Later Works Minis

[youngres]

The bottom set are off BJB77B and are now reunited with the car - so pleased to have bought those!
The middle one on the left is one of the unique set off AJB66B, and Guy Smith has that.

Robert

[billycooper]

Any recent pics of BJB Robert ?, unused since the Charringtons RAC Historic ?

[billycooper]

BJB77B_91rac_historic.jpg

1991 Charringtons RAC Historic

[Pete]

I seem to remember that car turned up at Bulee one year. Didn't Makinen drive it?

[billycooper]

I seem to remember that car turned up at Bulee one year. Didn't Makinen drive it?

Yeah he won that RAC event in the car with Paul Easter in 1991, early days of Historic Rallying, i've got the 1992 / 1993 on video, but cant find a 1991, not sure if one was done

Tiff Nedell here in LLX 358D in 1993, One of Tom Seals cars, ain't seen anything much of it since , Makinen used it the year before and came top 10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UBzM94qOMU

These in my mind, combined with the Classic Marathons were Golden Years of Historic Rallying, lots of original / ex works cars, we did the Manx in 1991 , with Handley and Clark etc, it was more relaxed yet still very competitive.

[Pete]

I seem to remember the crank snapped on LLX when Needell drove it. Yes you're right a golden age for historic rallying, which whilst historic racing has flourished (soley due to Goodwood) the rallying side has struggled to capture the public's imagination. Not helped in any way by the media!

[pad4]

wasnt LLX actually BJB the year before when it did carringtons but had its id changed - its never been seen since has it.

Or did the BJB that did the carringtons just have the number as a private Registration for that event

The original BJB was written of wasnt it ?

pad

[pad4]

Doesnt look to bad but i believe all the floor and roof was creased so it got written off and chopped up



pad

[spoon.450]

I am led to believe that some of it survived.

[pad4]

It certainly did - A chap called Earnest Longshaw bought the knackered shell (he worked at MG) and then proceeded to get some more years use out of it - His grandsun ended up with it I think but thats some years back

pad

[spoon.450]

It all adds to the interesting history of Works Minis..
" The remains I had of BJB 77B were an awful lot more than some people have started with when restoring ex-works cars. At least the history and the documentation of this car cannot be questioned, and is certainly continuous. It is surely more appropriate that BJB 77B appears exactly as it competed in 1964 than fade away for ever, just for someone else to claim this historic registration number and put it on any old mini ". Quote from second edition Browning book, 1996.

[youngres]

As most know, I've owned BJB77B for over twenty five years and have the remains of the car that came via the Longshaw family. The car is now virtually finished having been painstakingly rebuilt to exactly the same spec for the 1964 Tour de France, right down to the full race 970 engine and using as much as possible from the original car. Hopefully it will be at Beaulieu this year for all to see - assuming I get my finger out and actually finish the car. With the engine going in today, it looks to be on target for June.

Robert Young

[spoon.450]

Sounds great Robert........photos speak many words ( and you must have many after 25 years of ownership of 'the remains' )..We would love to know the detailed, honest history of BJB, we are all enthusiasts.

[youngres]

The car will be at Beaulieu and you can take all the photos you want and indeed ask any questions that you like. There is not much more I can add about the history as you have quoted word for word what I said to Peter Browning in 1966 and I've said here that I have built the car from as much of the original as I possibly could. I hope the car will be appreciated.

Robert

[spoon.450]

So.. no photos from the last 25 years....what you actually started with, and accumulated over the years ?? That would be a fantastic addition to the history. We want it to be honest and authentic, and want owners of ex Works cars to tell us what is original and genuine on their cars. Surely, as ex Works Car registrar, you appreciate this Robert ?

[surfblue63]

[pad4]

Was the damage to the front end easy to pull ot then - it didnt look to bad in the pic of the crashed car ? - i guess a couple of new panels and a portapak did the job

pad

[billycooper]

Sorry I'm completely lost here, I ve found an article that BJB was turned into a trailer by the family that owned it, has the car been built up from the trailer ? , sorry if I'm going over old ground, but nothing's making any sence !

image.jpg

I'm sure BJB will look fab once finished, I've seen the pics of Roberts BFX, lovely lovely car, but I'm just a little confused that's all guys

[pad4]

Bmc comps dept facebook page seems to have a piccy of the remains of BJB



Seems to tie in with an article in a paper



So theres nothing left of it really to be restored going whats been put ont interweb

pad

[spoon.450]

Robert obviously has some original parts from BJB 77B. The original car / bodyshell appears to have long gone, but it would be nice to know what is being re-created.