1275 GT thread

[GrayB]

Love the 100 mpg in the small print

[mab01uk]

[Quinny1293]

Here is some tests on the South African GT that I've managed to receive during the last few years.

101 2.jpg

105.jpg

111.jpg

112.jpg

117.jpg

[Quinny1293]

Here is some more. Some of it is in Afrikaans and i do apologize for that.

109.jpg

115.jpg

117.jpg

121.jpg

131.jpg

[MiNiKiN]

In Austria a dealer special from Britih Leyland Austria was available. Called "1275 GT Monte Carlo" and apart from the 340mm steering wheel it offered a modified engine that delivered 78PS @ 5500rpm.
'Only a handful were made and there are said to be 2 or 3 still in existence.

The cover of the leaflet and a page from the "Typenschein" (which is the Austrian V5)

1275GT_MonteCarlo_TS.jpg

MonteCarlo1_0.JPG

Leaflet courtesy B.M.C of Austria

[mab01uk]

[mab01uk]

[mab01uk]

(Already posted in the 'At the Auctions' thread but thought it should also be recorded here for completeness....)

Built in period by Richard Longman for Patrick Motors
Replica of his 1978/1979 British Saloon Car Championship-winning Mini 1275 GT
Used for promotional purposes and never raced
Requires recommissioning before use:-
https://www.bonhams.com/auction/28307/l ... -no-18330/

[mab01uk]

Oulton Park 1978
Photo: Steve Murphy

[mab01uk]

[spraybeateer]

Hi fellow 1275 GT owners, sadly not recently in my case , back in 1973/1974 to be exact!
I owned a 1275GT finished in a deep Leyland Black !reg no DOT 445K which I bought from
local farmer? I remember it like yesterday it was a snowy icey Winters morning in the
village where I had my small Body repair Shop! and at thime trying to scratch living
literally.
This young local farmer whom had the year before lost his father, we. were all young lads,
at the time all had reputation of some sorts, So mine was at the time being particularly
good with a Paint Spray Gun , and having learned the art of refinishing Black local private
Taxis ,for my previous boss in Black if my old memory serves me right in Parsons Cellulose
Black.
So any to cut to the chase, this particular Car was lightly damaged on the N/S front front
panel and the N/S front wing also the front panel. was pushed back slightly doing the estimate
For repairs ! He the farmer suddenly decided that for his mothers sake he didn't , want the car
any longer, and asked if I wanted to buy it , only if he could remove the front bucket seats and
the four wheels & tyres apparently the were Christmas presents form his late father!
So a purchase price of £ 100.00 was agreed , I was now the new owner of a1275 GT!
A month or so later the Car was repaired and on the road !!
I added a set of S?T wide F/Glass arches and a set of Goodyear Rally Specials and Front seats
were scorched and the Paint work refurbished alnd a set of Koni Shocks, the engine was bored out to 1293cc
previously!
Which made for a reasonably well handling quick little Fast Road Car! in fact I gave a loan of it to my mate
whom Auto crossedRally crossed a 1340cc MK1 mini back in the day he was well impressed towing a small trailer
with a V8 Chey engine in the trailer>
Sadly over the years and house moves I have lost all the photos I had with the exception of the one displayed below




taken at a campsite in. Port Knokie Banff north east Scotland about July 1974! trailer and tent for my 6mnths old Son
Commercial Camper Van for my late Parents!!
Sold the GT a couple of years later which what I know now Bg mistake
two my brother in law whom. a couple of months later wrote the shell off hitting a kerb. with the of side front sub frame
which in turn pushed the floor up and pulled the front end down was deemed un repairable??
So after some discussions a New shell was purchased At the pricey amount of £450 . ex works , all parts were re fitted and
car refinished in black, The car was efectionaly known as The Black Dot at the time.

If you read all my rambling's with out getting Thanks

Frank Hubbard aka the Count

[mab01uk]

Interesting story and 'period' photos Frank.
It looks like DOT changed to Red and was taxed on the road until 1987 or might now be stored in a dusty 'barn' somewhere....
Martin

DOT 445K
✗ Untaxed Vehicle DOT445K is not Taxed
Tax due: 1 May 1987
Vehicle make AUSTIN
Date of first registration December 1971
Year of manufacture 1971
Cylinder capacity 1275 cc
Export marker No
Vehicle status Untaxed
Vehicle colour RED
Date of last V5C (logbook) issued 12 December 1985

[Pete]

Nice one here, not a GT interior though…

https://www.rwclassicminis.co.uk/vehicl ... ming-soon/

[nick@dunsdale]

Nice one here, not a GT interior though…

https://www.rwclassicminis.co.uk/vehicl ... ming-soon/

What a shame on the interior
Looks like a really nice car white body and red stripes go well together

[Pete]

There’s definitely a gap in the market for a book about GTs to help restorers and buyers, a-La Parnell. I’ve been looking for one recently and have been quite surprised how many aren’t quite what they seem! Shouldn’t come as a surprise I suppose and the lack of detail on Heritage Certificates doesn’t help does it. Some tricky cars out there, I remember a really early one being discussed on here many years ago for sale as a painted shell / unfinished project that someone pointed out was clearly a later car, and that looks like it’s not an uncommon scenario as it’s turning out, it’s dawning on me that buying an early GT is just as tricky as buying an early S! There’s a few humble Clubmans disappearing from the scene that’s for sure!

[Pete]

Nice one here, not a GT interior though…

https://www.rwclassicminis.co.uk/vehicl ... ming-soon/

What a shame on the interior
Looks like a really nice car white body and red stripes go well together

Well it didn’t bother someone because he’s sold it already!

[Costafortune]

There’s definitely a gap in the market for a book about GTs to help restorers and buyers, a-La Parnell. I’ve been looking for one recently and have been quite surprised how many aren’t quite what they seem! Shouldn’t come as a surprise I suppose and the lack of detail on Heritage Certificates doesn’t help does it. Some tricky cars out there, I remember a really early one being discussed on here many years ago for sale as a painted shell / unfinished project that someone pointed out was clearly a later car, and that looks like it’s not an uncommon scenario as it’s turning out, it’s dawning on me that buying an early GT is just as tricky as buying an early S! There’s a few humble Clubmans disappearing from the scene that’s for sure!

In 1990 I found an H registration Clubman 998 in Bicester scrapyard (Hughes). It was Snowberry white with red trim and the slim Elf Hornet door handles and a local registration number (UFC). It was pretty rotten but even then when they were worthless I thought about buying it to store away. I didn't, but isn my defence I saved two 'Wedge' Morris 1800's of the 18/22 variety, one being the first production car (101) and the other a pre prod prototype. Both have been restored.

I'm not sure if the Clubman was a prototype or really was a very early production car using up BMC bits.

[GrayB]

That car was pretty correct apart from the interior which actually really set it off and was a refreshing change from the boring black basket weave OMO which you can still buy today if you so desire.
IT WAS MY CAR !

[Costafortune]

It looked superb.

My folks had a 1970 1275GT 1971-78 and it was white with red stripes when all the others had black stripes that never looked quite as good imo.

[Pete]

Paint and panel gaps looked superb aswell.