Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #119

Mini Jem from The Protectors survives

Le Mans Mini Marcos 60 Years ago today

Join the Kit Car Crowd!

Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #96

One more celebrity owned Mini missing 

Japan Mini Day 2025

Triad reborn: a Mini based marvel on Menorca

Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #79

5 Stimson Scorcher replicas / rip-offs

Unipower GT: lost film footage found, director's daughter tracked down and a heavy crash

The 4-wheel drive Mini derivative - made by the Ford Motor Company

Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #24

Restored Méan Sonora BMC spectacularly presented

Events: from Blyton Park to Shelshley Walsh

New film footage of MoBi-One found

The Stimson Mini Bug of 'The Wombles'

Keeping up with the 'Mini based cars on British television' theme (last week's Unipower in The Troubleshooters here), I was sent this little movie clip below of 'The Wombles', which supposedly made it to the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, famously won by ABBA of Sweden. If you go to 1:50 in the clip you will see three beach buggies, two of them VW powered but number three being a Stimson Mini Bug!

Barry Tilbury wondered if it could be his car, which happens to be another example that made it to a British television series in the 1970s (see here and here). Although the Wombles clip comes in a pretty low quality, the registration of the Bug seen in that seemed to be different from Paul's. 'LPM 317K' perhaps? 

Well, almost. It turns out to be 'EPM 317K' and the car is known by arch Stimson enthusiast Paul Wylde who added "It lives in a field in Wales and the guy will not sell it - I tried." Pity. It is a great little car with some fun history that deserves some tender loving care after all.

The Wombles in their buggies, one of them being a 1972 Stimson Mini Bug

Picture Youtube

The car was registered 'EPM 317K' and is known to survive

Picture Youtube

 

The Wombles made it as an act to the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, famously won by ABBA

Video: Youtube

And that's the car today, sitting in a field in Wales with the owner not wanting to sell it

Picture courtesy Paul Wylde

Gordon Murray's IGM Minbug explained

Gordon Murray's car collection has been the subject of numerous articles in motoring magazine in recent times after the designer held an exhibition called 'One Formula' to celebrate being 50 years in business. You can still find the virtual 3D exhibition online here. 

The footage below was made by Top Gear magazine in which Murray tells a bit more about the IGM Minbug as well as his Midas parked next to it (from 45:45-on). Although he has the original Minbug, the one seen here actually is a replica made a few years ago. I'll write more about the discovery of the real car soon. Enjoy this one for now!

Video: Top Gear / Youtube

Mini Marcos Mk1 competition car started (well... almost)

When I was looking at Mk1 Mini Marcoses with competition shells lately I came across this video in the files, which I'd totally forgotten about. What we see is Gary Marlow's incredibly original car, which remains just about similar to what it looked like in 1966. I visited Gary some three years ago to see the Marcos' rear wheel arches as the ones on my car were too far gone to be saved. Gary suggested to start it up and I thought it was an idea to film that, expecting some very noisy moments with its side pipe. Well, the Marcos didn't start and Gary's neighbors remained friends. A nice snippet never the less!

Mk1 Mini Marcos remains just as it was raced by Barry Price in 1966. It didn't start though...

Video Jeroen Booij

Le Mans 1966 - Mini Marcos

This is my 10th anniversary present for you, dear reader. All the film footage I have found of the Mini Marcos at Le Mans in 1966 put together to make this one video. There were 24 clips in which it was seen, some several seconds, others just a fraction of that. Together with some more general Le Mans '66 material it makes some 3 and a half minutes of footage. I hope you'll like it - don't forget to turn on the sound! Oh and if you can't see it - click here.

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.

Video Maximum Mini / Juriaan & Jeroen Booij

Add-a-car on the move!

Moving images of 'Add-A-Car' have made it to these pages before, but another cool video has now been unearthed. To freshen up your memory - Add-A-Car was a Mini-based town car that could be turned into a six-wheeler, as built by the boys of Daventry's Southbrook Comprehensive School for the BP Buildacar competition in 1978 (click here to see the earlier film clip). Thanks to a number of readers who made me aware of it, new footage is now added below. It fully shows the many uses of the vehicle with teacher and pupils demonstrating it. Great stuff! Still it does raise the question: Could the car survive? 

