What’s happening?
Quentin Willson (motoring journalist and TV presenter) has joined us, buying a 59 off another register member. 900 FRL is a late 59 built Austin Seven in Speedwell blue. Quentin is busy finding rare missing parts, he is writing about his new project in “Classic Cars” magazine and in his column “confessions of an auto gleaner” in the May 2011 issue page 17, he even give the 1959 Mini Register a plug.
Quentin has written,
“Bought a 1959 Austin Seven Mini the other day. It needs a complete restoration, but it’s one of the early cars that rolled out of Longbridge in the first few months of production. I think it’s a hugely important icon, but my wife thinks it’s a pile of scrap!
There are only about 100 ’59s known to have survived, and I’m going to totally restore this one. If you happen to be one of 900 FRL’s former owners, please get in touch. I’d love to unearth my icon’s past.”
Quentin blames his fellow 1959 Mini Register member, fellow motoring journalist and friend Richard Bremner for igniting the 59 Mini bug. Richard who along with two other friends bought Austin 108 over New Year 2011
About XXL 27 Austin 108
Built on 15th May 1959 and dispatched to Car Mart in Colchester 31st July.
Previous to the current owners, this historic example of an Austin Farina Grey De-Luxe, has had two owners from new and been in the second ownership since 1986. Off the road since 1985 it is in very original unmolested condition but requires a full restoration.
Only two earlier Austin’s are so far known to exist, HUE 627 and KEG 77 are both in Japan so 108 could be the earliest Austin in Europe.
It came with the original registration number and a host of paperwork including the heritage certificate, what a find!
108 is now (2011) in the ownership of a consortium of people headed up by Richard Bremner.
We will be very interested to see this historic Minis restoration.
Another famous 59 has been snapped up by yet another motoring journalist, John Simister has Bought LSK 706 the Cherry Red Shorrock Supercharged 59 off another register member. John is also friends with Richard Bremner and again sights Richards purchase of 108 as a factor in buying LSK 706.
John writes,
“Its history is complex but genuine. It spent a while in the 1990s as a kind of Cooper replica, in green with a white roof, but when Perry Shaw restored it he brought it back to its original look. It still seems to have virtually all of its 1959 specific features, which is great.
It made an interesting contrast to the Farina Grey Austin basket case, recently for sale on the 1959 register, that is the third-oldest surviving Austin (is that right?) that three friends of mine have bought. Last Monday one of those friends and I went to visit it in its hideaway in my new toy. It was quite surreal.
The next issue of Octane will have an introduction to my Mini in the Octane Cars section. Plenty more to come.”
So look out for the article in Octane Magazine.
[SinglePic not found]John’s Supercharged 59 LSK 706.
Goodwood Festival of Speed
We have also had an invitation to display a 1959 Mini at the prestigious Cartier ’style et Luxe’ on the Goodwood House lawn during the Festival of Speed this year on the weekend of the 1st-3rd July.
It will be part of the ’People Power – European motoring for the masses’ class.
Simon Marriott will be attending with his lovely Tartan Red July 1959 Austin Seven LTE 922.
This is all more evidence of the increasing interest in our beloved early Mini’s.”
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