Autocrossing 1967

Thanks for several messages with links to two lovely videos from the 1967 Players No.6 Autocross Championship, showing some great action filmed that year. There's a number of Mini based cars to be seen in action and one of them is the infamous 'Golden Egg' as it was raced by Paul Kerridge. I'd like to do a more comprehensive article about that car soon.

Other brief but worthy appearances were filmed in Stafford and come from a Peel Viking with (fake?) number plate 'RED 1' (it's not this car is it?) and a typical autocross Special made by getting rid of as much of the Mini's bodywork as possible. Like Kerridge, the guy who races that thing is really pushing it! Last but not least there's what looks to be a home made but never the less very nice MiniSprint registered 'TON 1', too. Enjoy!

7616 RW became better known as The Golden Egg, raced by Paul Kerridge

Picture Roscoe Films / Hamish Racing / Youtube

This Ogle SX1000 was very successful in the hands of Kerridge of Shellford

Picture Roscoe Films / Hamish Racing / Youtube

It was built up using a crashed Mini Cooper with 1275 tuned by Don Moore

Picture Roscoe Films / Hamish Racing / Youtube

But what have we got here? Yes, that's a Peel Viking. Not so sure I've seen this one before

Picture Roscoe Films / Hamish Racing / Youtube

Could 'RED 1' be its real registration? Could it be this car in an earlier stage?

Picture Roscoe Films / Hamish Racing / Youtube

One of quite a few autocross Specials build from a Mini with very little bodywork left

Picture Roscoe Films / Hamish Racing / Youtube

It looks like a number of similar cars: the Clegg Special, Nova Special or LEDA1 

Picture Roscoe Films / Hamish Racing / Youtube

And another super cool registration: TON 1 is on what looks to be a home made MiniSprint

Picture Roscoe Films / Hamish Racing / Youtube

Video Roscoe Films / Hamish Racing / Youtube

Video Roscoe Films / Hamish Racing / Youtube

Hrubon Phaeton Six - meant as a rallying Twini?!

The Hrubon Phaeton as well as its later sibling the Schmitt, both made in France, were a sort of Mini Moke but then substantially shorter so that it could be parked head-first in a spot. But there was a six-wheeled 'long' wheelbase version of it, too. I only had one picture of that (registration '286 W 67' well visible) and very little information. 

But recently I came across another picture of it. It's a horribly low-quality shot, but at least it does provide some of the much-hoped-for more info. It shows us that the car was dark blue in colour, but what's more: a tiny little side bar with info tells us it was not just available as a four-seater, but also as a Twini! From the text: "Disponible en bi-moteur pour les rallyes debut '82". That is: Available with twin-engines for the 1982 rally season. For heaven's sake - who knows more about that!

Hrubon Phaeton Six was, as far as I know, only built in a number of one

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

This snippet gives a little bit more. Available with two engines as a rally car!

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Prisoner Moke breaks record

You may have read or heard that the Mini Moke 'HLT 709C', as famously used in the 1960s series The Prisoner was sold in auction last weekend. I asked the car's owner Phil Caunt, who beatifully restored the car, how he experienced the sale and he was kind enough to send a write up. Over to Phil:

 

"Silverstone Auctions, NEC Birmingham, Saturday 13th of November 2021. After being there all day since 9 am, lot 350 'HLT 709C The Prisoner Mini Moke' comes up for auction at around 4.30 pm. I admit that it has been a nervous few weeks since entering the car. Advertised previously on Maximum Mini but sadly with no success, I finally took the plunge and entered her, she was estimated at between £50.000 and £60,000 owing to her very famous past, and of course with full provenance to the cult 1960s television show 'The Prisoner' starring Patrick McGoohan."

"Having restored a previous Prisoner Moke CFC 916C back in the 1990's (this car now resides in Los Angeles with my dear friend of over 20 years) buying and restoring this car was just 'meant to be' for me, and now after owning her for 6 years the time to say goodbye has arrived. Going straight in at £50,000, the bidding quickly rose to a final £69,750 including fees. And it was over... in less that 2 minutes! I believe the buyer got himself/herself a bargain to be honest, but hey... that's how it goes. I said my goodbyes, and left. Sad... of course I am. But I have other classics to play with and all are far more user friendly than a Mini Moke. It's the end of an era for me, having owned 100's of cars including many many Minis of all types... I still hanker after an Ogle SX... maybe one day if my health allows it."

Thank you very much Phil. I was wondering if he knew where it goes to now, but Phil doesn't: "I'm afraid I have no idea whatsoever who the buyer was. I am led to believe that the car will remain in the UK, but this is not confirmed." Well, let's see if the new owner will get in touch.