Le Mans '66 - now in a theatre near you

Of all the races in the world the 24-hours of Le Mans may well be the best known. And of all the 24-hour races at Le Mans, held since 1923, the 1966 edition is perhaps considered as the best of them all. Why? Well, mainly due to the fact that Ford of America, of all marques, managed to beat the mighty Ferrari of Italy, which seemed simply invincible at the time. It's a story often told and clearly one worthy of a movie. In fact that movie has now been made. Yesterday evening it premiered in Europe and tomorrow it will be all over in theatres in the USA also, featuring Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby and Christian Bale as Ken Miles in lead roles.

Is there any place in the movie for a tiny little 1289cc Mini Marcos that found its way into the real race back in '66? I haven't seen it yet, but I don't think so. But you and I know that this little racer, run by a miniature team of enthusiasts became the darling of the crowds, was nicknamed 'La Puce Bleu' and came home at an incredible 15th overall in between these monsters of power, speed and fortune. Are you going? I am!

Le Mans '66 is known in the US as Ford vs. Ferrari - that's what it's about

Picture 20th Century Fox

But the real race wasn't just about Ford and Ferrari. At least not for me!

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

This little fellow was, in my view, the most heroic car of the 1966 24-hours of Le Mans!

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

The trailer of Le Mans '66 certainly looks promising

Video 20th Century Fox / Youtube

Unipower at the Motor show - 1969 & 2019

When it was new, the Unipower GT was a frequent visitor of motor shows, with the last works appearance in October 1969 when the Mk2 version was on display at the Earl's Court Motor Show in London. There is a lovely little promotional film by British Pathé, which I don't think I have ever included here before (Unipower from 1:26). The narrator: "The Unipower GT can be purchased in kit form for as little as 375 pounds or complete at up to 1,500 pounds. The fibreglass body incorporates a right hand gear shift."

Now, just over 50 years later, there is no doubt that the Unipower is a real classic and therefore it earns its place at the Classic Motor show in Birmingham. No less than three cars are on display this weekend: Tim Carpenter's chassis number 1, Gerry Hulford's racer plus Keith Hamer's car that has turned out to be the prototype as it was seen at the 1966 Racing car Show in London. I hope to be able to write a little more on that soon.

October 1969 - Unipower GT at the Earls Copurt Motor Show in London

Video British Pathé

November 2019 - Unipower GTs at the Classic Motor Show in Birmingham

Picture Pete Flanagan

Persuaders' 'Space Queen Special' clip

This is what I wrote in Maximum Mini 3 about the vehicle seen below: "Made for the television series The Persuaders, this Mini Moke-based car appeared in the 1971 episode ‘The Long Goodbye’. As a promotion vehicle for Space Queen soap, the mobile rocket is driven by the gorgeous Valerie Leon, who says she is, “supposed to be cruising at 5 miles an hour handing out 5 pounds to anyone with a Space Queen label in their front window.” But then Roger Moore comes by with a little more haste..."
With two of my favourite actors in it and a groovy 'made for movie' Mini derivative, it's a favourite from a series which - in my humble opinion - had the best possible opening theme of all time (click!). With the little movie clip now appearing on the world wide web and available to everyone, I think it deserves to be shared here also. What's not to like about it?

"Would you please get off my rocket!"
Movie clip: ITV, via 'Vintage et Industrial'

'Motor Sport tries Motorail' - the full film

It's been over eight years ago that I wrote about a promotional film named 'Motor Sport tries Motorail' about the 1968 Motorail Trophy (click here). I bought a dvd with the film at the time, showing a number of cars which were transported by train from London to Torbay to do a hill climb and an autotest event. It was filmed in early May 1968 and two cars of particular interest in the movie are Morris Bishop's clever four-wheel steered MoBi-One and a fine Camber GT / Maya GT (this one). Well... the full movie can now be found on the internet in a good quality and I thought I'd include it here also. Enjoy and have a good weekend.

Movie British Transport Films

More Quasar footage from BBC

More film footage from the BBC Archives, now of the Quasar Unipower. The prototype even, easily recognizable with its transparant inflatable seats and driven in Perivale. The comment is lovely, too:
"Admittedly there is a feeling of insecurity when you're batting along in a four-speed glass case that can do 50 miles an hour. It has an 1100 cc engine and can at least 35 miles to the gallon. A gallon of petrol of course, not milk."

