Maximum Mini

Thursday, 18 April 2019

ASP 1300 survives in Kansas, USA

The British-built ASP 1300 has been a bit of a mystery for a long time. All the information that I had - and used for Maximum Mini 3 - was based on a (very comprehensive) advertisement of the car, dating back to 1967 when it was just a year old. But much more has now come to the surface, including the car itself!

Jason Harris, who is based in Kansas in the US owns it. He wrote: "My dad bought it in California in the 1990's, when it was gold. We painted it back to its proper BRG. He raced it a couple times, but it was overheating like crazy and wasn't happy with the handling so he parked it and went back to his Bugeye race car. My dad and I are currently rebuilding the engine and gearbox to get it back on the track hopefully this year. We're also going to also go though the suspension and cooling system to try to resolve those problems too. Let me know if you have any questions or want any pics of it."

To be continued.

The unique ASP 1300 was built in Britain, but survives in the US, seen here in the 1990s

Picture Jason Harris

The Harrises raced the ASP 1300 a couple of times but it had major overheating problems

Picture Jason Harris

ASP 1300 'S' logo on the car's nose. It is unknown to me what ASP stands for

Picture Jason Harris

I understand it was raced in 1966 by a man named Peter Tower. But there is also this decal. Stephen Langton was killed in a historic race in 1985 when he was driving a Connaught at Brands Hatch

Picture Jason Harris

Chassis construction is well visible here. The car uses a single tube frame

Picture Jason Harris

No engine at the moment but Jason Harris and his dad are working on a full restoration

Picture Jason Harris

Wednesday, 10 April 2019

Mystery Mini Derivative (58)

David Woodhouse is a designer for the Ford Motor Company in Detroit but in his heart he prefers Minis and their relatives. He sent over a picture of a car that seems to be, or have been, Mini powered. He wrote: "Neat little racer. Looks like Mini powertrain. Can this be identified?" I drew a total blank and couldn't find anything in the files that came even close to this design. Anyone else who recognizes it?

UPDATE 13:00: Kees Plugboer writes: "The Formula leather steering wheel is from the 1970s, so it must be an Mini powered derivative from the 1970s."

UPDATE 18:00: Louis Lempereur writes: "I doubt a Mini engine could drive such big wheels. My Méan had 13" wheels with 165 tyres and the 850cc engine could run only on 3rd gear! I hope to do better with the 1275cc engine and 155/70 tyres now fitted. Also, shorter gear ratios are now available if needed."

Twin SUs and exhaust set-up point towards Mini power. Who recognizes the car?

Picture via David Woodhouse

Tuesday, 9 April 2019

Australia's plans for Scamp and Mini Marcos production

Tony Cripps is the author of a book named 'Leyland Cars in Australia - a Chronicle' and he came up with some snippets unseen before, unfolding a interesting conversation. Tony started: "In 1987, the company looked at producing a Moke Mk2 and a substantial feasibility report was prepared. It was called 'Concept Paper for an Economic Multi-Purpose Vehicle', 6 pages and signed by Norm Prescott, who was a director of the company by that time. (...) Could have been a goer, but the concept vehicle pictured in the report doesn't have that 'appealing character' that the original Moke has."

However, there is no doubt that the pictures used in the report were actually no Mk2 Mokes but Mk2 Scamps! Tony added: "The report makes no mention of the Scamp, but the photos are obviously of an actual car and now having seen some photos on the internet, yes, this is a Scamp. The heading on the page just says 'Moke Mk2 General Concept'. It was thought that it could be made alongside Land Rover."

Scamp man Andrew MacLean came in next: "Yes, the Scamp frame and all the photos are lifted from the Scamp Mk2 brochure. I took over production in early 1987, as Robert Mandry had already stopped production in 1986. He'd also sold the Mini based RTV project to Lawrence Hawgood in 1986."

Tony Cripps added: "I should mention that the report is not produced on a company letterhead nor has any circulation or a report number. I would say it was a draft. The pictures are on the last page with a caption. Moke MKII General Concept and no reference to the Scamp which amazing really. Norm Prescott was a long-time employee of Austin/BMC/Leyland/JRA and very professional. This report came from his papers which were found after his decease so it might not even have made it to the Board.

Andrew MacLean: "I took over Scamp production in March 1987, the date of Norms proposal are May 1987, it would have been great to have sold them a franchise though! Wonder if they might be still interested if the report has only just come to light after 32 years?"

Almost at the same time, I was sent a picture of an old advertisement in the Sydney Morning Herald of May 1971, with somebody offering moulds for the Mini Marcos there. Now, we know a few Marcoses were imported to Australia, but I'd never heard of actual moulds over there. Who knows more?

