mk1-forum.net

Another famues W&P owner has passed away

Rest in peace .

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-a ... w_facebook

Probably the wrong place to post this, but I see that coachbuilt cars are to be featured at the Goodwood Revival this year:

https://grrc.goodwood.com/goodwood-revi ... UlSlejI.97


Peter

That's odd, I thought they did that a couple of years ago? Nice to see they've included 7 Minis in the St Mary's Trophy aswell!

1987 Austin Mini Mayfair by Wood & Pickett
"The Alex Issigonis designed Mini became the classless but chic motorcar to be seen in during the 1960s and beyond. 1960s cool saw pop idols and Royalty mixing it with the common man and with so many being built it was, perhaps, inevitable that variations on the theme would be born. W&P Ltd established itself in the 1960s and was led by Bill Wood and Les Pickett, the ex-employees of the specialist coachbuilder Hooper & Co. The company was purchased by the Henlys Group in 1986, and later sold onto the company to entrepreneur, Mike Bush, in 1989.
We are delighted to offer this 1987 Wood and Pickett designed Austin Mini Mayfair that has been sat languishing and forgotten in a Surrey garage not two miles from this sale at Brooklands. The car was taken in part exchange by a West London Suzuki dealership, we believe, at least before April 2000 judging by the 0181 number displayed on the dealership advertising sticker in the back window. Due to a lack of space at the dealership, the Mini was placed into their storage facility where it was forgotten until discovered by the present owner in around 2007. It was purchased, removed and then stored into its current resting place until, once again, being forgotten. Our recent sale of a Wood and Pickett Mini in our June auction prompted the vendor's memory and again the Mini saw the light of day. On viewing the Mini, the vendor, understanding that realistically he did not have the time or skills to restore the car, has decided to offer the Mini virtually untouched since its original internment. The only thing that has been carried out is the application of a good battery and fresh fuel finding the Mini to start third turn of the starter motor! The engine number suggests that this power plant is an Austin Metro 1275cc unit with a Lucas 16ac alternator with negative earth; the engine being mated to a Mk. II b automatic gearbox with 3.27:1 final drive. The interior still boasts (along with the cobwebs, a period feature!) its Wood and Pickett leather seats, walnut dashboard, walnut door cappings, Momo steering wheel and colour coded seat belts, front and rear. On the outside, the blue coachwork is showing signs of requiring some repairs, however, the Mini has many Wood and Pickett features including; alloy wheels, front spot lights mounted within the grill, a vinyl roof and a sunroof. We are advised that a UK V5 registration document has been applied for with the hope that the original registration number, pictured, will be retained; please note that it may not be.
Offered at 'No Reserve', and requiring some restoration, this little piece of Wood and Pickett history awaits an enthusiastic new owner to restore the car to its original glory."
Historics at Brooklands Auction:-
http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/aucti ... .aspx?p=12

No Margrave but interesting car. There is unfortunately no original Wood & Pickett invoicing with it (don't bother asking leatherhead) Shame as I think it was one of the last Victoria Road Ruislip personalised minis. A former keeper possibly still has that.

Maybe that's a tuned engine conversion too.

No reserve at auction. Could be a good price!

LLA 24V wrote:
There is unfortunately no original Wood & Pickett invoicing with it

A former keeper possibly still has that.

Cant you trace the former owners through the DVLA ?

Was W&P really quite the same company from the mid 80s onward anyway?

After Eddie Collins? No. From a letter of that one of my cars previous keepers wrote to the Henlys, London Road, St Albans workshop, the letter back signed per pro "pp" on behalf of Eddie. The brouchure included indicated that they would offer the same personalised options & some latest audio. But Henlys really wanted the Range Rover clients & books. And their HQ at Borehamwood dumped the name when they lost that.

Mike Bush & Marc Eden had a good run at revitalising the W&P name during the 90's with some great cars & customer car re-furbs.

Leatherhead started with good intentions, but are really just a shiny parts business today.

With all the bits & badges emerging from ex employees tool boxes on eBay recently. Hope someone's got that portfolio of Margraves!

LLA 24V wrote: Mike Bush & Marc Eden had a good run at revitalising the W&P name during the 90's with some great cars & customer car re-furbs.

Leatherhead started with good intentions, but are really just a shiny parts business today.

