Broadspeed GT 1967

[66S]

Hi guys and gals,
I am proud to announce my latest arrival. This car has an interesting history (as I know it) and has been in New Zealand for almost all it's life. It was the last Broadspeed GT built by Broadspeed and done for Mr Roy Bagnell (sp?) of Birmingham area. It has rubber suspension (the only one built with it) and was not built as a converted Cooper S. Instead, the Cooper S body and mechanicals were bought in and so the car was registered (LOX172E) as a Broadspeed GT, the only Broadspeed done that way. Interestingly, the FE number has always been recorded as the serial number as there is no BMC plate and it has never been drilled for one.

Miles Udy was a young Kiwi mechanic that had read plenty of the racing success of Ralph Broad and contacted him to see if he could get a job with Broadspeed in England. He was successful and eventually took up employment. I believe he saw the car in it's final stages of completion. In this time, he became a very successful mechanic for Broadspeed Racing, mostly on Escorts and he was made responsible for the number 2 Escort (XOO342F), driven by Chris Craft in '68 and '69. In 1968, he bought the Broadspeed from Roy and owned it for 12 months before sending it and an Alexander Mini (for his brother) and heaps of Cooper S parts home. Before he sent the Broady home, he bought and fitted a set of new 5" magnesium Minilites, a Motolita steering wheel and replaced the cream seats. Miles says he found a rear seat in black, a black driver's race seat ex one of the Broadspeed Anglia's, a Microcell reclining passenger seat in storage at Broadspeed and fitted them but retained the cream door cards. The car arrived in Wellington and was registered on 30th December 1969.

The car is roadworthy and I was able to drive it home from Wellington, a trip of some 4.5 hours. It goes nicely and there were no problems. I have some friends to thank for being given the opportunity to own it, it wasn't publicly advertised and the owner for the last 30 years preferred someone with passion to be the next owner. I must have been that person. As I piece the history together, I am getting help from a number of people, including Miles, who is still competing in motorsport and who still posses a very sharp memory. I find him immensely interesting to chat with. Can anyone add anything to the history of this car?

Regards
Al

[InimiaD]

OMG.

You have just made me so envious. The GT's are one of my all time favourite Mini.

[dbo]

Wow, that's impressive, what a great find. It's amazing what still lurks around in peoples garages.

Cheers
Dennis

[jay weinstein]

Great car,congratulations.

jw

[coop12g295]

That's a lovely car and a good history,me jealous nooooo

[UHR850]

Lucky you

[foxy52]

Hi guys and gals,
I am proud to announce my latest arrival. This car has an interesting history (as I know it) and has been in New Zealand for almost all it's life. It was the last Broadspeed GT built by Broadspeed and done for Mr Roy Bagnell (sp?) of Birmingham area. It has rubber suspension (the only one built with it) and was not built as a converted Cooper S. Instead, the Cooper S body and mechanicals were bought in and so the car was registered (LOX172E) as a Broadspeed GT, the only Broadspeed done that way. Interestingly, the FE number has always been recorded as the serial number as there is no BMC plate and it has never been drilled for one.

Miles Udy was a young Kiwi mechanic that had read plenty of the racing success of Ralph Broad and contacted him to see if he could get a job with Broadspeed in England. He was successful and eventually took up employment. I believe he saw the car in it's final stages of completion. In this time, he became a very successful mechanic for Broadspeed Racing, mostly on Escorts and he was made responsible for the number 2 Escort (XOO342F), driven by Chris Craft in '68 and '69. In 1968, he bought the Broadspeed from Roy and owned it for 12 months before sending it and an Alexander Mini (for his brother) and heaps of Cooper S parts home. Before he sent the Broady home, he bought and fitted a set of new 5" magnesium Minilites, a Motolita steering wheel and replaced the cream seats. Miles says he found a rear seat in black, a black driver's race seat ex one of the Broadspeed Anglia's, a Microcell reclining passenger seat in storage at Broadspeed and fitted them but retained the cream door cards. The car arrived in Wellington and was registered on 30th December 1969.

The car is roadworthy and I was able to drive it home from Wellington, a trip of some 4.5 hours. It goes nicely and there were no problems. I have some friends to thank for being given the opportunity to own it, it wasn't publicly advertised and the owner for the last 30 years preferred someone with passion to be the next owner. I must have been that person. As I piece the history together, I am getting help from a number of people, including Miles, who is still competing in motorsport and who still posses a very sharp memory. I find him immensely interesting to chat with. Can anyone add anything to the history of this car?

Regards
Al

...mmmm nice piece of historic kit there ??! look after it lol.... foxy52

[Pete]

Wow! That's a fantastic find, great story and I'm looking forward to hearing more about it. Know any more about the Alexander car also ?

[Andrew1967]

Thats awesome Al .

Even more reason to come over and visit you.

[jay weinstein]

the driver's seat looks like the seat in Anita Taylor's Broadspeed Anglia.

[Pete]

the driver's seat looks like the seat in Anita Taylor's Broadspeed Anglia.

I'll check that out with her.

[fricsman]

Wow! that's a nice find!!

[Jack of all trades]

The car was advertised at Jeroen Booy's blog from the 18th of may by the previous owner;
http://maximummini.blogspot.nl/p/maximu ... um_28.html

The drivers seat is a Restall type 5 competition seat, Broadspeed used them in all their racecars. So pinpointing the one that had sat in it will be difficult.
On the other hand, you could go around Restall and buy one if you had enough cash...

[tedmcedd]

Awesome car! Great find! You are a lucky chap!!

[66S]

Regarding the seat, Miles may know exactly which seat it was so I'll ask him.

Al

[66S]

The car was advertised at Jeroen Booy's blog from the 18th of may by the previous owner;

I saw the ad on the Maximum Mini Forum, I'm not sure why he did that as he was keen to keep it here, ... and did so.

Al

[BroadspeedGT]

Jack, You are right as usual, the seat is a Restall competition seat as used by Broadspeed .
That seat has probably never seen Anita's bum though as Broadspeed used & supplied more than one of them.
These seats are rare but not impossible to find, I have 2 in my shed & sold another to a forum member a few years ago.
There has been 2 for sale on ebay in the last couple of years as well
Chris

[Pete]

I'm not sure Jay was suggesting it's Anita's actual seat to be fair, just the same type. Plus she wrecked so many cars I doubt she's have had the same seat in all of 'em!

[BroadspeedGT]

Pete, I was saving you the trouble of contacting Anita about something that some of us already know about & can help
Chris

[Pete]

That's fair dinkum. Were you aware of this car Chris? AND how many others are out there do you reckon?