Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #127

Le Mans Mini Marcos - speedo now works, too

Le Mans Mini Marcos - speedo now works, too

Ogle SX1000 - speedo problems, too

Messing around with number plates - 1970s style

Messing around with number plates - 1970s style

A new Peter Filby book: Cars through the mists of time

Motoring journalists usually can't be bothered with the obscure corners of the automotive world. But from somewhere in the 1970s to deep into the new millennium there was the great exception known as Peter Filby. His books and articles were full of detailed information about the strangest of vehicles but they were well written and full of wit also. Looking back we have to be thankful to the man who documented so many of these contraptions for posterity. I do prefer his early stuff before Cobra and Seven clones took over the alternative cars scene as he wrote about many of the Mini based cars and owned quite a few of them, too.

So when I heard that he'd just finished a book titled 'Cars through the mists of time' about the approximately 100 cars he owned himself in the last 55 years, I knew I wanted a copy. In Filby fashion the 89-pager is self-published and hard to find. From the foreword: "It's admittedly an exercise in self-indulgent memories. I was just doing it for myself, my family and perhaps a few close friends. And even the family weren't particularly interested!" You'd better be quick to order one if you want one, too (I found my copy through Steve Hole's TKC webshop).

It's like going back in time when reading about how he bought and sold all these obscurities, which he often hated. About the Maya GT that became known as 'The Maya Maynot': "Whatever changes were made, it remained a horribly basic, undesirable car, but for some reason I kept it for several years." About the brown Peel Viking Minisport that was named 'The Flying Turd': "In terms of styling, accommodation and Mini based performance, it was a truly awful contraption". You'd be surprised to read that the great kit car writer, in all honesty, detested working on his own cars and "hates to get my hands dirty". He must have spent fortunes on them. "Only the great accountant in the sky knows how much money they've all cost me!" 

Ever wondered what cars Peter Filby owned himself and what he really thought about them? 

His latest book is just about that

Picture Jeroen Booij

'RBL 25F' was the first of two Unipower GTs owned by Filby and the start of a life long affair with specialist sports cars. What happened to the car?

Picture Jeroen Booij

Repainted twice and the subject of many an Alternative Cars magazine article, 

Filby's Maya GT became known as the Maya Maynot (and it survives, too)

Picture Jeroen Booij

The second Unipower - LTM 80G - was a Mk2. "I loved it so I kept it more than ten years." 

It's still in the UK, under restoration today (click here)

Picture Jeroen Booij

"Horribly basic". The Peel Viking Minisport was painted brown and nicknamed 'The Flying Turd'

It's another survivor although now in a slightly different hue

Picture Jeroen Booij

Autocrossing a Peel Viking

Stephen Callow recently contacted me about Timeire, the Special built by Tim Conroy (see here), but the conversation moved towards Peel Vikings soon and more particularly towards Vikings on the Isle of Man. Stephen owns a Viking himself and lives on the island. 

But before describing his and other Peels from from the Isle of Man, let's have a look at one local car first that was perhaps a bit of a legend on the island for a while. Stephen sent over an interesting picture of that: "This was Mike Hewison’s Viking local autocrosser with some flames!"

I did recognize the car from a shot in The Filby Files, when Peter Filby wrote about it: "There's only one example left on the island and, as you can see from the action shot, it's got much the same problem as a Manx car, only at both ends. It's path in life is as a very quick autocross Special shared by James Howe and Philip Speedie. I know it's quick because the lads let me trash it around a large field recently vacated by several cows. Dung racing I think they call it."

I think Hewison must have crossed it after Howe and Seedie did? I also have a picture in the files of what is believed to be the body of this particular car, but I can't remember where I got it from, so do let me know when it was you. Stephen said: "Must be tucked away in the garage with Mike’s other Mini’s – he has a lovely Sprint and some nice Mk2’s." As always, more information is much welcome.

A Peel Viking autocrosser on the Isle of Man, as it was raced by James Howe and Philip Speedie

Picture The Filby Files / Jeroen Booij archive

This surely must be the same car? "Mike Hewison’s Viking local autocrosser with some flames!"

