What is 2011's Best Find?

It's been almost a year since one exciting discovery was made in Greece. Remember the beach car prototype that was found in a scrap yard? (more here and here). Meanwhile, the car that made it to 'Best find of 2010' on this blog is painstakingly being brought back to its former glory by its current owner. Last week he sent me an update, writing: "Here are a few pics of the car at its current state. The engine will soon be finished and fitted to the car. After that its the never ending fiting and tuning of little things." The idea is to have it finished at around the end of this year, as he continues: "It is progressing, albeit at a slower pace. I have fitted most of the interior, some of the brightwork and the engine has been stripped and is ready for assembly. I would like to finish the car by Christmas but probably won't!"

By that time we may have sorted out the 'Best find of 2011', too. I guess I can choose that on my own, but on the other hand, it may be nicer if you guys did it. What there is to choose from? Well, this one should definitely be a contender. Or how about this one? Or this? Hang on, we've got this one, too. Not to mention our own project car here. And then, there are six weeks left to come up with another great find. Anyway: let me know which one you prefer or I will judge myself.

Beach car is progressing slowly. Well... according to its current owner!

He appears to be doing a cracking job. Blue is nearest to its original colour. 

Like the Peel? Buy the moulds!

The Peel Viking Minisport, born on the Isle of Man's west coast in 1966, is one of the quirkier Mini derivatives. So you may not be surprised to learn that I like it very much. However, you don't come across one for sale often with just 24 cars built by Peel Engineering and later on by Bill Last of Trident Cars, and very few survivors. But that may change now that the moulds for the thing have come up for sale on eBay! See the ad here. The seller, who has produced a few bodies from them and told me he now needs the money to fund another project, writes: "These are genuine moulds bought from the Isle of Man a few years ago (...). They consist of top and bottom halves which bolt together, bonnet, doors, dashboard, rear parcel shelf and detachable door flange recesses. The 2 main top and bottom moulds are steel reinforced. (...) This would be a great business opportunity for someone with GRP laminating skills, either offering fully built cars or bodyshells only for people to complete using an old Mini for parts. Under the current DVLA/VOSA donor vehicle points system, you would be able to use the donor Mini V5c and registration therefore avoid having to SVA the car." Peel fans, go and safe guard these moulds!

UPDATE 21 November 2011:
I've had a few people asking about the claim the seller of these moulds makes about registering newly built cars. Richard P. mentions: "Can you verify this? As far as I am aware the points system dictates whether you can keep the donor registration, not whether you need an IVA test (which replaced the SVA test). If you are building a new kit car then it needs IVA unless it uses the complete chassis or tub of the donor (the floor pan in the case of the Mini). Richard H. adds to that: "The guy selling them must be a silver tounged charmer - I like his claim that they can be used to reshell any mini with no need for an SVA test - he must be stuck in a time pre-1998, as there is no way that a) you can do this anymore, and b) they wouldnt pass an sva test anyway - the headlamps are too low (one of the things that did the old GTM Coupe in when the SVA came out!)" Thank you very much for that, chaps.

UPDATE 13 September 2018:
The moulds seen here are a later set. The original moulds made by Cyrill Canell on the Isle of Man in 1966 have now emerged and are back on the island. Full story here.

UPDATE 14 September 2018:
'Original' moulds and the set seen here appear to be one and the same. See here.

A Peel Viking Minisport on the beautiful Isle of Man in June 2007

Picture: Jeroen Booij

The Peel's moulds are now available for budding motor manufacturers

Picture: eBay

'Glass estates

I had a funny throwback yesterday evening, browsing through old magazines when I came across an article by Richard Oakes. The designer of umpteen kit cars (here speaks a fan) used to have a column in Alternative Cars sketching ideas for future models, some so clever you ask yourself why noone actually went on to turn them into reality. One of the sketches in the column I came across fell into that category, it was for a Mini based estate car. Just about the simplest design possible with no frills to turn a rotten Mini into something really practical. "Fibreglass Mini hatchback uses most of the original hardware", wrote Oakes. It was dated November 1981. Exactly 30 years ago now that I think of it.

