Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #76

 

2025 Season has kicked off - this is what happened in May

Unique one-off Mini based single seater for sale

Fisher Spyder looses all oil at Doune hillclimb

 

Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #53

 

Supercharged 997 Spenceley Special is rather special

Last events of the year in pictures

Broadspeed GTS raced in Adelaide Rally - plus replica in the making

Graham's mad Minis, Marcos and Ogles

About seven years ago I wrote about the mad Mini engines built by Graham Cooper (click here). In an old baptist chapel in Sedgley, West Midlands, Cooper (no relation) built some truly overbore engines with 1400; 1450; 1465; 1500; 1520 and even a 1556cc version, based on a 970 'S' block, using 170 thou thin-ring sand cast pistons and a unique Laystall Engineering crank. According to Car & Car Conversions magazine it was even reliable! There was also a much-modified Mini with a chopped, deseamed, lowered and much-raked body and I thought I'd never find out more about that.

Wrong. I was lucky to finally get in touch recently with Graham, now in his mid-80s. Although he owned dozens of Minis, he does remember that particular car: "I was building the engine for myself, just to see what could be done. A chap named William Cole came in and just said: how much is that gonna be? I want it and I'm gonna pay for it. He did the body that you have seen on that picture. The engine was dead reliable, we only kept on changing the head gaskets because they blew out at 8,000rpm. When Car & Car Conversions wrote about me, that was good, but we couldn't cope with the work. I was a one-man band, you see, with just my wife doing the accounts."

I also found that Graham had raced both an early Mini Marcos as well as an Ogle himself at Mallory Park in 1966! Unfortunately he doesn't remember much about the Ogle. Or actually: the Ogles, as he owned two of them: "I was buying and selling the odd car at the time and had two Ogles. They just went to people who wanted something else. But I don't even remember what colours they had." And the Marcos? "Well, that got out of control and ended upside down. There was no roll cage and it had pushed a round hole just above my head."

Thank you never the less Graham!

These are not Graham's cars, but the man did race both a Mk1 Mini Marcos as well as an Ogle in the UK

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

The mad Mini GT 1500, with 1556cc engine by Graham Cooper and body by Bill Cole

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Spring 1966: Cooper at Mallory Park in the Mini Marcos, which ended upside down

Picture Andrew Griffiths

New pictures of Nieuwenhuis Special

Four new pictures of the Nieuwenhuis Special turn up thanks to reader Michael van der Meij. Once again they were taken at the Trophy of the Dunes race at Zandvoort in 1968. When I first heard of the car a long time ago I was eager to find out more, which took several years. Eventually I found out it was built by Henk Nieuwenhuis of Geldrop in The Netherlands, who'd emigrated to the isle of Crete. I interviewed him back in 2013, when he told me he built the car in 1967 in the attic of his parental house. 

He said: “You could either watch other people race, or build something yourself on a shoestring. I decided to do the latter and started making some drawings. It was all pretty simple, I just wanted to race. Since I had some Mini engines lying around, one of them a Cooper, I simply had to use that. I was a graphical designer by trade and so wanted it to look nice, too. At first it was a roadster, later I closed the body with gullwing doors." 

Unfortunately the gull winged racer does not survive since Nieuwenhuis re-used most parts to built up other cars and ultimately binned the car's chassis frame, or so he told me. I have still never seen any picture of it in its initial roadster form, as Nieuwenhuis didn't have these either.

More pictures of the car - also in colour here.

Zandvoort 1968 - That's Henk Nieuwenhuis with his home-built Special

Picture through Michael van der Meij

Lightweight and rear engined it must have been easy to oversteer, as demonstrated here!

Picture through Michael van der Meij

Mini subframe plus Cooper engine with double SUs and massive end pipe well visible here

Picture through Michael van der Meij

Sneaking passed a Lotus 47 in a sharp corner..? (the Lotus came 2nd overall)

Picture through Michael van der Meij

Mystery Mini derivative (83)

From Denmark (where the last mystery Mini derivative was located) over to Germany for the next. And this is an intriguing one, which I really hope some of you here will be able to tell me more about. I was made aware of these pictures with the question for more information. I didn't know anything about it but managed to get in touch with Ralf Streethawk, who took these pictures. Unfortunately he didn't know much either, writing: "Hello, I made these pictures in Bergkamen in the Easter weekend. The car was parked next to a Pilgrim and a Spartan. Greetz, Ralf."

