. It was in a good state until recently (see here), but look at it now…

See the ad here

A very nice Minus Mini here with 1275 engine and comprehensive work carried out

See the ad here

Last but not least, over to New Zealand, where a Terrapin has made it to the market

See the ad here