Picture courtesy Stephen Callow

And is this the body of the same car again? I forgot who sent it to me...

Picture Jeroen Booij archive / source unknown

Solved after 10 years - the mysterious Gnat

10 Years ago today I made the first posting on what would become the Maximum Mini weblog and it was about a mystery Mini derivative named Gnat. See the article here. Imagine my surprise when the designer and builder of that particular car contacted me earlier this year! I thought it could make the perfect article to publish today - exactly a decade after my plea for information. This is what I received: 

"Hello Jeroen, I have seen your name in the classic car magazines with reference to Mini Specials. Here are some photos of the Gnat, a 998cc based Mini Special I built 1990/91. I sold it about 1994 but have not seen or heard of it since. The DVLA records acknowledge its existence but it has neither current road tax or SORN. The latter is a shame because it means it will have difficulty getting back on the road. If this is of interest to you I could give you more details and photos of the build. Regards Franklin Woodcock."

That name did ring a bell, but from what or where? Then I remembered: Franklin D Woodcock was a contributor to Peter Filby’s kit car titles in the 1980s and I always thought that had been one of Filby's 'noms de plume'! Franklin: "I was born soon after Franklin D Roosevelt died in 1945 and my folks were big fans. A guy at school said “With a name like that you’ll get a job anywhere”. His name was David White, which he thought was a handicap. I can’t say he was right but at least it’s memorable. I was in email contact with Simon Taylor recently and he thought exactly the same as you about it being a Filby nom de plume!"

Franklin continued with his recollections of the car: "I had the foolish idea that in 1990 the world needed another Mini based kit car. Wrong! Twenty years too late. Anyway, together with a friend who was a technical illustrator I went ahead. His drawings show a credible idea of what a 1990s Mini special should look like but unfortunately my body building skills did not match up. I had built 3 one-off specials prior to this but they were 1930s style jobs. That really is my thing, I started in 1963 with a 1933 MG L2 Magna and today I drive a Marlin Roadster which I have owned for 20 years and it’s the best car I have ever had. Back to the Gnat, I started with a mid-70s 850cc Mini with a poor body but sound mechanics. I scrapped the body and kept all the essentials. I 'designed' and welded up the chassis in my single garage and made the crude bodywork from plywood, MDF and filler (lots of it). The gear lever has an extension because I didn’t want the bonnet to be the usual stubby style as with most Minis and Mini based kits. I tack welded the pieces together until I was sure everything was okay, then I finished it off and painted it. I didn’t touch any of the mechanical parts, I just bolted them all on as they worked okay in the original car. If you look at the rear view chassis photo you can just see the bolt heads of my 'tappet' adjuster for the rear suspension inside the triangulated corners. I made these because I didn’t know what the ride height would be. By rotating the bolt it would push on the disc pressing on the rubber suspension trumpet and raise or lower the car. To make it look more credible I fitted 12” wheels. It was sprayed professionally in Porsche Guards red. The bumpers and spoiler were narrowed Marina and Metro items and I think the spats were from a later Mini. The grill was made from plastic curtain rail and the centre badge moulding was a ceiling light rose with a badge made by a graphic designer mate. The seats were plywood with homemade cushions. Although I am not very proud of the body design I think my detailing was good, especially the dash which tells you exactly what it is. Because it was designed by me, for me, I have to say it was one of the most comfortable cars I have ever driven, it fitted like a glove. I used it for work on nice days but never got round to making any foul weather gear. When I first drove it I had a shock as it was gutless. There was nothing wrong with the original car but this thing seemed to be lacking 'go'. I put it on a weighbridge and found out to my horror that it weighed about the same as a standard Mini! I had grossly over-engineered it. From 1992-97 I worked for Midland Autotrader mag and I sold the car to one of my clients. I saw him about 10 years ago and asked after the car, he told me he sold it to another car dealer way back so I have no idea where it is now unfortunately. I think that just about covers it. Bye for now, Franklin."