Next, I asked a German friend. Again he didn't know it but he did ask another friend who did, leading to the following information, translated from German: "Yes I know this racing series. It's similar to a Formula V but with the Mini engine and the smallest diameter disc brakes of the Cooper that exist. I can't think of the name of these racing cars since it was a long time ago."

Well, well, a German racing series of its own using Mini power. Surely some of you will know that? Do note that this car appears to be road registered also! Thanks Ralf Streethawk for allowing me to use the pictures.

Sleek single seater racer from Germany, used in a racing series. 1990s or 200s?

Picture Ralf Streethawk

Wheels (12") may be the only giveaway to this racing car being Mini powered

Picture Ralf Streethawk

But there you go. That is a Mini engine driving the rear wheels. Who knows more?

Picture Ralf Streethawk

Is American mystery racer an SWM prototype?

A mystery Mini based racer from the USA has intrigued me ever since I saw it for the first time in 2012. (click here). In the next years I got in touch with now-owner Steve Steeb of Michigan, who told me: "I have had no luck trying to identify it. I contacted a number of Vintage Racing people and a lot of Mini Cooper racers but have struck out." (his full story with more detail here).

Now, last week I bumped into some old pictures of a racing prototype built under the SWM name in Germany in the mid-1960s. This car was sold through auctioneer Bonhams (here), which gave some interesting information in its description. It was supposedly made in small numbers (6 to 7) by brothers Stefan and Wenzel Mannl of München. The cars originally used BMW 700 boxer-power 'which was later changed for an 850cc unit equipped with twin-plug ignition'. They were hill climbed and raced at a great number of events, amongst them the Ratisbona Bergrennen, Sudelfeld Bergrennen, Neubiberg Flugplatzrennen, the Schainsland hill climb, Rossfeld hill climb (where no less than 3 SWMs were entered in 1965) and at the circuits of Trier, Ulm-Laupheim and Innsbruck.

What struck me most is the body shapes and the size of the SWM prototype, definitely bearing similarities to our American mystery racer. At least more than any other contemporary racer car I can think of. Owner Steve Steeb ads: "Interesting. Similar wheel openings and front and rear profiles. I'll go back down the rabbit hole and see what I can turn up. I also recently contacted a guy in Florida who does a lot of research on American fibre-glass one-offs. I sent him a few pictures. He apparently travels sometimes and I am close enough to Detroit that maybe he could come see it someday. Meanwhile it is tarped and awaiting its turn in line (might be a few years!). THANKS for keeping me in mind! Cheers, Steve". Do let me know what you think, too.

This Mini powered racer has been a mystery for ages now. Can it be solved?

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

The car's owner believes it was never finished and has no clues about its identity

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

But looks at these two! They are SWM prototype racers from Germany

Picture Bonhams Auctioneers

They were raced in the mid-1960s and supposedly 6 or 7 were made

Picture Bonhams Auctioneers

Initially they used 700 cc boxer engines from BMW's small rear-engined car

Picture Bonhams Auctioneers

This example was sold by Bonhams auctioneers in 2011

Picture Bonhams Auctioneers

New Mini based cars keep on popping up

I'm regularly asked wether I still hear of Mini based cars new to me. The answer, without a doubt, is yes. After Maximum Mini 3 was finished in 2016 I've kept a folder with new discoveries and it counts over a 100 new-found cars by this time. Yes, I've been thinking of a new book. 

Last week alone two cars I'd never heard of before were brought to my attention. First of them was an Estate named Nifty, which was supposedly only seen at the 1984 Stoneleigh Kit Car show, where it was photographed by Richard Axtell. I have asked around but very little appears to be known about it. According to Steve Hole the company behind it was named Nifty Cars, but that's all he could ad. Chris Rees did have a nice anecdote though. He wrote: "This is a great discovery! I was a young journalist at Stoneleigh that year and was told by Peter Filby not to take any pictures of it as it wasn't important. I've regretted it ever since..."

