Later Works Minis

[VKA305H]

I have a particular interest in these cars. Any photos of the cars, as works and ex-works, posted would be much appreciated. I am particularly interested in YMO 885J, (what happened to it?),URX 560G, RBL450F and RJB 327F, plus other cars that were never used but were works built. Cheers and thanks in advance. Brian.

[spoon.450]

There are a lot of very knowledgable people on this forum who will be able to give information on this subject. It will be worth talking to Robert Young, Chairman and works car registrar for the MCR first who will be able to give you some information. I know at least two of the registrations are on the MCR register. I would be interested to know how you get on ?

Best regards
Dave

[Pete]

I posted a pic of works racer RBL 450F a while ago when it was bought by Jim Whitehouse and raced by Spice in 1970 (just search the forum for Spice). I've got a few more if you pm me but here's quite a few online of a few of those.

[Mudhen]

What about the 90s cars? I realize they're out of scope on this site (and later than Brian's original question I think)...but can't imagine there's another group of more informed people on the planet than right here.

I have 'The Last Works Minis' book, which is awesome - is there a website/forum that would pertain to those? mk5-forum.net?

Thanks,

Pat

[pad4]

There are a lot of very knowledgable people on this forum who will be able to give information on this subject. It will be worth talking to Robert Young, Chairman and works car registrar for the MCR first who will be able to give you some information. I know at least two of the registrations are on the MCR register. I would be interested to know how you get on ?

Best regards
Dave

Ha ha ha ha and ha ha ha , knows a genuine from a fake for sure !

Pad

[Pete]

There's a shot of URX 550G in Cooperworld this month when it appeared at the recent BMC Comps reunion at (a very wet) Silverstone. Anyone know the story to that car? All I remember is being offered a Mk2 S historic rally car by the late JK some moons ago in white with a black roof, just restored and being sold due to the previous owner passing away. A few months later it appeared, or a car absolutely identical to it, in Miniworld with Peter Barker but now with URX 550G screwed to it. Was there a spot of numberplate tennis going on there or did I dream that??

[VKA305H]

According to the "oracle" books was URX550G not built as a racer? I don't understand this as it seems unlikely that a racing car would be rebuilt as a Group 1 rally car! Any thoughts (am I wrong?)

Cheers

Brian

[Simon776]

Not sure what you are suggesting or don't understand Brian, but 550G was definitely a Group 1 car on the 1969 Tour Auto

[Pete]

I suspect Brian means the June '69 Hockenheim Gp2 racer URX 550G was unlikely to be the same one as the Gp1 Sept '69 Tour car pictured above?

[VKA305H]

That is exactly what I meant Pete. There are lots of photos of it as a Group 1 "road" car for the tdf. I don't have any photos of it as a racer beforehand. Cheers. Brian

[Simon776]

I've a picture of 550G before the Hockenheim Group 2 race with Messrs Handley and Rhodes beside it but I've never seen a picture of it action on the event.

The two Hockenheim cars were built to a different spec. to the UK race cars of the time. Outwardly they looked similar-ish to the 1969 Brands Hatch cars with 10" Minilites but they ran with Group 5 arches, gold Minilites, bumpers, had the number plate across the nose of the bonnet (in the style of early rally cars like 33 EJB) and a central leather bonnet strap as 550G has in the Tour de France picture above. Split Webers rather than fuel injection were used.

OBL 45F was definitely a new car for the Tour de France, the URX's might well have been the Hockenheim racers as they didn't run to the Hockenheim spec. again in the other European race events. 550G has a small but distinctive feature that is present on the car at both events.

[Pete]

I've a picture of 550G before the Hockenheim Group 2 race with Messrs Handley and Rhodes beside it but I've never seen a picture of it action on the event.

Which is a surprise considering it was their first race on the continent and they did pretty well!

[Simon776]

The picture of URX 550G mentioned above - probably taken at Thruxton - sans number plate but you can make out the black nose on the bonnet.

[Jack of all trades]

560G
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/73 ... 019907.jpg
550G
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/73 ... 2b25c1.jpg

[Pete]

Anyone got any shots from that Hockenheim race, must admit I've never seen any either!

[VKA305H]

Great shot of 550 on the move from TDF as a Group 1 car and as a Group 5 car. What I am getting at is that I find it difficult but not impossible to believe that Abingdon would build a car as a Group 5 then convert it to a Group 1. Cheers. Brian

[Pete]

If they just swapped the number plate then it's only the same as they did with most of the other late works racers. Quite a few Abingdon racers had old rally car number plates stuck on them didn't they (and I suspect the chassis plate). Which one did Peter Baldwin buy, forgotten which now but it was an ex works endurance racer.

[Simon776]

Great shot of 550 on the move from TDF as a Group 1 car and as a Group 5 car. What I am getting at is that I find it difficult but not impossible to believe that Abingdon would build a car as a Group 5 then convert it to a Group 1. Cheers. Brian

But 550G wasn't built to Group 5 spec.

[VKA305H]

Sorry Simon should I have said Group 2? Anyway it was not built as a Group 1 racer was it?

[Simon776]

Building a Group 1 car for the Tour de France when starting with a Group 2 car wouldn't require much more than removing the arches and alloy panels. The alloy doors from 550G were used on OBL 45F and presumably the bonnet and boot.