As he'd found me through the print media, I directed Franklin also to Maximum Mini online, which opened another world: "Now you’ve started something! I knew there were a lot of us Mini special builders out there but I didn’t realize how many. This will occupy me for ages, thanks for that. In the early 1980s Filby asked me to edit a mag on one-off specials as I was 'the specialist'. After I had got most of the stuff together he pulled it as on 2nd thoughts it would not be a good seller. However, he did suggest to me that I might like to do it on my own at my own expense. Foolishly I took it on with the hope of making it a quarterly publication. After a lot of heartache, money and work my wife and I launched it in 1983. It ran for the one issue and obviously I lost money on it BUT it got it out of my system and it was well received by those who bought it. My attic creaked with unsold copies for years until I committed them to the council tip about 15 years ago. I still come across a few when rummaging in the attic. Bye for now, Franklin."

Thank you very much for all that Franklin! It's very good to hear from you even if it took a decade. Proof that perseverance pays! Now, wouldn't it be nice to learn that the car survives..?

If you enjoy what I do here on Maximum Mini and would like to help me continue, then I would very much appreciate a donation towards keeping this blog going. Click here.

 

There it is! The Gnat mystery has finally been solved thanks to its creator

Picture Franklin Woodcock

Inspired by the Mk1 Sprite, Franklin asked an illustrator friend to come up with a design sketch

Picture Franklin Woodcock

Franklin: 'He was a keen designer and car enthusiast but not a mechanic - he didn’t realize that his nicely sloping bonnet would not suit the high, forward biased engine package of the Mini'

Picture Franklin Woodcock 

"His drawings show a credible idea of what a 1990s Mini special should look like but unfortunately my body building skills did not match up"

Picture Franklin Woodcock

The car's body was made from plywood, MDF and filler ('lots of it')

Picture Franklin Woodcock

 The chassis was designed and welded up in a single garage

Picture Franklin Woodcock

 The 'tappet' adjuster for the rear suspension inside the triangulated corners is just visible here

Picture Franklin Woodcock

'Although I am not very proud of the body design I think my detailing was good, especially the dash'

Picture Franklin Woodcock

Grill made from plastic curtain rail, badge moulding was a ceiling light rose with a badge made by a graphic designer mate

Picture Franklin Woodcock

The seats were homemade, too, and again plywood was used, furbished with homemade cushions

Picture Franklin Woodcock

Unipower GT to be restored

And another Unipower GT is being restored! Howard Darby dropped me a line asking for some information and attaching a few photos. He added: "Dear Jeroen, I hope you do not mind me contacting you but myself, Howard Darby and Bob Neville (RJN Motorsport) now own the ex-Peter Filby Unipower GT. The car at the moment is in the process of a complete rebuild."

I certainly do not mind and hope to learn a bit more about your restoration in the near future Howard, thank you!

This Unipower GT was owned by Peter Filby before being turned into a hill climb car in the 1980s

Picture Howard Darby

Howard Darby and Bob Neville are the new owners and have now started a full restoration

Picture Howard Darby

This photo was taken last week at the workshop where the body is being prepared for painting. 

Colour is going to be 'Autofarm Porsche Carrera Yellow', Howard added

Picture Howard Darby

It was a Ford yellow colour when owned by the great Filby. Here at Donington in 1977 

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

And again at around the same time, on a shoot with the works Mk4 Mini Marcos demonstrator

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Maya GT is star of Japan Mini Day 2018

Unlike other years, it seems that not so many Mini derivatives made it to the 26th Japan Mini Day, held in Hamanako last weekend. But fortunately there was Masato Kida's fully restored Maya GT, the car previously owned by Peter Filby and known as the Maya Maynot (more about it here and here). The pictures are kindly provided by Akira Shinozaki‎. Thank you!