My late brother Steve Bell did much of the mechanical and bodywork upgrade/repair work on the later Wood & Pickett conversions and re-furbs for Mike Bush in the '90's. Steve's garage in Epsom was branded the Wood & Pickett centre and he even went on the Italian Job Mini run with Mike Bush in his latest Wood & Pickett Mini conversion demo car, as featured on the cover of the then relatively new Miniworld magazine. I have a long video on dvd of the preparation of the W&P Mini for the event and of their adventures getting to Italy and back.....
I still have some info from the Epsom days of W&P that I will try to dig out, scan and post here sometime.

Steve also ran his Mini Se7en racer (see below) under W&P sponsorship until Mike Bush did a franchise deal with Moss International to market Mini accessories under the W&P brand....Mini enthusiast Mike Standring worked for Moss at the time but eventually setup on his own business under the W&P brand in West Sussex and then Leatherhead.





Steve's later Miglia (above) with Moss sponsorship (at that time Moss were marketing all W&P Mini parts & accessories)

Mini Se7en / Miglia - Steve Bell (1961-2001)
http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/to ... 1961-2001/

Great info and pics there Mab...foxy52

Thanks Mab.

Here's an advert that featured in early 90's Mini World...

https://flic.kr/p/xHCcF9

Mini Spares recently sold their W&P accessories sign that was part of the Moss deal. Maybe they'd seen the recent W&P eBay prices

Waiting to see how much the Brooklands auction 87 mini auto went for.

I remember Jeffrey Archer's W&P Mini was a regular visitor to the Epsom workshop for servicing and repairs, it was for sale on ebay in 2010 for £15,000. The ad said the car was indirectly featured (by word reference only) in Private Eye Magazine, issue 1023, dated 9 March 2001. It was alleged that a 'romantic' encounter took place in this Mini in a Masterpark car park in Mayfair with Mr Archer and his then alledged lover, Sally Farmiloe.

Sussex Sports Car Ad and photos (09-Feb-2015)
1988 Wood & Pickett Mini Margrave Ltd Edition Sold - £POA
http://www.sussexsportscars.co.uk/cars/ ... edition-2/

Ordered new in 1988 by Lord Archer, at a cost of £23000.

Extras include:

A full leather interior
A modified cylinder head
Electric windows
Central locking / alarm
Walnut dashboard
Door cappings
Stainless steel exhaust
De-seamed body
Rear lamp guards
Colour folded bumpers
Minilite wheels
Marchal spotlamps
Just 28,000 miles have been completed since new. Documentation includes correspondence from Lord Archer and maintenance records at Wood & Pickett.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C565378

E876 KHX
Vehicle make AUSTIN
Date of first registration 10 February 1988
Year of manufacture 1988
Cylinder capacity (cc) 998cc
CO₂Emissions Not available
Fuel type PETROL
Vehicle status Tax not due
Vehicle colour RED

LLA 24V wrote:
Hope someone's got that portfolio of Margraves!

You & me both - you & me both -----------

Is this a known car? The listing seems particularly dodgy.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Wood-Pic ... 3f52d5e145

It's not particularly dodgy but does use a little artistic license! It's true that was a rare W&P Mk1 originally but had the rear hatch and front lamps added by the owner that restored it in the early 90s as I seem to remember. Not sure exactly which other bits are part of the original W&P conversion. When the previous owner advertised it he also described it as a Radford , which it isn't. As much as it pays to do to do your homework when buying a car like that it also pays not to come clean when you sell it by the looks of it!

ay caramba!

LLA 24V wrote:ay caramba!

That's expensive when you consider the cost of restoration, especially when compared to the very rare W&P Clubman Estate that sold for £11,250 at the Silverstone Classic last month

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

mab01uk wrote:. It was alleged that a 'romantic' encounter took place in this Mini in a Masterpark car park in Mayfair with Mr Archer and his then alledged lover, Sally Farmiloe.

I don't think there was any 'alledged' about it..............


sally farmiloe actually died last year - she was only 60

Tupers wrote:Is this a known car? The listing seems particularly dodgy.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Wood-Pic ... 3f52d5e145

A lot of money IF the auction result was genuine if my info is correct that the car never went to Radford!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Wood-Pic ... 7675.l2557

Pete wrote:

Tupers wrote:Is this a known car? The listing seems particularly dodgy.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Wood-Pic ... 3f52d5e145

A lot of money IF the auction result was genuine if my info is correct that the car never went to Radford!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Wood-Pic ... 7675.l2557

It looks genuine looking at the bidding. 3 people went over £31k. With a new rear panel and 2 x new wings and front lights. The new owner would have the only genuine MK 1 W&P in the UK. Crazy rare car!