Quasar Unipower prototype in loverly BBC footage. Who recognizes the driver?
Video BBC Archive

TiCi on BBC footage

The BBC continues to post little movie clips from their archives. And this time it's the TiCi that made an appearance on a program called 'Record Breakers'. The BBC added: "You might look a bit silly driving it, but imagine the parking savings!"
Reader and former TiCi owner Paul Wylde adds: "Looks like for the show this one may have had a electric motor as can't see or hear the engine." That's a good one. I only know that 'GAY 73L' was used for promotional purposes and driven around London by Stirling Moss, while it was owned until not too long ago by my good friend Ian Mitcheson. It certainly was Mini powered when Ian had it.

The TiCi on 'Record Breakers' in the BBC studios in 1973
Video BBC Archives

Hustler in Wood being constructed, driven by William Towns

This lovely 3-minute video has been uploaded on Youtube recently, showing the build of a wooden Hustler - also known as the Hustler in Wood. We see the thing being constructed, using panel saw and pegs. And then we see the designer himself - William Towns - at the wheel, showing it on High Street and picking up the children from school. Enjoy!

Hustler in Wood being constructed and driven by William Towns

Video Youtube / Diccon Towns

Oh, and could this actual car survive? Oh, yes. I found it in a barn in West-Sussex several years ago...

Picture Jeroen Booij

Blue Peter Wood & Pickett Mini Margrave - a survivor?

This lovely little video was uploaded by the BBC archive earlier this week. It's a clip from 'Blue Peter' and shows a 1975 Wood & Pickett Mini in all its glory. I wondered if the car survived and Ole O Pedersen got back to that question with some pictures of a W&P Mini that was seen for sale several years ago, probably in 2010. It certainly looks to be the same car to me. Anyone knows of its current whereabouts?

Video BBC archive

Wood & Pickett Mini Margrave then and now (well, almost). Where is it now?

Picture BBC archive / Ole O Pedersen

Interior certainly looks similar, just take a look at the bottom right dash switches

Picture BBC archive / Ole O Pedersen

Car is worse for fear, or was when offered for sale some years ago

Picture BBC archive / Ole O Pedersen

Biota on 1970s film

Biota enthusiasts and brother Jos and Peter Niessen (this is their website) found out about another Biota car surviving recently Well, only just, as this car  - a Biota Mk1 road car registered 'SFR 943J' - appears to be in a demounted stage being stored in a garage at the moment. The good thing, however, is that owner Eric Brierley sent them some period film footage of when the car was looking splendid back in what have to be the early 1970s. I have copied it below. Thanks to all, enjoy!

Beach, boulevard, Biota. Made by the man who built the car, this home video gem oozes the 1970s
Video courtesy Eric Brierley / http://biota.jouwweb.nl

The Freewheelers and their Stimson (video)

The late 1960s / early 1970s British tv series The Freewheelers has come past here before, but only in 'screen grabs' (click here). This was a series about a group of teenagers who get caught up in the plans of an ex-Nazi officer; totally period and starring a Stimson Mini Bug. I asked for moving images, and now received them. Talking Pictures TV was showing The Freewheelers once again recently and days after the broadcast, a video appeared on Youtube compiling the Stimson driving scenes. I thought there were two cars seen in the series, an orange one and a yellow one, but this appears to be not the case. Ian Wegg wrote: "There was definitely only one Mini Bug used, 'RPX 885K', you can also see the registration a few seconds earlier in the Halnaker scene. The orange colour is the result of auto correction on the screen grab." He seems to be right! Oh - as you may also remember, that one car was found only a few year ago, and it's awaiting a restoration awaiting its restoration now! Enjoy the video.

Video courtesy Youtube / Colonel Buchan

Perivale 1968: driving the Quasar Unipower

You may have seen this lovely little film. Or you may have not. It shows the prototype Quasar Unipower City-car including its transparent and inflatable seats which missed in the latter production cars. It's filmed in Perivale and you may also note Unipower GTs in various production stages in the backdrop. I think that's Unipower's development engineer Nick Ouroussoff as a passenger. Enjoy!

Video courtesy British Pathe / Youtube