mk1-forum.net

smithyrc30 wrote:
That is one seriously ugly conversion.

The trim lines don't match and the whole front end looks like an after thought...

The "proud" builder made this from his own ideas, there was a full feature in one of the old Mini mags.

The first sales advert, claimed he had help from former W&P imploies, during the "resto" job.

The quality of craftsman ship looks OK, but the design and level of mistakes/faults are horrible

66Traveller wrote:
Radfords and Hoopers are much more subtle.

Really ? subtle is not a word, that has any connection - what so ever, to do with a Coachbuilt Mini.

These cars were all about showing the riff raff who,s the boss, and had the most dosh, to throw at their Mini.

Defo not a word, one can put in the same sentence, to neither this Radford nor Hooper,s

I would have to agree with JC on this one. Owning both a 60's Radford and WP All/most the 10" wheel WP's are very nice and the workmanship it top class. I would go as far as to say there work was better than Radford's and Hoopers in there early cars. They lost there way later on (around the 12" wheel change over) and some of the conversions are hideous which has give them all a stigma and the fact the name is still in business doesn't help either.

Now you see I'd beg to differ - the original concept was to introduce elements that would make an ordinary Mini more upmarket - leather seats, wooden dahboard, sunroof, electric windows (basically lots of features of Astons and Rolls Royces)and a non standard paint colour. So the McCartney Radford in Aston Martin california sage green is quite a subtle conversion as was George Harrisons before he decided to have the psychadelic re-paint. Britt Ekland's Radford hatchback in Cirassian Blue is a perfect example. I admit that the Sellers obsession with painted wickerwork sides are an acquired taste... and that a late Radford is not at all a nice thing but I maintain that the original idea was to create some thing bespoke, quality and not too flashy... Clearly this changed as tastes changed and time moved on. I'm with Nev that early WP conversions are equally good...

Spot on James. Couldn't have put it better myself.

It's hard to tell the difference between some of the early W&P cars like NPL 660E and Radfords.

Well it seems we all have the same opinion after all then


and yes - the fact that the "W&P" name "survived" ofcourse makes some people put all cars into the same bowl which they clearly (as some allready have pointed out) are not.

Mr Collins left when Henly,s bought the WP name around 86/87, and by that time, he was the only person left from the early days, and even for a WP "fan" like me its hard to defend those later conversions
The thing people must remember = is time & taste (or lack off)

Back when the Hooper,s / Radfords and Margrave,s appeared, was a posh sports car by Jaguar a flatfloor type 1 E - type - and in the mid 60ies Lamborghine gave us the STUNNING Miura,
but then came the 70ies with glamrock & platou boots , who dosent remember Alvin Stardust or ABBA .
By this time the E type had become the XJS, and the Lamborghini a Countach and dont get me started on Limo,s
The 70ies also brought in new clients to the coachbuild market = the Arab,s and when one have a company that is based on giving their costumers exactly what they ordered = well we have all seen those later 70ies "creations"
but again one must remember = they are all a part of the time frame, in which they were built.

So all W&P did was to keep with time, and give the costumers, what they wanted, which was more than could be said about Hooper,s who wouldnt do more cars after 5 or 6,
and Radford who didnt come up with a design, that their costumers liked (see my post above )
that car was built as a demonstrator & shown at the big international motor show in Paris that year, but without success = Radford packed in shortly after.
So no one can claim this was a costumer,s job = Radford had tried to copy & do one better on W&P,s Merc light conversion, and fell flat on their noses - nuff said.


Jens Christian

Customers cash was king. W&P offered Del Tech minilites & the wolf race slot mag wheels During the mid seventies. So if you wanted a street sleeper or custom car/glam it was yours. W&P were not afraid to build some wild looking minis in the seventies. My Margrave was ordered in black with the brave choice of cream leather, purple dash top with matching piping. They'd seeing Elton John's Margrave at Park Royal & wanted a copy. Except for Reg's paint choice of bright electric blue!

Oh & Dralon upholstered interiors. Ew!

