Urban Legend 6: the Kileen K16

Let's have a look at another car that has reached legendary status among afficionados and anoraks out here. It's the Killeen K16, also known as the Springbok K16 and it is one of many projects by Tom Killeen, a former Jensen engineer and draughtsman who passed away in 1991. And a very ingenious man he seemed, too. All the information that I have comes from Robert J. Allan, who runs the spares department of the British Imp Club (Killeen designed some Imp based cars, too) and who made an incredible effort on tracing Killeen's history (most of it can be seen here). I wrote to him years ago, and he replied: "Hi Jeroen. I have been doing a lot of research into the Killeen cars and have some original photographs of the K16 that have come from Peter Hardy, who is Tom's nephew." Bob's research led to the following (and I'm now richly quoting):

The K16 was a mid-engined open two seater sports car using the 1275cc Cooper S engine transversely mounted slightly ahead of the rear wheels. In Killeen's own words 'The concept of the K16 is the antithesis of the modern production car and intended to cater for a neglected minority.' He meant the advocates of small sports cars which were of minimalist design in terms of driver aids (no brake servo or power assisted steering) but could provide exceptional fun to drive as they are of light weight and have superior handling to most other road cars. The basic structure of the car consisted of two steel diaphragms flanges, a centre backbone tunnel, two high sill pieces and two pieces at the top of the door recess. This frame was covered with a steel skin spot welded onto it and was designed to collapse progressively in the event of an impact. A square section tube frame was attached to the rear diaphragm to support engine and transmission unit and to carry the rear suspension.

The body of the car was designed to be symmetric in shape both top to bottom and front to back. Only four moulds were needed to produce the panels, and the estimated coefficient of drag was 0.27, an incredibly low figure. Killeen's earlier cars used a flat Kamm back, but he believed this one to be better. However, he returned to a Kamm tail for the later K18 and K19. The K16 was a registered design and production was by Springbok Engineering of Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire. At least one car was built, registered YUE 896J, but there is no vehicle currently registered with this number. Bob concluded: "Unfortunately I have been unable to locate the car, perhaps together we can make some progress?" That seemed like a good idea, and I tried a thing or two, but without any success so far. However, it would not surprise me if the K16 was still hidden somewhere, and so perhaps this little piece may help too. Who knows...

More Urban Legends here

Killeen K16: 'The antithesis of the modern production car' or so said creator Tom Killeen

Picture courtesy Robert J. Allan

MX5 anyone? But the Killeen K16 dates back to 1971. Registration is unknown to DVLA

Picture courtesy The Motor via Robert J. Allan

A remarkably basic car concept: mouldings for front and rear are one and the same

Picture courtesy Robert J. Allan

A 1275 Cooper 'S' was used. Note rear suspension fitted to square section tube frame

Picture courtesy Robert J. Allan

This picture shows the car with a different exhaust system. The Mini (?) tank is gone now, too

Picture courtesy Robert J. Allan

Only 4 moulds were needed to produce all panels. The estimated coefficient of drag was 0.27

Picture courtesy The Motor, via Robert J. Allan

Engine at rear, radiator and petrol tank at the front. Weight distribution must have been good

Picture courtesy The Motor, via Robert J. Allan

Urban Legend 5: the WSM 1100

Don't think I am running out of Mini derivatives material - au contraire - but as I mentioned before on these pages, there are a couple of creatures based on Mokes or 1100s that I find least as interesting as the stuff you will usually find here. See here and here to get an idea of what I mean. In fact one car that's been intriguing me from the very first time I heard about it deserves a place in our gallery of Urban Legends. It is the WSM 1100 that was built in 1965 by Douglas Wilson-Spratt and his team. After he'd joined forces with Jim McManus in 1961, WSM (Wilson-Spratt-McManus) soon started converting Sprites in lovely aerodynamically shaped coupes. Several were built and they proved quite succesful on the track, too. And there were not just WSM Sprites. A few more models followed.

When Wilson-Spratt could lay his hands on a rolled MG 1100 in 1965 with wrecked body work but undamaged chassis, he decided to turn it into a 100mph and 30mpg four-seater for personal use. A unique body was crafted by aluminium specialists Alec Goldie and Fred Faulkner of Peel Coachworks of Kingston-on-Thames. They transformed the car into a shapely 2+2 with aerodynamic nose section, inspired by Ferrari's 275 GTB, and long Kamm tail. The WSM 1100 retained it's donor's 94" wheel base as well as its interior and hydrolastic suspension and was painted bright red before Douglas Wilson-Spratt's private number 'DWS 97' was issued to it. One source mentions that the engine was the car's original 1100 bored out to 1139cc and now fitted with twin 1 1/2" SU carburettors, while another one believes the car was equiped with a 1275 Cooper engine.

