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Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 9:33 pm
by chris-pilling
Come on mark, lets have a look or im going to spill... i have a grainy pic of it!
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 2:28 am
by graeme1293
Did you buy it off someone called Dave?
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:59 am
by mk1
First, I must take my hats off to the few people who managed to guess what my new project is. Chris Pilling was the first to e-mail me with the correct answer what seems like days ago now.
Well, I was planning on keeping it quiet for longer, but my natural giddyness stopped me being more sensible,
My new project is indeed this car;
It was owned by Speedwell and used as their primary demonstrator from 7 Jan 1966 to July 1968. After going through a number of hands it was restored about 10 years ago & has been in a private collection since. The engine & shell are both original & when I had a look under the bonnet & could see where the holes for the speedwell badge had been filled. Although mechanically it is very good there is lots of detail stuff to sort out.
My plan is to restore it back to the specification seen in Andreas's pictures for next summer.
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:03 am
by 59fan
Fantastic! I didn't even now it had survived all these years, of course you will have to get the restoration spot on as we all have a copy of these photos
Ian
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:25 am
by Pete
...and don't forget there's a full write up of this car 'The Speedwell 1300 TC' in Motor Sport in May 1966 (reprinted in the Brooklands softback book Mini Cooper 1961-71) where the writer's complaining about the standard seats and single tank whilst extolling the thrill of it's 0-60 time of 9.5 seconds , which was 'warp ten' for 1966 !
You've soooo got to display the car next to the Taurus demo car 'CMO' at Buleee next year.
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:26 am
by guru_1071
are you going to spend the next six months growing a beard so you look like an authentic speedwell employee as well mark?
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:30 am
by Pete
Fishy already does !
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:34 am
by Etienne B.
Fantastic Mark !!!!!!!!
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:36 am
by Black 1071 S
WOW! that is a fantastic find Mark! hope we see it in it's full glory next year, can't wait!
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:38 am
by almondgreen
are you going to spend the next six months growing a beard so you look like an authentic speedwell employee as well mark?
That is what I thought too, but I did not find the right words...
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:39 am
by mk1
A bit of light reading
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:55 am
by Pandora
Does that make it ex Graham Hill? - the one time the initials GH are a good thing in the history of such a car........
looking forward to more pictures Mark.
Oh, and I hope you have already fitted an original badge back in the holes on the bonnet.
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:01 am
by steve1071
Fantastic find Mark
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:14 am
by RTJ
Absolutely fantastic Mark, what a car. How many genuine Speedweel owned cars are out there.
Looking forward to watching the resto. Full credit to Peter for putting you on to it. Wow worth all the pain you put us through this week.
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:49 am
by mk1
I only currently know of 1 other totally bona fide Speedwell car & that's the Graham Hill one that currently resides in Japan.
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:56 am
by Vegard
Great find! Too bad you sold the 1100, they belong in the same garage
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:45 am
by RTJ
mk1 wrote:I only currently know of 1 other totally bona fide Speedwell car & that's the Graham Hill one that currently resides in Japan.
Wow, and so much detail in the slides. Very rarely do you find a period shot of under bonnet and interior.
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 1:12 pm
by bill773mini
VERY nice Mark, really pleased for you, now all the excitement makes sense. Look forward to seeing it when it's done.
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 1:18 pm
by medwaybeat
Stuff of dreams. Well done, any pictures of it as it is?
Re: I've just bought a new project (Mini)
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 2:01 pm
by coop12g295
Mark all the suspense has been worth while glad to see you got your mojo back
an absolute gem