JC T ONE wrote:
I cant take credit for Eurods/WP.

Jens Christian

Jens

I thought it was yours, or you had some link with it, as it appears in your signature.

Stuart

surfblue63 wrote:
I thought it was yours, or you had some link with it, as it appears in your signature.

Stuart

Thats to promote / spread some info about these rare cars

LLA 24V wrote:

Customers cash was king.


Oh & Dralon upholstered interiors. Ew!

yepp what the costumer wanted - the costumer got -

On Sale at the Silverstone Classic this month

Wood & Pickett Clubman Estate

http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/1978 ... -automatic

Nevsmini wrote:
I would have to agree with JC on this one.
Owning both a 60's Radford and WP All/most the 10" wheel WP's are very nice and the workmanship it top class.
I would go as far as to say there work was better than Radford's and Hoopers in there early cars.

They lost there way later on (around the 12" wheel change over) and some of the conversions are hideous,
which has give them all a stigma and the fact the name is still in business doesn't help either.

Found another nice classic historic coachbuilder, who went from this =

https://notoriousluxury.files.wordpress ... pron-5.jpg

and =

To this =

"Nice" ehh

and from the rear



PS Jens you beat me to it. Although are you sure this was actually built by Chapron or did someone just use the name.

surfblue63 wrote:and from the rear



PS Jens you beat me to it. Although are you sure this was actually built by Chapron or did someone just use the name.

Its a Chapron alright = http://lautomobileancienne.com/volvo-343-dl-chapron/

Google translate it to =
Chapron is one of the great French coachbuilders, and probably the one that has survived the longest, as the company has managed to stay for more than 60 years on the front of the stage, while being one of the ambassadors beautiful body in French. And if we remember his works like the Citroën DS Cabriolet, various creations on Delahaye, presidential cars, some are to forget, as this Volvo 343 DL reviewed by the company in 1980 Chapron
What fly has been stung Chapron for us so that this Volvo 343 DL more kitsch? It is indeed necessary to delve into the history of the coachbuilder Chapron to understand this creation. If Chapron is one of the few to survive the bodybuilder 1950s that decimate almost all of the industry in France, however, it will struggle to keep their heads above water in the 1970s Stopping the Citroen DS and the failure of the SM are two important setbacks since Chapron was working mainly for Citroën; to which is added the lack of modernization of the production tool since the 1960s ... Chapron had somewhat asleep on his laurels ... And to further darken the picture, since the early 1970s, Henri Chapron away from her business for health reasons, leaving his wife manage the bodywork.
In an attempt to raise his head, Chapron offers luxurious accommodation on the Citroën CX as well as the brand new Peugeot 604, and specializes in the armor. These special commands to ensure minimal production, but the company's workforce based. Then comes the news that everyone expected, the death of Henri Chapron May 14, 1978 ... The boss is not to give the necessary boost to his business.
But the wife of Henri Chapron is not resolved to close the business and took over the management. The task was difficult, prices are rising and obsolete equipment of the company does not allow it to be competitive against new competitors who take the traditional customer Chapron. And that's probably for a little work that Chapron body accepts atypical requests.
In 1980, the Belgian importer of Volvo command Chapron a special body on the basis of a Volvo 343 to turn it into "faux cabriolet." This command is accepted and realized, exits a car of dubious appearance. The rear part of the pavilion is covered with beige vinyl with false compass to give the impression, as in the 1930s, it was a convertible. To enter the brightness in the cockpit, it endows the car with a tiny rear window and rear quarter windows minimalist.

The unit is, do not mince words, rather ridiculous. Yet the car proudly displays his "H.Chapron" logo that comes burdening the tailgate; Chapron and this 343 was presented at the Brussels Motor Show in 1980. Needless to say that the car there was not noticed by her beauty, and was quickly forgotten ... But the car would have found its audience, a Belgian would have bought then made to ride with registered ... When to know what happened to this car ... mystery.

Thankfully it appears just the one was built.

Could that poor 343 be the ultra rare Amsterdam "Red Light District" special edition?