Second discovery came from the USA and I was made aware of it by a number of readers (thank you all!). It's an ultra-low open-wheel two-seater sports racer with the Mini engine at the back and was offered for sale in Coldspring, Texas. Once again information was very scarce. From the ad: "Custom built open wheel car. What you see is what you get. We know nothing about it, used to run years ago, the man building it passed away and we are selling it for his wife. No title." As always, I'd love to learn a little more about the both of them... And keep those messages coming.

Mini based Nifty was unveiled at the 1984 Stoneleigh Kit Car show...

Picture Richard Axtell

...Only to disappear right after its launch. What happened to Nifty Cars..?

Picture Richard Axtell

Mystery open wheel racer was offered for sale in Coldspring, Texas, USA

Picture Jamie Trogus-Durdin

It's not a car I have come across before - I think. Who knows more about it?

Picture Jamie Trogus-Durdin

Mini engine at the rear, uses very long inlet manifold and exhaust. Number plate says 'Test Car 56'

Picture Jamie Trogus-Durdin

American mystery racer remains a great mystery

Its is over eight years ago since I posted this message about an American racer totally shrouded in mystery. Unfortunately the code remains uncracked so far and the car made it to Maximum Mini 3 simply as 'American mystery racer'. 

Meanwhile, however, I have been in regular touch with the car's current owner Steve Steeb of Michigan, and last week Steve flashed over a number of new detail pictures. From his messages: "Jeroen, I am the current owner of the blue Mini variant sports racer on page 96 of Maximum Mini 3 book. I have had no luck trying to identify it. I contacted a number of Vintage Racing people and a lot of Mini Cooper racers but have struck out. I was talking to a person at a local car show about my 1963 Austin Mini Cooper (997) and he sent me info on your books and suggested I check in with you. I wonder if anyone has ever offered you more information on the car I have."

"I'm not convinced it has ever been completed due to the lack of wiring and brake lines. On the other hand - it is so complete that I think it more likely someone took it apart to paint the frame or something and never put it back together. And pay no attention to the 997 engine /transmission that is sitting in place. That did not come with the car, it is a spare that I bought for my very original 1963 Mini Cooper. I have had a few people contact me that want to put a motorcycle engine in it but I am afraid it is some rare part of Mini history and had best not allow it to be butchered (Hoorah! - JB). I will continue to keep it for a while and continue to try and find a bit more information so I can restore it or let it slip away."

I also wondered how Steve got hold of the car and this is his answer: "A friend of mine who was an awesome welder had it; he said he took it in exchange for a bunch of welding he did for some guys. He had raced motorcycles in his younger days and I think he was looking for something to get him back on the track that was a little safer than bikes! He knew I had Mini stuff and had raced a Bugeye Sprite in my younger days. He had made a new oil tank for the dry sump for my Lola and asked me to help him assemble it and help him find missing parts (like an engine assembly). I loaned him my spare 997 just so he could see if it fitted - it did! About then he was diagnosed with cancer and got really sick and died. When he was first diagnosed he told me to come and get it and we would get to work on it so he could race it one day. But then he quickly got really sick and just before he died he told me to keep it and think of him if I ever got it together and raced it. So like my Mini Cooper - here's another car with a story and some personal history. I'm not sure if I am up to assembling it and getting it race ready with all the other projects I have but..."

Quite a story, isn't it? It would be really good to find the car's missing history in order to motivate Steve to restore it, so if you recognize the car, please do drop me a line. 

UPDATE 14:30. Louis Lempereur, who is restoring the sole Mini powered Mean Sonora (click here), writes: "Hi Jeroen. This is a very strange car. I wonder about the huge rear wheels. About my Méan Mini, someone from the club told me it was "the Méan which could not run in fourth gear". Indeed, it was fitted with 13" wheels and big tyres. This was too much for the original 850 engine made for 10" wheels and small tyres! Now I have a 1275cc and many short gear ratios are available from the UK, so handling the bigger wheels should be no problem. So, I wonder why and how this racer was fitted with such huge wheels. Thanks for your mails! Louis."