Although WSM reportedly received several enquiries about replicas, the WSM 1100 remained a one-off. According to some because Wilson-Spratt was put off by the 70mph speed limit that was about to get introduced in the UK. The one built car was sold in late 1966. Perhaps its new owner was not too happy with it, as it was advertised for sale again less then a year later. This time in Charlton-on-Otmoor (Oxfordshire) and for 795 pounds, but that's where the trace ends. In the 1980's it was reportedly seen in a scrap yard, while in 2001 a former WSM Sprite owner said he'd seen it in original condition in Devon but despite several attempts it was never rediscovered. Another 10 years passed when Wilson-Spratt passed away in March last year, but his 1100 remains as mysterious as ever...

The WSM 1100 under construction at Peel Coachworks in London in 1965

Picture courtesy www.wsmcars.com

Finished in splendid aluminium. The new body was rivetted to the 1100's chassis

Picture courtesy www.wsmcars.com

This WSM was built from a rolled MG 1100 for Wilson-Spratt's personal use

Picture courtesy The Motor

The donor vehicle's 94" wheelbase was retained. Nose was Ferrari 275 GTB inspired

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

The car used a Kamm tail which was rather long due to 1100's wheelbase

Picture courtesy www.wsmcars.com

Alec Goldie (left) and Fred Faulkner of Peel Coachworks who built the car's body

Picture courtesy www.wsmcars.com

Wilson-Spratt entered the car for a few events. Here at Woburn Park hill climb

Picture courtesy www.wsmcars.com

At the start of Woburn Park, probably in 1966. Note standard Austin 1100 behind it

Picture courtesy www.wsmcars.com

Great duo. The 1100 was often used to tow more competitive WSM Sprites to races

Picture courtesy www.wsmcars.com

Urban Legend 4: the 1966 Le Mans Mini Marcos

How about a good story for Easter, full of mystery, intrigue and the ever lasting hope of resurrection?
You may know the Urban Legends series published at these pages, all about rare Mini derivatives of which not much is known about their survival. They are all intriguing in their own way. But the biggest mystery of them all may be the Mini Marcos that became 15th overall at Le Mans in 1966. Not just because of its heroic finish as the only British car at that year's endurance race in between all sorts of big Fords and Ferraris (full story here). No, mostly because of its mysterious disappearance afterwards (more here). It got stolen, or so it is believed. Not right after the race as most sources mention, but much later on. In 1975, according to French Mini historian Enguerrand Lecesne. Lecesne wrote a book about French Minis in racing ('Mini Cooper S de la série à la compétition'), including a full chapter about the French entered Mini Marcos. A must-read if you ask me.

This Mini Marcos (at the 1966 24-hours of Le Mans here) is missing since 1975 

Well. Lecesne has been searching for the car for way too many years now. All to no avail so far, although he did manage to trace down much of its history. According to him it was raced again in 1967 at the 1000 kilometres de Paris at the famous Montlhery track; hill climbed in Corsica in 1968 and later on rallied near Nice with a new owner, who took out the big radiator that was fitted originally to the car. It was sold again in 1973 to Michel Tasset in Paris who changed the car's colour from its famous sky blue to maroon. But then it happens and the car gets stolen in the autumn of 1975. By that time it had had five owner of which monsieur Giraud, a sponsor of Le Mans entrant Jean-Claude Hrubon, was the first. After him followed msr. Asse; mrs. Albertini and mrs. Mercier, before Tasset took it over.

Trouble was that pictures of the car's later life were very scarce. I'd never seen any until last week when 4 images of it, dating from Tasset's ownership, were unearthed by Lecesne. Two were taken very shortly before it got stolen and by now they appear to be the last trace known of this fascinating little car. The images can be seen here. Not only Enguerrand Lecesne has been looking for this little racer with its chequered history for years now. Michel Tasset has been doing the same thing since it was stolen from him on that fatefull day, some 37 years ago now. Wouldn't it be almost as heroic as the car's Le Mans finish if they would ever succeed in finding it again?

UPDATE 9 December 2016: The car has been found. See here.

Wide arches; Le Mans filler cap; rear lights all remain unchanged from its famous '66 outing

Picture courtesy Michel Tasset, through E. Lecesne

Mirror and foggies were added later on. This clearly is the 1966 Le Mans Mini Marcos, though

Picture courtesy Michel Tasset, through E. Lecesne

Tasset (pictured) changed colour from sky blue to maroon in mid-70s before car got stolen

Picture courtesy Michel Tasset, through E. Lecesne

New colour can be seen here. Also note interior with signature Mini Marcos dashboard

Picture courtesy Michel Tasset, through E. Lecesne

Urban Legend 3: the Nota Mini

After two British Mini derivatives that remain unfound, adding only to their legendary status (the Butterfield Musketeer - see here, and the Lawther GT - see here), let's go Down Under for my Urban Legend number three. It's the Nota Mini that deserves a bit of attention here. You don't know it? Not so strange as only one is likely to have been emerged, although one source mentions that two of these open two-seaters were built. This took place  late 1962/early 1963, making it defintely one of the very first Mini derivatives with the power plant places behind the seats. Only the Deep Sanderson prototype, dating back to late 1962 too, used a similar lay-out.

