South African Clubman convertible

[towners]

Hi

Anyone have any info on the South African Clubman convertible? Im led to believe the dealers sold them?

Cheers

Paul

[cheleker]

Covered in Ryno Verster's book, A South African Mini Story. You do have a copy don't you?

New, unregistered cars were converted by a company called Carvalette and sold through selected Leyland (South Africa) dealers starting in September 1982.

There has been no record found of how many were made or sold. At the time of publication of Ryno's book (2007) only three were known to exist in the South African Mini clubs.

[abri]

Ryno Verster's "A South African Mini Story" does not mention anything about the convertable clubman (that can be picked up while quickly scanning through it). I'd suggest your best option would be to contact him.


EDIT: Apologies to the author....I missed a full page about the convertible. Page 130.

[towners]

Thanks for info

i need a photo if anyone has one?

Cheers

Paul

[abri]

http://capetown-westerncape.gumtree.co. ... Z360639338

If you've got facebook, also check out the photos here http://www.facebook.com/groups/cptminiclub/photos/ There are some pics of convertibles running around Cape Town.

[cheleker]

abri, See page 130 in Ryno's book.

[abri]

abri, See page 130 in Ryno's book.

Oops! Thanks Chuck, I must have missed the one special page dedicated to the Clubman convertible.

Some details:

Introduced in Sept 82
A company called Carvalette, market leader in sunroof construction in SA, did the conversions. They took up to 50 minis a month as new unregistered cars and did the conversion.

Roof and all pillars except for the windscreen pillars were removed. Canvas roof and perspex side and rear windows, roll bar for extra support/safety. Fitted with wooden dash and wooden caps on the door and rear panels just below the window line. Most were fitted with Carmona wheels and on gold and silver cars the colour of the wheels matched the body. Most had black wheel arches fitted.

Model was not as successful as expected due to a high price and the fact that mini production stopped in SA a year after the introduction of the convertible. Number produced = unknown. Sought after by collectors

[abri]

Nice shot from the rear

http://johannesburg.gumtree.co.za/c-Car ... Z370198745

[Tim]

Interesting, it looks almost identical to the Australian "Mini Miami" convertibles. I think someone on here has one, Ted is it?

http://www.miniandmokeworld.com.au/webs ... arent=1269

Tim

[cheleker]

There's a photo of one on this Forum, now. General section under Angela's Picnic.