Pictures of a Scamp Mk2 as used by Leyland of Australia and cheekily named 'Moke Mk2 General Concept'

Picture Tony Cripps

Another picture from the same report shows a chassis - and again it's that of a Mk2 Scamp

Picture Tony Cripps

Sydney Morning Herald, 18 July 1966. Mini Marcoses are to be imported to Austrlia

Picture via Michael Marczan

This ad comes from Sports Cars World of October 1967 and mentions the Australian Marcos agents in Knox Lane, Double Bay, News South Wales

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Almost three years later this mystery ad turned up in the Sydney Morning Herald of 29 May 1971

Picture via Michael Marczan

Thursday, 4 April 2019

Mike's Unipower memories

Over to Mike Lousada, the former Unipower GT owner I got in touch with last year: "I bought it from a man named David Pringle, who'd raced it previously. This was in 1972 or 1973 and I remember I paid 500 pounds for it. It was white and I remember the radiator was removed from the front and two smaller ones had been refitted to the rear intake ducts on the engine cover. This modification was carried out by Harvey Postlethwaite, who at the time was working for Hesketh Formula 1 team. I found out that the payment for carrying out the modification was that when he went to collect the car it was plastered in Hesketh teddy Bear stickers. Harvey said you have to race the car with all these stickers on, instead of paying us!"

"It came with an 998 Cooper engine when I got it, probably the one that was fitted to it when new. However, I did change the engine on several occasions, which was so easy to do. I could do it in an afternoon. I was very fond of that car, I loved it. I did sprint it several times at Silverstone and Snetterton but never raced it. I had two engines in boxes ready for it, these were 970 'S's built up by Ripspeed, and I still have one of them. I blew up an engine once, though, which must have looked very dramatic as oil was spilled over a hot exhaust. There was even a report in Autosport magazine mentioning it!"

And that's not even all. More recollections from Mike are soon to follow.

Mike bought the Unipower GT in 1972 or 1973 when he paid 500 pounds for it

Picture Mike Lousada / Jeroen Booij archive

These b&w pictures were taken at a sprint event at Snetterton circuit in Norfolk

The car used two side radiators as fitted by Hesketh's Harvey Postlethwaite

Picture Mike Lousada / Jeroen Booij archive

Mike is seen here behind the wheel: "I was very fond of that car, I loved it"

Picture Mike Lousada / Jeroen Booij archive

Here at Kimbolton airfield, Bedfordshire at another sprint. White was original colour

Picture Mike Lousada / Jeroen Booij archive

Snetterton again. The car came with a 998 Cooper engine originally but had several others

Picture Mike Lousada / Jeroen Booij archive

Once the bottom pulley came off, spilling oil over a hot exhaust. "Very dramatic!" recalls Mike

Picture Mike Lousada / Jeroen Booij archive

Tuesday, 2 April 2019

Another ex-Unipower GT owner tracked down

It's been almost a year since I was tipped off about an ex-Unipower GT owner by Cox GTM owner Stuart Poole. He wrote to me: "Hi Jeroen, I have a little snippet for you, concerning a Unipower. Over the weekend I went to a classic car meet in my local village. I had just got my Cox mot’d and thought I’d take it along and park it up on display for all the locals to ask the usual question, what is it?"

"During the day a gentleman came over towards the car with a big smile on his face. He asked me if I was the owner, and then preceded to tell me of his antics as a race driver in the 60’s/70’s and how he remembered the Cox and others on the race tracks. He told me that he used to own an Ogle, but sold it on to a chap from Japan who was interested in Minis, Specials and oddball British cars. He then started telling me about a Unipower that he had purchased in 1971 for £500. He told me how much fun it was and how much he missed not owning it anymore. He told me that he sold the car in 1978, for what he thought was a huge sum £11,000. That’s a lot of money in anyone’s book for 1978. The car was an early 1966 car, UK registered as SUR 109D. White, with slightly enlarged wheel arches."

"He asked me if I would ask you if you knew of the car? Or if you had any information as to what became of it since 1978? I’m sure he’ll have some more stories to tell about it."

Now, I did happen to know know a bit more about the car in question. It is indeed an early car (chassis number 4) that was restored in the 1980s by Janspeed man Simon Lee and sold to Japan once more. As a matter of fact it was spotted there by a reader last Spring (click here). In the meantime I am in touch with the former owner and have spoken to him several times on the phone, and, yes, he has some good tales to tell. I have now also just received a lovely set of historic photographs from him. Soon to be continued.

Info and pictures unravel more of the history of Unipower 'SUR 109D'

Picture Jeroen Booij

The car after having been restored in the UK, not long before it went to Japan

Picture Jeroen Booij

...And as seen in Spring 2018 in Japan by a reader of this weblog. Still looking good

Picture Danny van Giel

Monday, 1 April 2019

Another Mini Marcos for sale - now in the USA

Last week saw a beautifully restored Mini Jem being offered for sale (click here). But perhaps it wasn't located on your side of the world? Or perhaps you prefer a Mini Marcos over a Mini Jem? Well, here's one for you then, as an equally stunning Mini Marcos is now offered through these pages. It's a 1974 Mk4 Mini Marcos that has benefited from a full and comprehensive rebuilt in the last couple of years. It is now all ready to go for a new owner and is located in... Oregon, USA.

The car comes with a massive file of information and plenty of bills, including one of 2014 from US Mini specialist Seven Enterprises quoting 7,410.09 dollars for the car's fully rebuilt 1275 high performance engine and gearbox. With this set-up it has been driven for under 4,000 miles since. Meanwhile, the body had been fully tackled also including reinforcements made to the stress points, full roll cage and a paint job in Porsche blue while much of the car's suspension and interior was renewed also. It is now for sale with Jeremy Thorpe of JET Motors, who has a good nose for anything unusual (how about this or this?). For the full ad click here.