Avonbar ZX Info?

[mab01uk]

A rare surviving Avonbar ZX Mini 30 has just been saved from becoming a grass track car by a new TMF member. He is having trouble finding much info on the ZX Mini's.

I'm sure I have a few old magazine articles on the Avonbar ZX Mini's but not sure exactly which box in my loft they are in..........
In the meantime does anybody else have any leads, photos or information which could help fill in the history and details of these cars?
http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/to ... -mini-30s/



Interesting test on the Avonbar Mini 30 here:-
A Test Match - between Mini Miglia (Vortz); BAC M-30; ERA Mini Turbo and Avonbar Mini 30.
http://www.eraturbo.co.uk/roadtests/minipulation.htm

Ian Hargreaves founder and owner of Avonbar is now AVR Classics:
http://www.avrclassics.co.uk/single.htm?ipg=10595

Popular Classics
January 1990, three tuned Minis.
THE BAC M-30 was a limited edition of Mini Thirty Special Edition. BAC was based in North Perrott, Somerset. The interior was luxuriously trimmed – all leather and walnut veneer, while the exterior ‘improved’ by the addition of a KAT Designs bodykit. Motive power was provided by a 1275cc engine, mated to a Sprintex supercharger, to provide 115bhp. This propelled the car from rest to 60mph in 8.7s, and on to 111.6mph. The original asking price of the BAC M-30 was a staggering £30,000, later lowered to £23,390.

The ERA Turbo which retailed at £11,950 at selected Rover dealers, was developed by ERA at Dunstable. The car was basically a Mini fitted with 13 inch wheels, a bodykit designed by Dennis Adams of Marcos, and fitted with a 94bhp engine, as fitted in the MG Metro Turbo. With this power unit the ERA Turbo could do 0-60mph in 9.9s and reach 101.7mph. Some 400 were built between 1989 and 1991.

The cheapest car tested was the Avonbar Mini 30. Avonbar was founded by Ian Hargreaves in 1975 and based in Addlestone, Surrey (it still exists). Its conversion, known as the ZX, involved boring out the 1275cc engine to 1380cc, gas-flowing the cylinder head, and fitting larger valves. Traditional stuff then, but it did produce a useful 104bhp. For this, Avonbar charged £1994 for the conversion. The 0-60 time was 8.8s, and top speed was 100.6mph.

In conclusion, the testers dismissed the BAC M-30 as too expensive – it cost the same as a BMW 535 or a Rover 827 Vitesse – and decided between the ERA Turbo and the Avonbar Mini 30. In the end they plumped for the Avonbar, as it was the best value for money.
http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/mi ... uned-cars/

[bill773mini]

Why not call Ian?

I know the ZX was his engine conversions, I have a Avonbar 1400ZX engine in my spi. Obviously mine is some 8 years later in date.

Don't know much about that particular car though. Surely the best person to ask is Ian him self?

[mk1]

Looks like a fantastic find!

I never knew these existed, bit late for me really, but I look forward to following the story.

[Ollie78]

Hi Mab
Sorry I don't have any real info on the ZX converted cars as such but I was trying to find out a bit about them myself a while ago, the internet search didn't turn up very much.
I have an Avonbar 1380 engine from around 93, I think its the ZX conversion. The badge on the boot lid looks familiar, I'll have to check but I think the engine I have has one just like it stuck to an MG metro type finned rocker cover. Pretty sure it has the piper 285 cam and a longman (36.5mm inlets, 31mm exhausts) GT7 head, A plus with only 9 studs. I have read that around this time Avonbar used Longman heads on their 1380 engines. Its a lovely worked head although mine needs new guides.
Pictures if your interested
Ollie

P1070339.JPG

P1070335.JPG

[mab01uk]

Thanks everyone for your help and interest even though this is not an early Mini in Mk1 forum terms !
Oz (who some may know from his 'OAP' race Mini engines) has posted some further information for Adam the Avonbar ZX owner on TMF, I have cut and pasted his memories of the ZX's below for those interested.

(Posted TMF 08 September 2014)
"I worked for Avonbar from '87 to '97 and did most of the ZX's.
The ZX was 1380, ZS was 1275.
First one was Mini 30 reg G731 *** this was the press car and built in time for Mini 30 at Silverstone. Ian (Hargreaves) bought two others we converted, both were used as demonstrators, one stayed at shop for customers to try, the other one went out to Rover dealers. This was all before the relaunch of the 1275 RSP.
The dealers would still offer a warranty on the new converted car, and we, (Avonbar) offered warranty on power unit.
Can't remember how many were built. Ian may still have engine log book as every engine build was listed with full spec. It was nice working on showroom fresh cars.
I have a few photos somewhere, only once were all three Mini 30s together at the shop.
I remember Ian, Paul (shop manager) and myself took them out for a blast. Luckily I had keys to G731, (press car), it had a little bit extra...
G731 was featured at a very wet Castle Combe in Miniworld 1. I have a video of the day somewhere, incar from ZX with Phil's (Avonbar technician) Modified Saloon Mini overtaking us, on slicks, in the pouring rain.
Feature of ZX v BAC M30 v ERA was in Fast Lane magazine. I have it somewhere.
After the feature Avonbar were asked by Simon Saunders of BAC, (now does Ariel Atoms), to fit ZX spec engines in them. We did 2. Got pics somewhere...
No idea where photos are but I'll see what I can find. They may even be with a ZX badge or two."
Just had a look at pics of white car. Engine number denotes it was built in 1996.
Oz