Anyway: last winter I interviewed Paul Haussauer about the Phoenix Estate he designed and built back in the eighties. Paul, an ex-Lotus engineer, was a very nice bloke with some great stories to tell, who handed me over the full production sheet of the 63 (!) Phoenixes built. The first time I ever came across detailed production figures! But with the Oakes' sketch in mind now, I wondered when he built the very first, and took out the paperwork. There it was: the prototype, based on a modified Mini Van, was dated 1981, while the first production cars came in 1982. Coincidence? Could be. I'll give Paul a ring soon to ask. By the way: if you'd like a brand new and unbuilt Phoenix shell, see the for sale section of this blog (click here), where one appears since yesterday.

Another practical Mini based estate was the Minus Maxi, designed and built by Keith Lain - another ex-Lotus man. It was conceived a few years later, and I don't think many were built. Not too long ago a Maxi was offered for sale, but I forgot to get in touch with the seller. Perhaps any of you guys did, as I'd like to take some pictures of this rare vehicle...

Richard Oakes' Mini based estate proposal dates back to November 1981

Copyright Richard Oakes

That's pretty much it! Phoenix Estate followed shortly after Oakes' impression

A brand new and unused shell (winter project?) is for sale here

Blast! We ran out of polish! Keith Lain designed Minus Maxi estate is rare

Who knows where this one (reg. YHH 459K) - or another - is?

Derivatives at 19th Japan Mini Day

Hundreds of Minis and a hand ful of Mini derivatives made it to the shores of lake Hamanako in Japan, some 175 miles south-west of Tokyo, for the 2011 Japan Mini Day on 6 November this year. The event was organized for the 19th time, but contrary to most previous years the weather wasn't particularly sunny. Perhaps that was the reason why not too many Mini derivatives (Japan houses many of them) made it to the event. I did come across some photographs though, which you will find below. 

Drizzle and rain. But tangerine paint job makes this Mini Marcos Mk4 sunny 

I'm not sure whether it is a Mk2 or Mk3 Mini Marcos, but I do know I like it

Well-known Mini Marcos Mk3 is modified to look like a Shelby Daytona Coupe...

...While this Sprinted Mini Mk1 did look good in its Rob Walker style livery

Speedwell Mini Sprint was finished just in time. It's for sale, too (click here)

Barclay: the Dutch Mini Bug

A year ago I told you about the Siva buggies built in The Netherlands (see here). I haven't been able to find out more about the location in Amsterdam where these cars were built. However, there was a second British Mini based buggy that was built under a licence in The Netherlands: the Stimson Mini Bug, and I did find out a bit more on that since. It started with an old advertisement in a Dutch magazine for the 'Barclay Mini Bug'. In Dutch, it said:"Reuse your old, rusted or damaged Mini to build such a terrifically hip Mini Bug. Barry Stimson's Barclay 'Mini Bug' is offered as a kit including a tubular chassis derived of Formula One cars. All you have to do is bolt your subframe with its engine plus rear wheels on to this chassis. Available in many colours. Kerb weight around 320 kgs. Mini Cooper performance with installation of ordinary Mini 850 engine. Very good road holding. Price including tax 2,450 Dutch guilders"

Dutch ad for Barclay Mini Bug mentions Formula 1 chassis!

Some time later Stimson owner and fan Paul Wylde (web site) sent in some pictures of a Barclay Mini Bug that resurfaced in The Netherlands. The new Dutch owner of the car wrote to him: "It was found in barn 4 years ago at a farm of an old man who had lots of Minis and parts. He tried to get it registered in The Netherlands in 1971 but failed and never tried again. Someone tolt me that he had 6 kits in 1971." Paul added to that: "Note the badge on the front plus the lack of a lip around the car like the one in the ad. Did you find anything else about Barclay?"

Funnily, it was only some weeks later that I met a chap who told me he knew the man who built these Mini based buggies back in the early 1970s in the village (Helmond) where he lived. Believe it or not but this was purely coincidental! In fact the builder appeared to be still living at the same address as he did back in the 70s. Anyway: I rang him and, yes, he was the guy who built them. But unfortunately he was not the chap who'd bought the rights from Barry Stimson to build and market these buggies, and was just contracted to build them. And, no, he had no pictures, and had lost touch with the man I was hoping to speak to. That man, in fact, passed away some 10 years ago, and his son moved to another part of the country and - you guessed it - he has not been in touch with him since. He did believe he built 5 or 6 of them though, contrary to the 12 kits that are said to have been fabricated in The Netherlands. But that's were the trail of the Barclay Mini Bug ends. At least for now.

