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This press photo sold on ebay over the weekend.



Its significant because its a rare example of a steel bodied internal tank Countryman. They were only built for about six months and very few if any original examples survive. The all steel bodywork was launched in April 1961 for the export market and the fuel tank was relocated under the floor in October 1961.

I'm curious as to whether anything can be learned from the background. The scrubby bush is quite uninspiring as press photos go, but is similar to these two pictures of the prototype beach car (and BMC training bus). Could the Countryman/Traveller partially obscured in the second photo be the same car? Von Trip died in September 1961, so it must have had an internal tank.





Tim

looking at the climby hill in the back ground of the 'elf' photo, its the mira test track isn't it?



(I have been wrong before)

I agree with Rich in that the Beach car pics do look like MIRA, but I'm not really convinced that the Steel Traveller one in taken in the same place.

Nice pic, BTW.

I will be adding it to the archive shortly.

They do look similar locations and yes there was a white Countryman present at the Cooper launch where Issigonis is pictured there in John Reymondos beach car on 7th July 1961.

Hello
Looks to me that the top picture is a left hand drive (going on the wipers position) Countryman, and the bottom partial picture of the Countryman is right hand drive (going on wiper position again).
Great pictures

Could be Chobham they have a test hill.

Chobham gets a yes from me

Looks like my old car without the wood...................

An internal tank traveller gets hit by a Citroen DS in Jacques Tati's Traffic.

AustinSuperSeven wrote:Hello
Looks to me that the top picture is a left hand drive (going on the wipers position) Countryman, and the bottom partial picture of the Countryman is right hand drive (going on wiper position again).
Great pictures

Good spot, I'd also say the first picture with the Countryman in was taken in Autumn/ Winter looking at the leafless trees in the background whereas I could believe the second two shots were taken at the same place.

Copper was launched in Chobham, so I would think it is there.