The Prisoner Moke in the salesroom of Silverstone Auctions last weekend

Picture Phil Caunt

Lining up the Mini derivatives!

There's no doubt that Mini derivatives are gaining popularity. The NEC in Birmingham was the venue of a classic car show last weekend and the Minikits Club had really done its best to show a wide variety of Mini based cars, which had worked out particularly well. On their display not only three Stimson cars (Mini Bug, Trek and Scorcher) but also a lovely TiCi and ultra-rare Hustler Sport. They also had a separate corner with a Mini Marcos and two GTM Coupes in primary colours red, blue and yellow. Well done boys! 

Another display which looked particularly good was that of the Unipower GT Owners Club & Register, with three cars on display: Mark Glashier's road car, a chassis/body under construction and Gerry Hulford's racer. Gerry has also just finished a long-awaited book on the Unipower marque, of which I hope to receive a copy soon.

Meanwhile, Curborough track was the scene for a photo shoot of four Mini based beauties, soon to star in Classic & Sports car magazine. Two of them with the power at the front wheels - a Mini Jem and an Ogle SX1000 - and two with the power at the rear - a Unipower GT and a Deep Sanderson 301. Roger Garland was there to assist and take a few pictures himself, which he flashed over. He added: "We had tried to get a recently restored GTM, but the owner had to work that day. We also had difficulty finding a suitable Mini Marcos, hence the Mini Jem - a very capable substitute!" Absolutely, and thank you very much Roger. Soon in their full glory at the newsstand near you, or so I understand!

Curborough track last week: Unipower GT, Mini Jem, Ogle SX1000, Deep Sanderson 301

Picture courtesy Roger Garland 

NEC Birmingham last weekend: Hustler Sport, TiCi, Stimsons Scorcher, Mini Bug and Trek

Picture CMH Photography / Minikits

And more from Minikits: GTM Coupe, Mini Marcos and another GTM Coupe

Picture CMH Photography / Minikits

The Hustler is a real rarity. "The work that has gone in to it is unreal", said Minikits-man Paul Wylde

Picture CMH Photography / Minikits

 "The guy restores and makes panels for rare Astin Martins and spent his youth there"

Picture CMH Photography / Minikits

Stimsons had come out in force for the Minikits club stand. Purple Mini Bug...

Picture CMH Photography / Minikits

...And the Stimson Scorcher of Minikits' driving force Paul Wylde...

Picture CMH Photography / Minikits

...Plus a Stimson Trek found by Barry Tilbury a couple of years ago now

Picture CMH Photography / Minikits

Also on display with Minikits this well known TiCi to ad more colour!

Picture courtesy Paul Wylde

Also at the NEC was the Unipower GT Owners Club & Register, with Gerry Hulford's racer front

Picture courtesy Paul Wylde

...As well as the lovely road car in similar bright yellow owned by Mark Glaisher now...

Picture courtesy Paul Wylde

...And a chassis/body that is under restoration. Good to see these cars being restored

Picture courtesy Paul Wylde

More Unipower at the Curborough track last week. That's Tim Carpenter's car

Picture courtesy Roger Garland

...And the other rear engined Mini marvel there: Robi Bernberg's Deep Sanderson 301...

Picture courtesy Roger Garland

...While this left hand driven Ogle SX1000 racer is owned by Guy Loveridge...

Picture courtesy Roger Garland

...And the freshly restored Mini Jem Mk1 of Goff Allen, who had a Mk2 before

Picture courtesy Roger Garland

Aussie Broadspeed GT hillclimber

A few more pictures of a Brian Foley built Broadspeed GT seen in action in Australia were unearthed by Mark Lambert recently. Mark says they were taken at the Newcastle Mattara hillclimb, probably in 1969. The same car, raced by Tom Winterbourn, was seen briefly before in historical 8mm film footage, see it here.

I did come across one more photograph of it in the files of which I don't know the source. According to my info that one was taken at the 1968 Huntley hillclimb in Wollongong, Australia but it wears the same number 58 on its doors and bonnet. Same venue after all? 

