Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #93

Buy a new Beach Car body on... Alibaba!

South-African Cox GTM - where is it?

Linking the Ranger and the Lotus

Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #88

Mini Marcos reborn and unveiled!

Differences, similarities and back story

And another sign from the long-lost Saga

Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #52

Andrew retires but his Scamp Motor Company is secured

Ogle SX1000 turning up in Canada is ex-Jersey show car

One year of Maximum Mini Newsletters

Is Crayford Mini Mojito a Beach Car replica?

Hey! A brand new Mini based car to be unveiled, that's been a while hasn't it? 

You may or may not have noted that the Crayford name was revived recently and they now unveil their first new car during the London concours that has just opened its doors at the gardens of the Honourable Artillery Company’s headquarters in central London. Ladies and gentleman: the Crayford Mini Mojito.

There seems to be little doubt about the Beach Car inspiration, although there are several differences, too. A full floating canopy roof in the first place, which only one of the original Beach Cars had ...plus the one-off Crayford Carnival, which was made in 1980. You also won't find wicker furniture inside but leather instead and a floor made of teak wood. There is also 'An optional fully-electric powertrain that’s been designed and built in the UK and neatly packaged under the bonnet'. Crayford’s director Kent Thirley told Classic Driver: “The Mojito is built for today’s market and meets the expectations that come with that. It drives and handles as well as it looks – pretty special". Is it a Beach Car replica? More or less than Mengers' Beach Mini, which was unveiled a year ago? 

Thirley further adds: “For me, Crayford is an icon of British motoring and we’ve spent the last two years assembling a team to revive the brand in a way that remains loyal to its 64-year heritage and creative spirit. The original mission statement penned by the founders of Crayford in the early 1960s was ‘to design and build cars that are unique, to redefine what’s possible when you harness devotion and innovation'". No price has yet been mentioned, further information can be found here.

Crayford Mini Mojito is unveiled today at the London Concours

Picture Crayford Automobiles via Classic Driver

Mk1 Mini based, but styling is sharper than the original Beach Car 

Picture Crayford Automobiles via Classic Driver

And then there's a fully floating canopy roof for a change!

Picture Crayford Automobiles via Classic Driver

Hang on... the 1980 Crayford Carnival one-off had that, too

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

"The Mini Mojito's look is authentically 1962 and stylish simple"

Picture Crayford Automobiles via Classic Driver

No 'Lloyd Loom' wicker this time, but cream coloured leather instead

Picture Crayford Automobiles via Classic Driver

757 UYN started life as a standard Morris Mini in 1962

Picture Crayford Automobiles via Classic Driver

Original Mini Beach Car (top) and Crayford Mini Mojito below

Picture Crayford Automobiles via Classic Driver / archive

ABS to relaunch Alto Boxer kits

Don't think the Mini derivative is dead. After last week's launch of the Mengers Beach Mini (click) it is time for the next relaunch: that of the Alto Boxer. You will know by now that ABS Motorsport boss Tony Bucknall has a great ability of tracking down long-lost Mini based kit cars or their moulds, and he did just that with the moulds for the Boxer a while ago. He wrote: "They were stored in a lockup/garage, which was collapsing and it was at a point it had to be cleared."

Remarkably, an extra front end that came with the set is different to how we know it. Tony: "That front end mould isn’t the Boxer, but yes it's certainly for a Mini, the door and scuttle all look right. And yes there will be enough height clearance where the rocker top is. I don’t recall such a front end ever being on the market though." Same here.

The Alto Boxer never was a great seller but Tony never the less made a set from the complete moulds and will be happy to sell you one if you like. He continued: "I am going to offer the Boxer composites separately and as base kits for people to do their own cabrio conversion if they choose to. The actual body kit will work with out the Mini being cabrio’d however I am not sure how it would look! I have set up a section on the website for Mini based kit car composites, and will add the pieces as I get time (click here). I will also add the Stimson bug and the McCoy parts as I get time...       

Kudos to you Tony!

The Alto Boxer was a Targa conversion with a wild body kit of the 1990s

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Ultimate conversion? Very few were sold up until 1997 when production was stopped

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

But ABS boss Tony Bucknall found the kit's complete set of moulds recently

Picture Tony Bucknall

This is the mystery mould coming with the lot. Tony and I have never seen it before

Picture Tony Bucknall

A brand new set laminated from the moulds - kits are being offered by ABS now

Picture Tony Bucknall

All the different body parts for the Alto Boxer are there, including the hardtop

Picture Tony Bucknall

The kit exists of a great number of bits. The Boxer used Peugeot 205 rear lights

Picture Tony Bucknall

Rare example of a Alto Boxer Mini with not the full kit fitted to it. 

