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ESAP Minimach GT - the Italian Unipower GT - at the Targa Florio 1968
Posted: Wed May 11, 2022 3:12 pm
by MiNiKiN
Whilst reserching Mini cooper race results I came across an 1968 entry for the Targa Florio and Monza 1000 of a so called Minimach Cooper.
When I searched for what it looked like, I came across an entry in the Mini Marcos webpage:
https://www.minimarcos.org.uk/altpics/m ... index.html
...the Minimach GT which was produced in Venice. It is based on an Innocenti Cooper and clearly influenced by the Unipower GT.....
and maximummini-blogspot.
https://maximummini.blogspot.com/search?q=Minimach+GT
So what is my finding then?
- The Italian Minimach Cooper participated in the 1968 Targa Florio and finished 46th.
- It entered for the 1968 Monza 1000, but did not qualify.
I shared this with MaximumMini, but thought I let you know too.
I just noticed that this is long known to maximummini since 2011
Re: ESAP Minimach GT - the Italian Unipower GT - at the Targa Florio 1968
Posted: Wed May 11, 2022 3:23 pm
by mk1
Thanks for posting, it's not one I was aware of.
Certainly not as pretty as a Unipower, but an interesting history.
Re: ESAP Minimach GT - the Italian Unipower GT - at the Targa Florio 1968
Posted: Wed May 11, 2022 3:46 pm
by surfblue63
Here's the car on the 68 Targa...
...and here it is at Monza
Looking at the car they must have used Unipower to design it. The central part of the car looks like a direct copy, just the front and rear are changed.
Re: ESAP Minimach GT - the Italian Unipower GT - at the Targa Florio 1968
Posted: Thu May 12, 2022 7:58 am
by MiNiKiN
surfblue63 wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 3:46 pm
Here's the car on the 68 Targa...
Looking at the car they must have used Unipower to design it. The central part of the car looks like a direct copy, just the front and rear are changed.
Nope, from what I read, I think Unipower stopped making them, due to too much "similiarity"
Re: ESAP Minimach GT - the Italian Unipower GT - at the Targa Florio 1968
Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 10:50 pm
by Pete
The Minimach was actually a Unipower GT that they modified into their own (very ugly) product and tried to market it! Andrew Hedges went over and told them exactly what he and his lawyers thought for that idea!
.
Re: ESAP Minimach GT - the Italian Unipower GT - at the Targa Florio 1968
Posted: Mon May 30, 2022 8:16 pm
by LuisM
The Minimach was actually a Unipower GT that they modified into their own (very ugly) product and tried to market it! Andrew Hedges went over and told them exactly what he and his lawyers thought for that idea!
Yes , this was a silly idea of turning a very nice car into this ugly thing
Nevertheless I’ve always loved the ESAP wheels , and chased a set for years !
Cheers
Luís
