OBL45F in Australia

[Pete]

I’ve got a decent res version of that TDF photo, here’s the dash panel in OBL 45F

[Pete]

And URX 560G on the same event

[iain1967s]

Strange that the temperature gauge is chrome bezel, but the others are blacked out with matt paint to reduce reflections.

[spoon.450]

I’m loving this thread…….shows that the car isn’t necessarily the number plate.

[spoon.450]

Or the number plate isn’t necessarily the car…………..

[Pete]

Tom Seal 1973 Cilwendeg Rally

[spoon.450]

Nice view of the dash….

[lomin]

Hi, thanks Pete, keep them coming
This is the car that had a new roof fitted after it rolled when the brake master cylinder failed

Welsh Int May 73 R. Platt/J.Platt No.46 (original entry a Mexico). Rolled WAS REPAIRED. White /black stripe. New roof
Scottish Int Jun 73 Seal/
MN Nutcracker Jul 73 Seal/Platt (OBL45F?)
MN Stocktonian Sep 73 Seal/Palmer (OBL45F)
MN Cilwendeg Sep 73 Seal/Henderson (OBL 45F?).
MN Illuminations Oct 73 Seal/Palmer

Lot of different navigators...were they all terrified. lol

The dash may be the same as in the CCC magazine article of Toms OBL45F. Very hard to see if there are 2 more lower gauges, but the white car appears to have correct dash.as described recently.

This white car is in my opinion neither of the Tom Seal 1972 RAC cars.

100% it is not car98 in RAC as it does not have 4 wiper pivot holes.as per Australian OBL45F.
It is not the same as the car driven by Russell Brookes as the rubber socket for the lamp bar is in totally different positions and very low diagonal roll bar brace.
Attached is photo of Russell the year before.

As seems to keep happening... more mysteries appear

[lomin]

Hi, I am seeking some comments from the knowledge base of works gurus.
We have the drivers fibreglass bucket from a works car that came to Australia ,and wish to make a mould instead of attempting repairs.

The seat contour has a definite lean one way.sideways It is not symmetrical like expected. Has this happened from years of careless storage or sagging in the sun? , or is this how they were made ? I do not actually have possession of the seat, but I believe I could get a photo is necessary.

On another note, when looking at that 4 gauge dash, I personally had not realised the extra 100psi oil gauge was for the Lucas fuel injection pressure

cheers Lindsay Siebler

[Smithmaps]

Lindsay,
The seat should not lean in any particular direction.
It sounds like it is bent.

[lomin]

Hi, more information for me has become available . This is in the form of a Melbourne Australia,car club article by Judy Foden in august 1973. The information was supplied by the best source I know of, Jon Leighton (dec) who purchased the Australian car from Tom Seal. This came to me from Graeme Urch, the next owner who also owns lrx828E.
What this story does is add 4 events the car did in UK in Jon Leighton / Dick Denvils hands before it came to Australia.
It also confirms it was sold to australia as KUT8E, but as KUT8E was toms brand new 1967 Cooper, The Australian shell built in 1971 is not the same car.
In my eyes that car from 1967 seems to have disppeared, unless it became 1 of the 2 cars Tom says he sold at the end of 1973.I do have a copy of the original dealer invoice for KUT8E

By my calculations from the article, it would appear the parts purchased in Australia (and presumably the car) arrived in august 1973, allowing 8 weeks I guess. it left UK in June or so
The first event listed, Lydden Rallycross, maybe was the February 4 event, if someone has programs results etc.
The second event on private property I know was in Chepstow Marshes, as Dick Denvil mentioned the amals sticking on full throttle there on f/book.
and there is obviously an MN news that mention that
The Chieftan Rally was next April, and MN again reported it.
Tour of Lincs , next, date unknown.

All this makes me think that the blue Australian car, did 4 internationals in 1972 Welsh (Driver Russell Brookes as OBL45F, Scottish International (Tom Seal OBL45F) RAC rally (Tom Seal KUT8e) , Tour of Epynt 1972 (R BRookes OBL45F) , and then was sold to Jon Leighton.very early 1973
I think the funds from the sale may have assisted Tom to continue rallying, and the other blue OBL45F, then became the white OBL45F of 1973 , and being sold end of 1973
IF I have trouble deciphering this tale, I am not sure how well you readers grasp it.
It is an interesting tale, and a very interesting mini, as Tom sought to make it the fastest mini, but they had entered into a new era of cars.

