Searching history of my racing Mini.

[Fass]

Good afternoon, recently I´ve bought a racing Mini from a friend of mine.

The car was raced in the Uk and later sold in 1970 to a privateer in Spain, who raced the car hare.

As the car was for racing, and it was difficult to import a car into Spain in 1970´s, the "numbers" were deleted from the chassis and engine. Yes, it sounds horrible, but remember to import a car to Spain was absolutely forbidden except a very few numbers delivered to Embassys, foreigners or Barcelona motorshows...

I need to start my investigation from the numberplate the car had when bought in 1970, which is "QH 6172"...

The car is a Mk2 Austin Cooper S 1275 in some kind of dark British racing green.....the car appeared in an ad at Autosport magazine around 1970 and was bought from Downton with 12 inch magnesium Minilites, injection, etc...

Have you got any clues???

Kind regards,

[guru_1071]

a legal issued plate could not have used a 'Q' in that period.

'Q' plates only came into circulation in the 1980's in the format 'Q123 ABC' to denote a car that was of questionable age (i.e stolen and recovered with no vin tags) or a car built from secondhand parts. (i.e normally a kit car)

the letter 'Q' cannot be used in any other format or location on a UK plate

id guess it must have just been a home made 'vanity' plate - many period racers ran these showing engine size or drivers initials

be nice to see some pictures of it!

[Simon776]

a legal issued plate could not have used a 'Q' in that period.

That is not correct, it is a different sort of Q plate to that which we are used to today.

QH plates were allocated to the R.A.C. for foreign visitors.

[Vegard]

Richard = burnt!

[racemini.nl]

Do you have photo's of this car and the article?

[guru_1071]

a legal issued plate could not have used a 'Q' in that period.

That is not correct, it is a different sort of Q plate to that which we are used to today.

QH plates were allocated to the R.A.C. for foreign visitors.

dammit

ive been caught out with those export plates before

simon, will or course, be correct!

[1ely]

Not this one by any chance

[Fass]

Yes! That is the ad on which my friend saw the car and bought it.

Its curious that in the same page there are ads for Ac cobra, Db5, Ferrari, Lotus, etc... At that price it was a small fortune in 1970's....

I cannot post pics of my car, they seem to be larger than allowed by the forum. I sent some pics to Mark...shall i send them to anyone else who can post them?

Kind regards.

[Pete]

Well spotted Francis and a great find Mr Fass. That's Longman's 1970 BTCC season Downton race car which was the most competative Mini out there until it was written off during qualifying at Silverstone at the end of April, hence the reshell. Downton sold it because Longman threw the towel in and left soon after. I've a few pictures of it in Mk1 guise (as in the advert) which you are welcome to if you can send me your email address.

[Fass]

Thanks Pete, this is getting much more interesting. Sorry for my English, its rusty!

I've sent you some pictures of the actual condition of the car.

Do the cars raced in the Uk with numberplates on them? I understand they raced not only on circuits but on rally stages and most of them were road-legal.

If they changed the body of the car, the mk2 body should have the mk1 chassis re stamped on it?

I think the red interior is mk1, any clues on where can i find another chassis or body number?

Shall I check the instruments or any parts to verfy its build date?

Where else can I find the original chassis number of the original mk1 body?

I need the chassis number to re stamp it at the local spanish Mot. We are not in the 70's and I cannot drive with a fake plate!

Thank you very much!!!

[Pete]

Thanks Pete, this is getting much more interesting. Sorry for my English, its rusty!

Do the cars raced in the Uk with numberplates on them? I understand they raced not only on circuits but on rally stages and most of them were road-legal.

No ,not by the late 60's / early 70's. Early race cars were often road registered because they were essentially converted road cars but late cars were purpose built from scratch and rarely registered for the road until they needed to be, ie for European use or to be sold on. If your car was built from a 'new' old shell purely to race then maybe it never needed an identity / chassis number.

[Fass]

Ok... So i need to investigate the first Vin on the original crashed car...any ideas? Does the car appear in any picture with its numberplate so we can ask the Dvla for the chassis?

Did you see my e-mail?

Regards

[Pete]

Got your email mate, I'll get back to you later. I don't think the Mk1 Longman Downton car was registered, certainly never seen a photo of it with a number plate on it but will look into it.

Cheers

Pete

[guru_1071]

at the risk of been wrong (again ) the dvla will not be able to help you.

the records where computerised from 1977 on, so if the car was exported prior to that they will have no trace of it

[mk1]

When Fass contacted me I knew someone would be able to sort him out.

Here's the pics I received;











M

[Fass]

Thank you.

[guru_1071]

cor, that looks great

I think id have to get rid of the late reversing lamps though!

[foxy52]

cor, that looks great

I think id have to get rid of the late reversing lamps though!

mmmm why do people do that ?!!.. and the boot lid ??!!... is it a mongrel after all ??!!..foxy52

[Pete]

Fass I'll have a good look at your photos etc when I've done with the Sebring car on another thread, not enough time in the day at the minute.

Cheers

Pete

[Fass]

Thank you very much!