Dutch Mini Bug failed to get road registered in '71 but new owner will try again

According to one source 12 kits were fabricated. Its builder says there were only 5 or 6

Dutch logo left, orginal Stimson logo right. Both are moulded in the bonnet

Rallying a Status 365

With not one but two Status 365 project cars (both in signature cheddar yellow as they should be) sold recently on eBay there appears to be a bit of a rise in the interest for this wedgy Mini derivative, for as far as that is possible. It reminded me of a picture that was sent to over here some time ago. It depicts one of the 38 built 365s in full rally trim, or so it seems. I have no other trace of 'BUT 18B' but according to the source (Cars and Car Conversions magazine) it was driven by a Peter Banham in 1976. Cool isn't it? Now, why not replicate one of those project cars to a similar rally specification, put some helmets on and enter it in the 2012 historic rally season? I'm pretty sure it would become a hit. It would here!

An unlikely contender it may have been, but Status 365 was rallied

Picture: thanks to Roald Rakers. Source CCC magazine

Twini does not sell

Despite its history and bucket loads of character, it seems that the one-off Deep Sanderson 105 is too much of a wacky racer to sell for a price that is worthy of its restoration. This can be concluded after the car did not sell at auction yesterday. Maximum Mini subscriber Andy Downes reported from the sale: "The auction was long and slow – however there was no interest in the Twini and despite being ‘No Reserve’ it was withdrawn with no bids at 20,000 GBP, having started at 25,000 GBP." With plenty of bread and butter classics selling for strong money I think that is rather disappointing.

Deep Sanderson 105 was lovingly restored and presented... 

Picture: Andy Downes

...but did not even find a taker for 20,000 GBP

Picture: Andy Downes

Mystery Mini derivative (17)

There is a great book about three-wheelers simply titled 'Three-wheelers', by Chris Rees and it describes a multitude of obscure 3-wheeled contraptions of which quite a few are Mini based. However, you won't find this one in it. It could be a one-off, but then the body does look like it was made of fibreglass. Fact is that it's Mini based, as does a DVLA check reveal. Who knows more?

UPDATE 11 February 2014: maybe cracked by Three-wheeler authority Chris Rees - it could be a Saccamondo. See comment below.

Wipe that dust off and take it for a spin. Mini based 3-wheeler looks to be fun

Spare wheel fits nicely in the boot. Registration reveals Mini 1000 base 

Autumn Sonata

With the end of the season approaching rapidly now, time to lock up your Mini derivative may have come. But don't forget that autumn days can be fantastic for a spin, too, as the owner of the Stimson Safari Six below told me. Okay, okay, I have slightly altered the background, but wanted to share it never the less!

Maya GT in technicolor!

Another great Maya GT related message arrived here. This time from Scott Barrett of Brighton. Scott writes: "Hi Jeroen. Thought I'd drop you a line to let you know about a short film that was recently brought to my attention entitled 'Motor Sport tries Motorail', dating from 1968. This film is featured on the dvd 'British Transport Films volume Seven' and comprises a short documentary about the 'Motorail' service that was running in the UK at that time, in which private cars could be transported by train between various locations throughout the country. The documentary follows a selection of cars being transported to a hillclimb and autotest event and ends with some footage of various cars being put through their paces. Included in the footage are not one, but two interesting Mini derivatives. Firstly Morris Bishop's MoBi-One" (more about that later). "Also shown, but not in as much detail, is the Camber/ Maya GT HPN 14D. I know the history of this car is somewhat sketchy (indeed it is - read about its history here and about it's survival here - JB) so it was nice to see it in colour, having received it's Maya nose-job but not yet having the ugly sunroof fitted. As the film can be conclusively dated to early May, 1968 now you know how early on it received this first lot of modifications. I've attached a set of screenshots of the two cars that you might be interested in. They were taken by another user on a forum I frequent and he has given permission for you to use them on your blog or however you'd like (see it here). Anyway, hope this is interesting for you, I know it was for me!" Thank you very much Scott, I have immediately ordered the dvd! Want it, too? Buy it here.

Well-known Maya GT at the start of the Motorail sponsored Oddicombe hill climb

'HPN 14D' appears to have had several guises. This must be its original appearance

"The track went from the beach alongside the cliff railway. It is very narrow and bumpy"