[lomin]

Hi, yet again more info on the Australian OBL45F , and some photo updates on the body shell, that is ready for the last of the PPG epoxy red oxide, then some filler, primer, sand and paint
The repairs have been time consuming to get correct, and the works alloy panels have taken a lot of work, as you basically need to strip them into basic pieces, remove paint, repair, weld etc and delicately put back together
Simon Wheatcroft sent a photo of the car after it had crashed in the dyke and destroyed 8 port and bodywork.. patched up purple ?


I've attached an image of KUT 8E on the 1973 Tour of Lincs Rally - the event took place 28th April. The crew was Jon Leighton/D Kay and they are listed as being from Reading.
next from David King in Australia.
Hi Lindsay, The Leighton Family owned a 130 odd acre property at Reading called “Stanlake Park” which Jon eventually retired to and started a very successful vineyard which he eventually Sold.
Tom Seal owned the rego of KUT8e , as it was his new 1967 Cooper.
So, i would still love more info on the car in some events. Be it with OBL45F rego or KUT8e
1972 RAC Rally car 98 1972 December 27 Tour of Epynt 1973 Feb? Lydden Rallycross 1973 FEb/ March Private event at Chepstow Marshes, and rally Chieftan Rally April?
Cheers Lindsay Siebler

[lomin]

Hi, some more updates on Oz OBL45F photos mostly
Alloy doors, bootlid and bonnet now in special grey bare metal primer for alloy, next is small amount of light weight filler, sand then Hi fil

i could find out more on the primer, as I noted MK1 was asking

roof ready for hi fil front with two new wings and apron only almost ready for hi fil
filler around all pillars where new roof was hastily welded on after Tom Seal rollover in 72 Scottish International . You may notice its a mk1 roof on a mk11 shell
Both rear 1/4 with filler ..Left where dent was repaired that I still cant be sure whether it was put there by Russell Brookes on 72 RAC

I believe whole car is now in hifil, where it will sit a week, be rubbed and then PPG 2 pak primer, , rubbed, then Santorini Blue 2 pak PPG ...maybe 3 weeks to go. yay ! These projects take years, and the works did their miracles in 6 ? weeks

Replica Scottish works sumpguard that I convinced Simon Young of British sporting cars in Bendigo victoria to make for me in 606 Alloy. Simon did the brilliant restorations on LRX828E and LRX829E in australia. People love his light weight hi strength guard 7kg odd vs 16- 18kg odd, so he is making them to order.
Same for replica works passenger seat .. made by Simon and more ordered. He is part way through drivers seat, but has made batterybox guard, seat brackets, accelerator pedal, correct lamp bar, etc,all to "works" standards and measurements
Front page of tour of Lincs rally in 1972. Car was number 75 of 160 driven by Jon Leighton/ David Kay very tough and fast event eventually dnf

I have now had a conversation with Dick Denvil who was Jon Leightons navigator when the car crashed into a dyke on the Stepford Marshes event. Engine swallowed water, but was retrievable. He also went with Jon Leighton to Tom Seals house to purchase the car. he cannot remember exact purchase price, but thinks 1-2K. He also taught jon Leighton how to handbrake turn on the event, and the first stage was only 400m or so long, and Jon failed to see the finish board in the excitement.
I have also procured some really rare wheels, that could have even been on the Paddy Hopkirk OBL45F when they were testing 12" wheels. 12" x 6" Cooper Car Company magnesium Rosepetals that will be my "daily driver" rims lol ( I seem to have hit a photo upload limit
Cheers Lindsay Siebler

[spoon.450]

Thanks for the update on this very interesting car……please keep us posted

[lomin]

Hi, photos for previous post

[lomin]

Hi, this restoration stuff is slow progress as so many of you know.
The shell is finally painted in the correct Welsh International colours as we used a spectrometer on some original dash colour. It must have really stood out in its day. And now the slow assembly begins
I hope the legends of the era like it..!! Russell Brookes Tom Seal Roger Platt Mike Nicholson etc
Original shell, only replaced wings and front panel..... pretty good for over 50 years

[wantafaster1]

That's going to look awesome

[Ronnie]

Great Work

[850RS]

That looks great! That blue definitely stands out!

[Old English White]

Very impressive And such an interesting history!
Can't wait to hear and see more.