Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #130

Ogle moulds finally turn up

The Nostalgia Cars Ltd. Ogles - one by one

RTVs turn up for sale and at event

Ogle SX1000 racers for sale

Ogle SX1000s don't come up for sale too often, so I'd say it's worth an article when there's suddenly three of them on the market. And what's more: all three of them are fully race prepared! Let's have a brief look at them here.

First is the light blue car, chassis number 004 and registration VJN 392. This car was seen in a number of period publications as well as in an Ogle brochure and is said to have been used by David Ogle's wife. More recently it has been fully restored, using a brand new body by Nostalgia Cars. The original shell is still with it though. Furthermore it comes with FIA-spec 1293cc engine with special head and valves, fully balanced Arrow crankshaft and con-rods, forged Omega pistons and a 649+ camshaft, a Weber 45 DCOE carburetor, straight cut gears and much more. It's good for some 120bhp on racing fuel. There's a bespoke roll cage and Tillett seat and the car meets all competition safety requirements.

See the ad here - UPDATE: I understand that this is now sold.

Next in line is a 1963 car, and again no expense has been spared on this one to restore it and turn it into the midnight blue racer it is today. Registered since new as 843 GPH it has been raced in the UK for many years, but was only fully restored to its current condition more recently. Again it is built with FIA Appendix K regulations in mind, this time by Taylor Automotive in Sussex and it is done in style, too. New bumpers and grill were made from scratch and the original dashboard has been modified to fit around the full, welded in, Owens Fabrication roll cage. Swiftune built the 1380cc engine, now with twin SU H6 carbs and said to produce some 140hp! Again there's a Tillett racing seat and all the FIA requirements.

See the ad here

Last in line is the bright red car, chassis number 037, which was sold new to the US only to come back to the UK some six years ago when a full restoration was undertaken by IK Sport Classic of Holmfirth. They took it completely apart and used a new floor pan to rebuild the car. This Ogle had been raced for most of its life in the US and is not road registered. It comes with a 998cc engine now, competition prepared by Acespeed with DCOE Weber carburetor. There's a full cage inside plus race seat and harness and a standard Mini seat and belt for a passenger. When interested drop me a line and I'll pass you over to the current owner.

So... when you're looking for a racer that differs from the umpteen Minis and Mini Coopers available, this may well be a unique chance with three cars to choose from. They can be raced in a number of series events and they'll get you to the Goodwood Revival or Silverstone Classic.

 

Ogle returns to Goodwood - 51 years later

I understand that Goodwood's Revival meeting was quite fabulous again, emphasizing on Jaguar, Ford's GT40 and Aston Martin this year. But at least one Mini derivative made it over to the West Sussex venue: an Ogle SX1000. The light blue car has been seen there before and actually is one of the original Ogle demonstrators. Or should I say was? I understand it was restored a couple of years ago using a Nostalgia NC1000 shell as the original car was too far gone to be rescued. I dug up a few historical pictures, one of them actually taken at Goodwood back in 1962! 51 Years on the car was there again, now on Nostalgia Cars' display together with a brand new chassis. That last looks bound to become a race car. Thanks Andy Downes for the Goodwood pictures!

'VJN 392' when it was new in 1962. Note black grille and Austin badge

Picture Jeroen Booij archive 

The car with chassis number 4 was used as Ogle's demonstrator for a while

Picture Jeroen Booij archive 

The same car also made it to one of the brochures for the Ogle SX1000

Picture Jeroen Booij archive 

Picture removed on request

And a rare colour picture showing it was gold. Taken at Goodwood in 1962

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

51 Years later it's at Goodwood again, now blue and with 12 inch wheels

Picture courtesy Andy Downes

The car was restored some years ago using a Nostalgia NC1000 shell

Picture courtesy Andy Downes  

Nostalgia Cars continues building 'Ogle continuations' This looks to become a racer

Picture courtesy Andy Downes