Tom Winterbourn's Broadspeed GT seen at the Newcastle Mattara hillclimb 

Picture Mark Lambert

Now that's a view! These pictures are believed to have been taken in 1969 

Picture Mark Lambert

Same car again, now supposedly at the 1968 Huntley hillclimb in Wollongong, NSW

Picture Jeroen Booij archive, source unknown

Tony's Jem: Restoration finished and up for sale

Reader Tony Fysh restored a Mk2 Mini Jem a few years ago and enjoyed the job so much, he decided to do another! Well, his second Jem had in fact been in his ownership for decades and was waiting for a restoration for quite a while. Tony did it in two years time and now that he's finished it, he's ready to take on the next job: an originally factory built Midas Gold Coupe! "Just another challenge", he told me. It means the freshly restored Jem has to go. Over to Tony:

"Hi Jeroen. My Mini Jem is now finished and due to many reasons I am going to put it up for sale. I am in my late 60s and if I am honest I prefer to build them than use them. I have owned the car for almost 30 years in which time it has followed me from home to home and always planned to keep it but the reality is I have too many projects and not enough time to enjoy them. I purchased it from a guy in the North East of England (Sunderland) who was preparing it for grass track racing, hence the bulkhead and dash removal. Interestingly the OMP bucket seats I purchased new from a chap in Newcastle and he told me that he tried to buy this very car way back in the late 1970s / early 1980s when it was still a complete running car. He even told me the reg number that he remembered. Apparently he used to drive past it parked outside the then owner's house every day on his way to work. It was obviously built very early on, when control and documentation was not really controlled as it is now. I did initially build the car with a lightweight beam and coil overs but the ride was far too hard. And despite a spring change I decided to replace it with an almost brand new subframe which improved the ride significantly. It is a very nice well built car which hopefully someone will appreciate and enjoy in the future."

"It has undergone a totally bare shell, nut and bolt restoration with hundreds of photos to follow its progress. I estimate between 90 and 95 percent of the car is brand new. Possibly only the shell, speedo and steering column are original. The car is tax and MOT exempt in the UK and is registered (historic) in my name as a 1961 Morris Mini. The registration number is 948 VTB, which I believe could be transferable. It has taken around two years (excluding Covid lockdown) to complete and is now ready to go. Cheers and very best regards. Tony."

I can only admire the man for his work and great enthusiasm to restore these cars! I have now placed an ad for the Jem, which you can find here on the Maximum Mini Marketplace.

This Mk2 Mini Jem has been owned for almost 30 years by Tony Fysh

Picture Tony Fysh

But it's only in the last two years that the car underwent a complete restoration

Picture Tony Fysh

Between 90 and 95 percent of it is now estimated to be brand new

Picture Tony Fysh

948 VTB was originally on a 1961 Morris Mini 

Picture Tony Fysh

The pretty Jem dashboard needed removal but is still intact

Picture Tony Fysh

Full roll cage is fitted, as well as OMP seats and 4-point harnesses

Picture Tony Fysh

And a view to the rear of the interior with the roll cage

Picture Tony Fysh

Engine is a 1275 that was fully reconditioned 

Picture Tony Fysh

The block prior to assembly with loads of new parts

Picture Tony Fysh

Straight from the box: new Cooper 'S' discs also...

Picture Tony Fysh

...As well as new master cylinders and Goodridge hoses

Picture Tony Fysh

New petrol tank just one of many many new bits

Picture Tony Fysh

New alloys before they were shod with new tyres. There's no doubt this was a thorough restoration!

Picture Tony Fysh

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

French museum closes - Hustler 6 seeks new home

Méan Sonora-owner Louis Lempereur told me about the upcoming closure of the Musée Automobile de Provence in southern France. The museum will be closed and the premises destroyed to build houses. Many of the cars on display are said to come up for sale, with some real gems in between them. There are several pre-war Bugattis in the collection as well as a Cooper T61 and quite a number number of interesting French Specials and low-volume cars. A Hustler Huntsman 6 is perhaps not quite what you'd expect here, but it's there and it's looking good in bright orange. 

I contacted the museum's curator Pierre Delliere, who confirmed the car's for sale status: "Dear Sir, Indeed I made the decision to separate myself from the Hustler. It is a 1985 car and it was completely dismantled and rebuilt in two years time. There is a newly built engine, new seats, belts, hoses, exhaust, carpets, tyres, brakes, clutch, 6 hydrolastic hoses (600 €), radiator, tank, etc, etc... We also changed the headlights and rear lights and reviewed the entire wiring loom. There is still some work to fully finish it. It comes with English papers (V5), but I do have the French tax paper also as it was imported before Brexit. Greetings, Pierre Delliere."

If anyone here is interested, just drop me a line and I'd be happy to get you in touch with monsieur Delliere.

Hustler Huntsman 6 in the Musée Automobile de Provence in Orgon, southern France

Picture courtesy Louis Lempereur

The car was fully restored in the last two years and will now be sold as the museum closes

Picture Jordi Vilaro picture / All Andora

Still on British plates (wrong way 'round...) but it came to France pre-Brexit

Picture Jordi Vilaro picture / All Andora

Interior looks particularly good on this car with beautiful carpeting and trimmings

Picture Jordi Vilaro picture / All Andora

The Musée Automobile de Provence in Orgon will disappear to make place for houses

Picture courtesy Louis Lempereur