'RKM 473G' plates are still on the Maya GT, known as the Maya Maynot

Picture Akira Shinozaki‎

The car was thought lost for a long time but all of a sudden re-appeared last year in Japan

Picture Akira Shinozaki‎

It is now fully restored and owned by Masato Kida. Only 12 Maya GTs were made

Picture Akira Shinozaki‎

This one now comes with a full space frame chassis, but retains its Mini power

Picture Akira Shinozaki‎

The car is in the good company of an Austin A30 at its new home in Japan now

Picture Akira Shinozaki‎

The Maya Maynot survives!

Some great news reached me today: the Maya GT that was once registered 'RKM 473G' and also known as 'The Maya Maynot' (full story here) is alive and well! The last trace of it dated back to 1983, but no further news was heard until now. The car survives in Japan, where it seems to have been lovingly restored. These photos were placed online by Makoto Sugiyama.

Incidentally, I came across the very same car when browsing the famous Filby Files earlier this month (more here), and so I can include some further historical photographs taken at the time when it was owned by Peter Filby and driven by his then-girlfriend Caroline (signature Filby-photo here). The original 'frogeye' headlights had by then been replaced by Hillman Avenger lights, placed low in the modified bonnet. A front air dam and a massive rear spoiler were added, too.

Fast forward a couple of decades and the Mini's original headlights appear to have been fitted once again, now just like the Camber GT had them at their low position in the car's nose. The rear spoiler and air dam have gone, too, while a subtle air scoop was added to the bonnet. I have no further information, but love to learn more. New owner: please do get in touch. For more on the 10 known Camber and Maya GTs, click here.

Now restored and with the looks of the Camber GT again: 'RKM 473G' lives!

Picture courtesy Makoto Sugiyama

This car had all sorts of headlights. From the Maya GT's 'frogeyes', to Hillman Avenger units and back to Camber GT style Mini classic headlights

Picture courtesy Makoto Sugiyama

Dark blue with red body details and gold Minilites form a remarkable colour choice but fits in okay

Picture courtesy Makoto Sugiyama

I have no idea what sort of engine lurks in there now, but I'm quite sure it's not the car's original 848

Picture courtesy Makoto Sugiyama

Window display proves the current Japanese owner is aware of Maximum Mini, too. 

Do get in touch if you like

Picture courtesy Makoto Sugiyama

This is the car when owned by Peter Filby. The 848 engine had already been replaced at the time

Picture the Filby Files / Jeroen Booij archive

The colour seen here was referred to as 'tinned salmon', but Ford Blue followed later

Picture the Filby Files / Jeroen Booij archive

The car's restoration was described in a number of issues of Alternative Car magazine in the early 80s

Picture the Filby Files / Jeroen Booij archive

The Filby Files - and what you find in them

While in the UK earlier this month, it was also about time to fulfill an agreement I'd made some two years ago with Complete Kit Car magazine editor Ian Stent. Ian had written to me about the famous Filby Files he now owned as the caretaker of the publishing company set up by Peter Filby in the 1970s. He wrote: "I have piles of pictures still waiting to be correctly archived. There is one box of pics and paper cuttings which I have from Peter Filby, all relating to a Mini book I don’t think he ever published. These are largely on standard Mini variants (press pictures etc), but I also have quite a few pics of one-offs and also some (but sadly not all I think) of the original pictures from Peter’s Amazing Mini book. You’d be welcome to come here and use my scanner to grab the images/information that you want…" 

But meanwhile, Ian had resigned as the editor and the files had moved hundreds of miles up north with new man on the job Adam Wilkins, the magazine's current editor. Fortunately Adam was happy to have me, too. And so it happened that on a sunny Tuesday morning, while Adam was sobering up from Stoneleigh, I crashed into his office and took a deep dive into what have to be world's most famous Kit Car archives. And I was not disappointed. There were many, many photographs and documents of which the majority was really well archived, too. I recognized loads of pictures from Filby's books and magazine articles and it was really good to see the originals, sometimes in colour as opposed to the printed versions that were black and white.

