Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #42

How a lost Outspan Orange Mini turned up again

The Biota in the field - still there!

O'Youngs Unipower GT at Macau - where is it now?

NEC Classic Car Show 2022: the Mini derivatives

This weekend the NEC will be hosting the Classic Motor Show and, like last year, the Minikits Club is present with a great number of Mini derivatives. On their display a freshly restored TiCi, barn find Biota Mk1, Heerey GTM, Mini Marcos Mk4, Hustler Sport, Ogle SX1000 and Minus Maxi. What a fun stand!

Another club attending is the Unipower GT Owners Club & Register with three cars looking very good too. Apart from Gerry Hulford's yellow racer there's also the ex-Janspeed competition car that now appears to be road-registered. Third is a freshly restored car in orange/white of which I hope to learn more soon.

UPDATE 13 November: Fantastic news: Minikits wins the award for most interesting selection of cars in the Classic and Sports Car Club Awards at the NEC Classic Motor Show. Well done boys!

 

Minikits display at the NEC 2022

Picture Paul Wylde

Biota Mk1 at the Minikits display

Picture Paul Wylde

Mini Marcos Mk4 at the Minikits display

Picture Paul Wylde

Hustler Sport at the Minikits display

Picture Paul Wylde

Ogle SX1000 at the Minikits display

Picture Paul Wylde

Minus Maxi at the Minikits display

Picture Paul Wylde

Heerey GTM 1-3 at the Minikits display

Picture Paul Wylde

TiCi at the Minikits display

Picture Paul Wylde

And three Unipower GTs at the marque's Owners Club & Register's stand

Picture Lez Dix

UPDATE: The boys from Minikits receive their trophy for 'most interesting selection of cars'. Congratulations!

Bonus picture: an Outspan Orange Mini, also seen at the NEC 

Picture Andy McPhail

And one more: that cool Clubman camper van, now fully restored and looking great

Picture Andy McPhail

Sweet! Outspan Orange Mini in Beaulieu

When a picture is tagged as one of 'the best photographs of the day' by one of Great Britain's most respected media, it may just be good enough for a place on Maximum Mini, too, won't it? This one was seen in The Guardian last Friday, with the caption reading:

"A Mini Outspan Orange is driven through the grounds of the National Motor Museum in Hampshire during a preview of The Story of Motoring in 50 Objects. Six of the vehicles were built to promote Outspan oranges in the 1970s. They were constructed by Brian Waite Enterprises and incorporated many components from the popular Mini."

Picture Andrew Matthews, The Guardian

Market round up (Autumn 2019)

Is it autumn yet? I'm not sure but fact is that there are plenty of cars offered for sale at the moment. So it's about time for a little look at what Mini derivatives are in the market right now.

An ABC Tricar with a modified body in Yorkshire

Seen for sale Here

A Mini Mouse, again with a modified body and in the US

Seen for sale Here

A Robert Mandry-built RTV that's ready to run

Seen for sale Here

A Ranger Pick Up that needs lots of work

Seen for sale Here

And a very good looking Jiffy
Seen for sale Here

An ABS Freestyle in The Netherlands
Seen for sale Here

And a Midas in Belgium

Seen for sale Here

Nice AEM Scout, unfortunately horribly photographed

Seen for sale Here


Hustler Six to be auctioned by Bonhams
Seen for sale Here


GTM Rossa Mk2 with low-mileage 1275 engine
Seen for sale Here

That Status 365 again. Who dares?

Seen for sale Here

And who is going to finish this Mini Wildgoose project?

Seen for sale Here

Or how about an Outspan Orange Mini? Said to be the prototype

Seen for sale Here

Funny looking Scamp Mk1 in checker plate wear

Seen for sale Here

The Silcoates Ascender has been seen here before

Seen for sale Here

Beatifully restored Crayford Mini Sprint

Seen for sale Here

Lovely Whitby Morrison Batman ice cream van

Seen for sale Here

A very colourful Hrubon Schmitt in France

Seen for sale Here

Banham Sprint with fast engine

Seen for sale Here

Rare Japan-built Moke Sports Tottini in the UK

Seen for sale Here

A British registered Jimini found in France

Seen for sale Here

Correctly registered Scamp Mk2

Seen for sale Here

Mini Marcos Mk3, looks like a lovely project
Seen for sale Here

Another Jimini, this on on the Cote d'Azur
Seen for sale Here

BMW museum shows derivatives in 'The MINI Story'

You'll have to admit that BMW, as Mini's current custodian, is doing rather well in keeping the flame alive. As a matter of fact they open an exhibition tomorrow in Munich's BMW Museum called 'The MINI Story', emphasizing on 55 years of great little car design with 30 cars on display, and they were nice enough to send a press release with plenty of photographs over to here.

Yes, the emphasis lies on current models and prototypes for these, but interestingly for us lot there's a little more than the well-known classics they haul to every prestigious event. In fact they have made the effort to show some Mini derivatives! A tip of the iceberg, okay, but definitely worth a mention here never the less. There's an Outspan Orange Mini, a Wildgoose and Whitby Morrison Ice Cream Van, plus a rare four-door Mini built by our friends of Mini Mengers, who came up with the Mengers 3WP earlier this year. The expo will open tomorrow at 20:00, followed by a party into the early hours, and will last until 31 January 2016, so you've got over a year to pay the place a visit!

1969 Riley Elf and 1967 Morris Countryman, yes, but the Outspan Orange is the cool one here!

Picture courtesy BMW

 Pristine Wildgoose Super VEB and now-rare Whitby Morrison Mini Ice Cream Van

Picture courtesy BMW

This Rover Mini was converted by Mengers of Germany, who also build the 3WP

Picture courtesy BMW