This one was restored over a long period of time by Scotsman Andy Middleditch

Picture courtesy Andy Middleditch

Mengers Beach Mini is beautiful Beach Car replica

When Beach Car owner John Reymondos contacted me about a brand new Mini Beach Car replica made in Germany by Mini Mengers I had to admit I had to look twice. Was that really a replica? Well, it was and Dierk Mengers was happy to provide me with a press pack, showing the conversion carried out by him. From the press info: "To celebrate the 60th birthday of the Beach Mini, Mengers is giving Mini enthusiasts the unique opportunity to own their very own doorless fun machine. 60 years after the original Beach Minis left their place of birth, a new brother left our manufacture in Germany. We simply call it the Mengers Beach Mini."

According to Mengers the car looks just like the original, but is different in many ways. But you will have to look pretty good to see that. Apart from the fact that a later shell appears to have been used for the conversion, I noticed smoother panelwork on the door cut-outs and some differences in the interior. Especially in the seats, which have been made by Lloyd Loom never the less - the company that was also responsible for the originals back in the early 1960s. They now look to be double-sided and finished with leather edges.

Mengers also ads: "Since there were no original blueprints available it remained unclear how and if the structure of a Beach Mini was strengthened to make up for the structural losses from removing the B-Pillar. 30 years of experience in converting classic Mini Saloons into convertibles helped us to find the perfect balance between lightweight and tough. The chassis of a Mengers Beach Mini stays stiff while not adding much weight compared to a regular Mini." Furthermore it is fitted with a 50hp strong 1000 cc engine rather than the 850 of the original and a fully synchronized and shorter ratio gearbox. Finally Mengers ads: "We can also imagine a fully electric Mengers Beach Mini."

Yes, this really is a Beach Car made recently and not one of the originals!

Picture Mini Mengers

It was made by Mini Mengers of Oldenburg in Germany and is now offered for sale

Picture Mini Mengers

Mengers says it is different from the original in many ways but you will have to look good

Picture Mini Mengers

Even the wicker seats were made by the same company which did the originals in 1962

Picture Mini Mengers 

Leather edges and back are a giveaway that these are different though

Picture Mini Mengers

The Mini's dashboard in its simplest and purest form, just like the original Beach Cars

Picture Mini Mengers

Engine is a 1000 cc now, good for 50 hp. But Mengers would also do an electric conversion

Picture Mini Mengers

With just 15 Beach cars built (plus a prototype) this may be the next best thing!

Picture Mini Mengers 

Mini Mengers plate shows this is Exklusiv Umbau (exclusive conversion) number 1

Picture Mini Mengers 

The original (Mary Falvey's car on the left) versus the Mengers replica - spot the differences 

Picture Bonhams auctioneers / Mini Mengers

GTM news flash

There is some great news about Cox GTMs and a Heerey GTM that I thought would combine nicely in a little news flash here. 

First of all, the '67 Cox that I found in April (this one) was finally picked up by its new owner: Trevor Powell. Trevor is a much respected Mini man, who you may remember from this article about the cars built by his dad Bill Powell. Trevor told me he always fancied an early GTM and didn't hesitate when this one came along. The plan is now to turn the car into a sprint / hill climb machine but Trevor is not in a rush as he's got some exiting other projects first. He asked me if I could bring it over to Calais, which I did. I met him and his wife Melanie at a parking place close to the motor way there where we swapped the car over from one trailer to the other. They drove back home to the UK that same night and the next day he wrote: "We finally got home at 4.45am with no issues at customs etc. Very happy with the car and all the parts!" I'm very happy with that, too.

Elsewhere in the UK, Nick Wilkins, who owns the ex-Cars & Car Conversions Cox GTM racer, found another car. He wrote: "I must be mad as have just brought another GTM. This one is was on a farm clearance. All I know about it is what I could see in the pictures. Hope to collect it next week. Think you call this a barn yard find!" Certainly looks like it mate, well done to you!

Last but not least an exiting and brand new build was seen at the Stoneleigh kit car show at the stand of Hambly Sportscars Ltd., manufacturer of the Hambly Coupe (more here). I think that is a fantastic looking car and eagle eyed readers will have recognized it straight away as 'The Green Machine' (this one) in a new guise. I hope to meet up with Derek and the car in person soon.