Steve's American mystery sports racer with (some of) its body parts...

Picture Steve Steeb

...And without. The car's spaceframe chassis looks to be well made

Picture Steve Steeb

Was the car ever assembled? Perhaps not. Does anyone recognize that body?

Picture Steve Steeb

Elva has been suggested but it doesn't seem to be that. Massive tyres fit only just

Picture Steve Steeb

Rear suspension. Home made or borrowed from another manufacturer?

Picture Steve Steeb

Mini engine that is currently placed is a spare 997 from Steve's Mini Cooper

Picture Steve Steeb

Front suspension uses some Mini bits, too

Picture Steve Steeb

It seems only logical that this car was built to use Mini power as the engine fits right in

Picture Steve Steeb

Gear lever is placed on the right hand side, not unlike the Unipower GT

Picture Steve Steeb

Radiator and petrol tank that came with the car

Picture Steve Steeb

More (aluminium) bits that belong to the car's bodywork. It's all there

Picture Steve Steeb

NZ Hamlin Special crashed

These two pictures were posted on Facebook recently but unfortunately I don't know whose photos they are, so do let me know if it was you. Interestingly, they show the Hamlin Mini Special that was made by New Zealand Mini racer Frank Hamlin in the mid-1960s. The car was supposedly raced with success, although Frank may have been just a little too enthusiastic on the day these photos were taken. It looks to me the front conversion was carried out in aluminium? Also: apart from Hamlin's name on the front wing I can also read: 'Tuning: XXX Charles Ltd". Who knows what should be in place of those X's?, I can't find anything more on it. Any more information is much appreciated.

UPDATE 12 JUNE: I understand it is Frank Hamlin rather than Hamblin (amended in the article now). Ken Douglas sent a whole bunch of photographs and wrote: "The remnants of Frank's first Sprint (grey one) are currently owned by Neil Whiteing and I hear rumours that it is being restored. It had several owners after Frank and the most notable was the late motoring journalist and photographer Robin Curtis who converted it back into a road going car and used it to travel around the country for many years while reporting on and photographing Motorsport events around the country. It even featured as a charicature in the top corner of the front page of his "Motoraction" motorsport monthly news paper / magazine." Thank you very much Ken!

UPDATE 16 JUNE: All possible information in word and images now to be found here.

UPDATE 31 January 2022: Picture source now known, too, thanks to the HVRA - Historic & Vintage Racing Association NZ. It's Brian Hopping who took these photographs.

Frank Hamlin starts with number 78 in his streamlined and mildly chopped Mini

Picture Brian Hopping

Not much later the car looks like this... What went wrong? And what else do we know about it?

Picture Brian Hopping

Zandvoort 52 years ago - Nieuwenhuis Special

Last weekend, the Dutch Grand Prix was supposed to take place at the Zandvoort circuit but we all know that it is now postponed. To ease the pain (to some - I am not a Formula 1 fan myself), here some pictures of the same track back in 1968 when the Nieuwenhuis Special raced there in the Formula Libre class. More about this fascinating little racer here. The pictures were sent to me by Roald Rakers. Thanks again!

Raced at Zandvoort in the Formula Libre class in 1968 - Henk's Nieuwenhuis Mini based Special

Picture K Vingerhoets / Paul Rutten

And in colour, too. Note filler cap on roof and long filler neck. Large exhaust at the back

Picture source unknown

Seen here behind another Dutch racing Special - the Havas, which was Ford / Lotus powered

Picture Henk A. Hazelaar

Mead Special finds a new owner (1)

It's been a long time since news was heard from the Mead Special, built and raced in South-Africa in 1970 and under restoration by doctor Greg Mills for such a long time (full story here). It's here now, as long time Maximum Mini enthusiast Leon Daniels reported:

"Hi Jeroen, like most we’re also in lockdown. In our case in Abu Dhabi. I saw a report that the UAE is the safest place in the world to be right now and my wife and I are both working from home and we’re even busier than normal it seems."

