Over 650 cars related to BMC’s miniature marvel, spanning its entire history, were packed into Gaydon’s extensive parking areas at the National Mini and Metro Show.
Plus, Metros galore, be they wearing Austin, MG or Rover badges. And plenty of examples of BMW’s MINI, some of which are themselves heading for classic car status now. As well as a host of vehicles from the kit car world, which would never have existed without the Mini.
Here are a few that caught our eye.
Brenton Carter, Laurence Westley and Adam Lancaster, who are all members of the Mini Cabriolet Register, are having some fun before they go into the arena to display their cars.
Father and son team Andy and Kieran Rose from Oxfordshire displayed Andy’s motorsport-inspired Mini, which he built from a bare shell 3 years ago. It still has a 1-litre A-series engine but is tuned to match the exterior. It’s finished in VW Nardo grey and the wide JBW 4-spoke alloys give it a fantastic stance.
Telford-based Ian and Dawn Kennedy’s 1968 Riley Elf Mk3, which they bought basically restored but in need of detail finishing 4 years ago. They have owned many BMC Minis and other related cars.
Brothers Andy Fenn and Neil Fenn from Lincolnshire with their self-bought Mini-based custom cars. The striking yellow car uses a tuned 1-litre A series engine and was built in 1979, using a new replacement bodyshell from Unipart which cost £360! Andy de-seamed this and modified it in many ways but it still wears the paint that was applied when it was built. The blue car is RWD and powered by a 2-litre Ford V4 from a Corsair and has a motorsport-inspired flip front. The basic bodyshell is that of a Mini, however.
Ralph and Lesley Woodrow came from Suffolk in the 1340cc A-Series powered Midas Silver they built together in 1981 and still use regularly. They were part of an impressive display from the Midas Owners Club, which used the occasion to celebrate their fortieth anniversary.
Andy Ruff from Tamworth and his daughter, Amber, with his 1275cc Paul Smith tribute Mini.
He is trying to research the history of the car and is unsure why it was bult up as a Paul Smith tribute so if anyone knows more please get in touch.
West Midlands-based father and son Metro owners Tom and Theo Barson. Theo is only 17 and has only just passed his test, but has already started adding personal touches to his 1990 1.1-litre K-Series Rover Metro to try and match his dad’s 1990 Rover Metro GTI. To his delight, Theo took first place in the concours and also the Best Newcomer award at the National Mini and Metro Show.
Alex Prior with his Rover 100, which has a 1.8-litre MG ZR160 engine, a roll cage and weight-saving plastic windows. He uses it for drag racing and tows the trailer with spares in it.
Samantha Kinsey and James Edwards from Shopshire with their 1979 Mini Racing Green special edition, which they have had 19 years and have restored. They won the best in show and first in class award.
Father and son team Adrian and Andrew Tyndale, with Andrew’s 1971 Mini Jem Mk2, for which his father built the turbocharged 1275cc engine. It carries the doner car’s 1963 number plate, and he has owned it since 2008.
Steve Broadhurst from the West Midlands with his 2001 BMW MINI Cooper at the British Motor Museum, which was the UK brochure car for the launch of the then new MINI. He has had it 5 years and had to respray it because it had done 130,000 miles when he got it and was very tatty. It’s mechanically largely original though.
David Hunt with his unrestored Spruce Green Mini Moke, which was part of a fleet of 15 owned by Devon County Fire Department. It’s so original it still has plashes of yellow paint all over it because one of its duties was carrying firemen around the area to repaint the hydrants yellow and it would seem they were not the neatest of painters.