(Posted TMF 21 September 2014)
"Last two digits on an Avonbar engine number denotes year it was built.
The engine in pic is not dry decked.
ZXs were all built to the same spec. 1380, same cam, head, carb, manifolds, MG Metro air box. That is how Ian got Rover 'approval' and complied with emissions test.
Your car does seem to have an interesting history. If I bump into Ian of Jeff I'll ask them if they remember it.
If it was converted from new then it was prior to my arrival in June '87. As I stated in an earlier post ZXs were 'launched' in '89 in time for the Mini 30 celebrations. I remember the big discussions at tea breaks, sat in the back of the shop, deciding on what to call the conversion. Ian decided ZX and had the badges done."

[Ollie78]

Thats interesting thanks for posting that, the last 2 digits on my engine number are 93 so that ties in with what I had thought. I'm doubting the cam now though, I thought it was a piper 285, I'll have to strip it down and have a look. My engine was running a HIF44 with a slightly ported MG metro inlet.

[mab01uk]

This Mini BAC M30 is apparently coming up for sale at auction soon.......Bernie Ecclestone is listed as one of the previous owners.
http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/to ... ?p=3287235





"THE BAC M-30 was a limited edition of Mini Thirty Special Edition. BAC was based in North Perrott, Somerset. The interior was luxuriously trimmed - all leather and walnut veneer, while the exterior 'improved' by the addition of a KAT Designs bodykit. Motive power was provided by a 1275cc engine, mated to a Sprintex supercharger, to provide 115bhp. This propelled the car from rest to 60mph in 8.7s, and on to 111.6mph. The original asking price of the BAC M-30 was a staggering £30,000, later lowered to £23,390."

[mk1]

Yuck.

M

[mab01uk]

Mini BAC M-30 For Sale (1989)
"previously owned by Bernie Ecclestone"
£12,000
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C707686

[smithyrc30]

Mini BAC M-30 For Sale (1989)
"previously owned by Bernie Ecclestone"
£12,000
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C707686

I would have kept that quiet.

It's halved the value of the car.....

[rich@minispares.com]

Mini BAC M-30 For Sale (1989)
"previously owned by Bernie Ecclestone"
£12,000
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C707686

I bet it hasn't got a set of seat extenders fitted......

[jerry]

Hi,
When i was owner of F93YOE, the ERA featured in the article with the Avonbar and the BAC-m30, I met the photographer who did the article at one of the Dodington Mini shows. He said the Avonbar Mini and the ERA were great, but the m30 was unreliable, and broke down in a really rough part of Cardiff. They were terrified that the badges would get nicked as they were silver plated.
I had heard that the M-30 hadn't sold and it had been broken up.

Jerry

[mk1]

I had heard that the M-30 hadn't sold and it had been broken up.

Now that is a pleasant thought

[surfblue63]

Mini BAC M-30 For Sale (1989)
"previously owned by Bernie Ecclestone"
£12,000
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C707686

That must be the only Mini in the world that is going down in value.

It was sold by RM Auctions in 2007 for over £15,000

http://www.rmsothebys.com/lf07/automobi ... -30/192367

It was offered shortly afterwards by one of those internet raffle firms, but I don't think they ever got enough buyers for the tickets.

PS 3 BAC M-30s were built.

[davidnutland]

Going back to the avonbar, Geof Lawry did many heads for Ian and Geof was exLongman, he also made a couple of versions of the semi down draft mentioned in the exotic heads post.

[mk1]

That must be the only Mini in the world that is going down in value.

I guess there is no accounting for taste

[Ronnie]

Well!! You only have to look at it

[minibitz]

Well!! You only have to look at it

No, please don't make me look!!!!

There are some horrors you just can't unsee!!!!

[nimbusprint]

Going back to the avonbar, Geof Lawry did many heads for Ian and Geof was exLongman, he also made a couple of versions of the semi down draft mentioned in the exotic heads post.

Davidnutland
Would Geof have been there in 85/86 ? Ian built me what was marketed as an "Avonbar 1400"(1380) road engine for my Nimbus, it ran an Hif 44 on quite a long inlet, We put in on a rolling road in Cheriton Hampshire, after about 500 road miles, and the guy optimised the fuel and ignition settings, from memory it was showing around 81/82 hp at the wheels, can't remember the torque figures but it was sooo flexible and pulled like a train. It's currently sitting in a cretin's shed who neither wishes to sell it or do anything else useful with it, One day though, one day !!!

Ian.

[mk1]

It's currently sitting in a cretin's shed who neither wishes to sell it or do anything else useful with it,

Sounds like it's about time to don the black balaclava & bolt croppers