Thursday evening, on a parking place in Calais. That's Trevor and Melanie Powell. The Cox has just moved from my trailer to Trevor's and the car is now back in the UK

Picture Jeroen Booij

Trevor owns some great historic racing Minis, but had been looking for a Cox GTM for ages: "I've always wanted one!" he told me. It will be built into a sprint car / hill climber

Picture Melanie Powell

Meanwhile, Nick Wilkins, who owns the ex-Car and Car Conversions Cox GTM found this Heerey GTM in a farm clearance and picked it up

Picture courtesy Nick Wilkins

This one is a Heerey GTM 1-3 of around 1970 and it has been on the road before says Nick. 

Currently there is no registration though

Picture courtesy Nick Wilkins

Last but not least this fantastic car was on display at the Hambly Sportscars stand at the Stoneleigh kit car show. You may recognize it as 'The Green Machine'

Picture courtesy Ferg Ranson

For sale: the Scamp Motor Company

This came as a surprise! 'Happy Scamper' Andrew MacLean (62) has decided to sell his beloved Scamp Motor Company. Back in 1987 he took the business over from founder Robert Mandry and started in the old vicarage of his dad. He soon expanded and built around 400 cars since. Robert Mandry built at least 2,000 between 1969 and 1987, making the Scamp the Mini derivative built in the largest numbers. 

Andrew wrote: "Hi Jeroen, It is the hardest decision of my life so far to be parting with the Scamp Motor Company. Hope you can share my sad but also exciting news on your excellent Maximum Mini website. Loss of premises is the main reason. But I do think it has a lot more to offer, perhaps a lightweight electric quadricycle might be a way forward. There are many restart (post Covid-19) small business grants available, which might be encouraging to the new owners. I am also hopeful to sell on the RTVs. I actually own the manufacturing rights to it and a huge quantity of Mini based RTV spares. Kind regards, Andrew"

Last year I asked him what four decades of Scamp building brought? “Fame, not fortune!”, he laughed. "Well, it brought me many happy memories and also some sad ones. But I’ve learned to make the best out of things!” All the best to you Andrew, and that the Scamp may have long to live, too!

Contact Andrew directly on andrewmmaclean@gmail.com or (+44) (0)7719-816493.

Early (Mk1) Scamps ready for transport to Spain. The company is now for sale

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Andrew in one of the last Scamp chassis he made, photographed March last year

Picture Jeroen Booij

And another... He owns the company since 1987 and built some 400 cars

Picture Jeroen Booij

The workshop with a Mk2 chassis under construction. Tools will be included

Picture Jeroen Booij

That's what it could look like fully built. This demonstrator will be included with 2 others, too

Picture Jeroen Booij

As will be the machine that's been used to make all the Scamp body panels since 1969

Picture Jeroen Booij

Kingfisher Sprint shell wants to be turned into a car

A virtually new Kingfisher Sprint body shell that remains unbuilt and thus never turned a wheel since it was made in Northumberland in the 1980s has turned up for sale in Vienna, Austria. Christian Schmidt made me aware of the car that is owned by a friend of him, who lives locally. He wrote: "He is in the process of streamlining his collection of classic vehicles. Main reason is as usual - too many projects, too little time! He asked me to help him with the sale and I was immediately thinking of your Maximum Mini Market."

The shell was bought with the intention to build it up as a functioning car but it never happened. Somewhere in the shell's life the body's front end had gone missing at some point and therefore a new mould was made. This mould comes with the lot, together with the bonnet, both doors and the rear hatch panel. A new owner will have to source all the rest of the (Mini) mechanicals and further parts to finish the project, including VW Beetle 1303 windscreen, Datsun 120Y Coupe rear screen and Ford Capri rear lights as these were fitted to the cars built by Kingfisher instigator Roger King. King sold approximately 35 Sprints between 1981 and 1984.
For more details see the ad here.

Waiting to be built from the early 1980s-on - this Kingfisher Sprint body is virtually new

Picture via Christian Schmidt

A mould was made to create a new front end for the car - it comes with the lot

Picture via Christian Schmidt

What have I done..? Kingfisher body shell when it was picked up many years ago

Picture via Christian Schmidt

About 35 Kingfisher Sprints were made, and this one never turned a wheel

Picture via Christian Schmidt