Anyway: the aluminium bodied Nota Mini was designed and built by Guy Buckingham who'd moved from the UK to Australia in 1952, to settle in Parramatta just outside Sydney and even closer to Warwick Farm racecourse. Buckingham started focussing on building race cars and came up with various racing and hill climbing specials, mostly one-offs. One of these came to life with a Mini-engine, reputedly from a crashed Cooper, and was used extensively for racing. The car eventually lead to the Nota Fang (or Nota Type 4) in the late 1960s, which became Nota's biggest succes with over a hundred units built between 1968 and 1975. What happened to its forebear remains unknown, though, like its technical specification that is mostly shrouded in mystery other then that it was Mini powered. From the three pictures that I have it seems the ultra low car uses non-Mini wheels (12"?). I wonder if it may still be tucked away in a shed somewhere out in that huge country..?

UPDATE 19 March 2012: click here.

Rare picture of the Nota Mini, seen here at Warwick Farm's Causeway corner

Picture courtesy Sports Car World

Same race, same corner, but now from a slightly different angle. Who's at the wheel?

Picture courtesy Australian Motor Sports & Automobiles

Guy Buckingham's Nota Mini was one of the earliest rwd Mini derivatives

Picture courtesy Australian Motor Sports & Automobiles

Urban Legend 2: the Lawther GT

Very few cars have been haunting me the last years as has the Lawther GT. Pardon me? Well, how about a nicely proportioned ultra low sports car with its Mini engine at the back, all designed and built by a motor sports enthusiast who later became a helicopter designer? Oh yes. The Lawther was built in 1967 by Robert Lawther and originally used only an 850cc engine, but is said to have been able to reach the 100mph mark at 6000rpm. The 850 engine was later replaced by an 1100.

I got quite far. One former owner sent me some splendid period pictures from the time when the thing was just finished; another sent a huge stack of photographs from the time when he owned it, plus there are some superb shots from Cars and Car Conversions mag that I have copies of now. In fact the file that I have on the Lawther GT is vast. But there is one thing missing: details of the Canadian who currently owns it. 'Cause that's where the car went in 2004 with the intention to fully restore it on that side of the world, or so I am told. And that is where the trail ends. I have contacted several Canadian sports car clubs that may know car and current owner, but even the very helpful chaps at the VARAC have all drawn a blank so far.

So before it drives me mad, please, Canadians, anyone. Lawther GT, where are you?

UPDATE 30 November 2011:
Somebody told me the car was sold last year... in Canada, but doesn't have any further details. Hmmm. Another comment came in from the last UK owner: "As you rightly say the car was bought by the son of a wealthy Canadian businessman who intended to have the car restored in Paris before importing it to Canada. What may assist you is that the car was collected by an English guy who had a one man firm transporting classic cars but also specialised in supplying classic cars to the tv and film industry. There cannot be many of these guys around and if he can be traced maybe he can identify the resto company in Paris he delivered it too. Good luck and looking forward to your next book." Thanks for that!

The Lawther GT in the UK in 2004, just before it was shipped to Canada

Picture courtesy Chris Gittins

Urban Legend 1: the Butterfield Musketeer

After Minis at Le Mans, the Camber/Maya files and Mystery Mini derivatives (that's still running here at an irregular basis), it's about time for a new series. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, may I introduce to you Maximum Mini's Urban Legends. A series about Mini derivative tales that may seem as hard to believe as totally irrelevant for those who do not care. Contrary to the fan, like yourself (or so may I assume, dear reader). The main questions here are: what ever happened to..., and, is there a survivor..?

And to kick off I thought it'd be nice to do so with the legendary Butterfield Musketeer - the alleged earliest of Mini derivatives that was just finished in time to make it to the Racing Car Show in London of January 1962. When I started researching the Musketeer years ago information was about as scarce as could be, and all the magazine articles and books that did mention it quoted right from the brochure. Apart from that the sources that mentioned production figures at all, chatted about 6 cars built. Humbug, or so I found out for when I'd finally tracked down the Musketeer's instigator/designer/builder Richard Butterfield in the USA. He entrusted me no more then 3 cars were ever built (full story plus many previously unseen pictures in my book - you don't believe I am giving it all away here, do you?!).

Anyhow, and here comes the legend bit that keeps on haunting me: according to Butterfield "One went to a company in Portsmouth while the other became a prototype for a twin-engine version but was never completed." The third car was the original aluminium prototype that was rebuilt with Mini Cooper engine and raced at Brands Hatch by well known Mini racer Christabel Carlisle. The thing that I find hard to digest is that it remains unknown to this day what happened to all three cars. With the prototype being a fully handbuilt car (the body was hand beaten by Williams and Pritchard's) and with a slice of motor show and racing history, that's certainly not the kind of vehicle to end up in a British scrap yard. So how about the other two? They threaten to become the holy grail to Mini derivativism to me. So please, let there be someone out there who knows something about them...

Three Butterfield Musketeers were built, not one is known. That's strange