Now, when you know Peter's writings you'll surely remember his tongue-in-cheek style, ever so often richly accommodated with remarks on women plus the matching photographs taken by himself. Peter was, and no doubt still is, a real ladies-man. And the ultimate proof was found after about an hour of rummaging through the files. There it was: in between the hand written notes, brochures, prints, negatives and slides: a woman's panties. I'm not making this up. It was no doubt hastily tucked away in a drawer of the filing cabinet somewhere in the 1980s. Adam and I had a great laugh about it and of course I had to take a picture of it. Up to you, Peter!

The man himself, Peter Filby with one of his Unipower GTs - he owned two of them

Picture courtesy Performance Publishing 

Typical photograph from The Filby Files, combining his passion for cars and girls. Here a Nimrod

Picture courtesy Performance Publishing 

Pictures were preferably taken in summer with the ladies scarcely clad. Here a Siva Buggy

Picture courtesy Performance Publishing 

Showing the advantages of a hatchback door… Mini Marcos Mk4 from the Filby Files

Picture courtesy Performance Publishing 

Bikini girl in a Stimson Mini Bug Mk2. Peter Filby was - and no doubt still is- a real ladies man

Picture courtesy Performance Publishing 

I'm not making this up: the panties found in the actual Filby Files earlier this month

Picture Jeroen Booij

Camber/Maya files: RKM 473G

We are nearing the end of the Camber/Maya files series, as I am running out of information on known cars, although I have a few surprises left. Anyway: information on some of the Camber and Maya GTs was brief but in some cases these articles lead to previous owners or even current owners of cars that I thought could have been scrapped. Have a look in the files by clicking here to see what I wrote and found out about in the last few months. Other cars have been very thoroughly described over a period, which helped the research, and the car that is featured here is definitely one that fits that bill.

And there's a good reason for that as its owner in the 1970s was no one less than the one and only true kit car guru mister Peter Filby. In the many, many, magazines that he published in the period the 'Maya Maynot', as it soon became known, was a regular topic and it can be seen in the background on pictures in other articles too. Originally the car came with 850cc engine "which expired rather suddenly at an unmentionable speed, so Caroline, and her boyfriend Peter Filby, decided to drop in something a little more healthy like a 998 Cooper lump", wrote Hot Car magazine in 1975. At around that time the headlights were changed to rectangular units from Hillman's Avenger, a job that was carried out by the Lenham Motor Co. Also the colour was changed to 'Tinned Salmon' with a black stripe plus a front spoiler was fitted, while later pictures show it with a rather amazing rear spoiler in Can Am style, too!

The car was used on a daily basis, which did not do much good, and a couple of years later it was decided to refurbish it somewhat more thoroughly as "the general air of dilapidation was not helped by the rather unusual styling, which although bizarre at first, does tend to grow on one", wrote Filby. A series in Alternative Car magazine followed. The engine, brakes and steering were rebuilt, starter engine, fuel pump and dampers were replaced, the doors were fitted with new hinges and interior panels, and the body work around these was strengthened. A new rear window and new windscreen rubbers were fitted, sound proofing, rubber mats and new seats were ordered and the car was repainted in Ford Olympic Blue. It cost some 55 hours and 550 pounds (material only) to do the job. Some issues later, the car was advertised for sale in the magazine for 750 pounds only, which seemed a bargain. Where did it go? It appears to have been on the road for the last time in 1983.

UPDATE 24 May 2017: the car survives and is beautifully restored in Japan. Click here.

The Maya GT in its original guise, including 'frogeye' headlights

Picture courtesy The amazing sports car journal

Oh behave! Filby's then-girlfriend with the car, now with Avenger lights

Picture courtesy Hot Car magazine 

By that time original 850 engine was replaced by a 998 Cooper unit 

Picture courtesy Hot Car magazine

Some years later the 'Maya Maynot' was overdue for a major restoration

Picture courtesy Gerry Hulford

This is what became of it at the time. Colour is Ford Olympic blue here

Picture courtesy Alternative Car magazine

That's a nasty rear spoiler! But who bought the car from Filby?

Picture courtesy Alternative Car magazine