But as you know I now bought the Mead Special. To be honest I have only seen it twice. First in the mid 1980’s when it was in the back yard of my friend and Mini whizz Farouk Meyer. Farouk was friends with Dr Mead and learnt lot from him. Both loved racing, and Farouk was a gifted race engine builder. I met Dr Mead’s wife after he passed, when I tried to buy a 1071 engine from her. I hesitated, and it sold sadly. I then bought a Mini 1000 S, which was a South African special edition. It was however fitted with the most amazing engine. Docile in traffic, not cammy at all, but that car absolutely flew. I drove it throughout my engineering studies and for the next five years to work, where it would do 100mph+ (that’s a far as the speedo went) on the last open clear stretch of road to the refinery where I worked. I still have that engine. The plan is to have Farouk rebuild it for me and fit it to the Mead Special, reuniting motor and chassis for the first time in 35+ years."

"The second time I saw the Mead Special body was at a company called Emgee who was restoring it for Dr Mills. Another doctor! And a brilliant author, researcher and race car driver. When I saw it at Emgee I begged that if it was ever sold, I’d love to have it. Years of pestering, and a recent fortuitous bit of news from my regular engine builder, Stuart Greig, suggested that the car needed to be moved due to relocation of the business. I enquired again, and luckily a week or so later Stuart collected it for me. I still haven’t seen it! I believe one of the shells is the body, and the other the mould. The idea is to restore it for the track, and maybe use it for track days. But certainly it will occupy pride of place in my collection."

"Incidentally, there was one other car that lead me to meet Farouk. I chased down a 1071 Cooper as on the road, and the owner gave me Farouk’s number. Farouk told me about the Mini that was for sale by a friend of his. This was the Mead engined Cooper 'S'. It belonged to a wealthy medical doctor - Dr Salduka. Yep, a third doctor in the story! I recently managed to buy the genuine matching numbers 1071 'S' from him. The car had some crazy 1970’s mods. Deseamed, sunroof, flared arches. Stuff you wouldn’t do to a car now. I will restore it exactly like that. It's the first 'S' that I ever saw, and the one that got me hooked on Minis."

What a great story, thank you Leon for sharing! There's more to follow with an update from the engine builder Farouk Meyer. Stay tuned.

Mead Special was built in 1970 by doctor Ron Mead in South-Africa

Picture via Leon Daniels

The restoration was never completed. Shell fitted is believed to be the mould

Picture via Leon Daniels

Chassis has been fully restored by Dr Greg Mills over a long period of time

Picture via Leon Daniels

Mead developed the Tecalamit fuel injection system in the UK before emigrating to South-Africa

Picture via Leon Daniels

Here the bodyshell is seen in yellow. Leon Daniels plans to complete the restoration now when he is out of lockdown in Abu Dhabi. He's already sourced the car's original engine

Picture via Leon Daniels

More on the Racing Reverend's Specials

After yesterday's article about racing Reverend Barry Whitehead (click here) a number of messages dropped in, linking to a little piece of film footage showing the reverend being interviewed. It's lovely and you can see it for yourself here.

I cut out from it the two pictures seen below and showing two of the Reverend's Mini based racing Specials - the original RBS, whicht is clearly front engined and which Whitehead himself was not particularly proud of, saying "My first car was technically a two-seater. It was an autocross special which I never wanted to cross, it was horrible, ignore that one". There's also two pictures of the later RBS 3B, which may well be the car supercharged 1100, which the late Allan Staniforth mentioned. More information would still be much appreciated.

Reverend Barry Whitehead in the first RBS - Mini powered and front engined. 'Ignore that one'

Picture source Youtube

While this rear engined racer is RBS 3B - Mini powered also and supposedly supercharged, too

Picture source Youtube

"It should be recorded that the Reverend Whitehead’s work on his car back at the vicarage changed it from being so unstable it once spun because he was changing from 2nd to 3rd on the straight, into a class winner"

Picture source Youtube