Watto,
Thanks for all that info about the GT. There seems to be very little info about the GT's that were raced/rallied in the early 70's.

If my GT was rallied as a works or private car I'd like to restore it as just that - a race car. Just a matter of finding photo's, details etc.

Being car number 2 off the production line BMC/Leyland could have used it for a number of things.

I'll keep doing some more digging. It'd be nice to have a replica/real rally Clubman GT.

Cheers
JW

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Julie.............

I have a bit of background here. I had a ride with Bob Holden in a Mini VAN in the Mini Monte that went down to Corryong in Vic. It was only as recce on one stage that had been closed and Gus wanted to know if it was OK to re-open. At that time he said he preferred the van as it handled better on the dirt. It must have been about 68/69 and we were in the Sunny Corner State forest.
I also went to NZ for the Heatway in either 72/73 and in that rally. I am pretty sure works minis were run but Evan Green definitely ran a 4 door Monaro with John Bryson as navigator as I have photos of it somewhere. I suspect one of the works drivers would have been Andrew Cowan as he spent a lot of time in Oz in that period. John also accompanied Evan on the P76 trip described in Evan's book A Boot Full of Right Arms. A little known fact is that Colin Bond also ran at least one rally in Evan's works car when he was unavailable. I could check the exact years but not without a bit of digging. Up until recently I had an original Mini Monte sticker for that rally and I have misplaced it.

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Chris

Everything I like is either
illegal, immoral or fattening.

"Only one Clubman GT ever raced in the Bathurst 500/1000, as a private entry. That was in 1975 and was driven by Ray Molloy and Alan Braszell, but it retired with suspension problems"

Wrong. More than one.

1975 Ray Molloy & Alan Braszell ritired on lap 118 with suspension problems.
1976 Jeff Harris & Arthur Hardwick finished and did 136 laps
1976 Ray Molloy & Alan Braszell finished and did 125 laps
1976 Hugh Donaldson & Mike Quinn retired (reason unknown) on lap 58.

Research?????

Chris, there is a picture of the interior of Cowans Heatway clubby in Ausmini that I posted. A fella I know over there bought both rally clubbys plated GC3 and GC4 (sold one just recently).

_________________
"Show me the Mini!"

Watto, you do have some of my pictures of the Heatway Clubbies owned by a friend of mine...yes???

I sent them to you as montages (sort of??? )

_________________
"Show me the Mini!"

here's a pic from "Spotlight On Mini Minor Downunder" by Perd Davis

not categorical evidence, but you can clearly see the GT badge on the grille of the second car

_________________
did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Top work with the pictures

There certainly is a GT badge there.

Hmmm..........the plot thickens.

Thanks for all the help.................keep researching, someone must have some more pictures info etc.

Cheers
JW

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Julie.............

"There were often as many as three cars competing in 1275 S form for drivers like Evan Green, Barry Ferguson and others. After the original round-nosed Mini went out of production at the Zetland factory, the later Clubman car was the base for the factory rally cars before they were withdrawn from the scene." Rally Sport Magazine

Oh deary me

notice those clubbies are definitely australian too - external hinges and 1/4 vent wind up windows

_________________
did I tell you that I won a trophy?

An email I got today from an ex- BMC employee.

I left BMC in 1971 I think, when the last of the Cooper S's were being sold off. Pressed Metal Corporation at Liverpool might have assembled some Minis early on. From early 60's right through to 1972, all the Minis and Mokes were assembled in a factory up near the front gate at Zetland. The main final assembly factory was in the middle of the complex and made the medium and large cars eg Morris 1100 and Morris 1800 in the middle 60's.


MG Midget and MGB's were assembled in a purpose built facility in the North East corner of the site. They finished production same time as the Cooper S.


I don't know the exact date when thay ceased building cars at Zetland. I think the first Clubman GT's might have been made at Zetland then probably Mini and Moke assembly went to Liverpool. As you can imagine, the Company was not that interested in motor sport when they had so many problems. Most of the rally and race cars were built in the 60's.


My interest in 1972 and 1973 was Rally Cross, run for TV (Channel 7). I ran an MG Midget, and BMC cars were the largest group of the cars in the field. I think Evan Green drove a Mini in the very beginning, maybe 1 or 2 events, but wasn't competitive, or couldn't get sponsorship, can't remember. I suppose he had a Clubman, it was green in colour I think. But cannot be sure it was a Clubman GT. It would have been a rally car ie could had a Halda fitted, not purpose built for Rally Cross. It should be possible to find entry lists of cars in Rally Cross and also in rallying in the State Championship and the ARC. If you find out the names of the drivers who were driving Clubmans at the time, I may be able to help with contacting them.


Christine Cole drove a Mini, probably a Clubman GT in rally cross. It was a dark red colour I think, and had a cross flow cylinder head, which you can imagine would be taken off the car if it was sold.


I don't think there is any doubt that your car would have early rally history. There would only be a small number of cars built, so it does seem like a good chance to be able to identify your car, and get some pictures of it in action.


Regards,


Dale

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Julie.............

Those rally pictures are awesome.
Makes me wanna raise the piss out of mine and go bashing.

Yepp, Christine Gibson nee Cole did drive a Mini.

this be a very interesting post! love the pics

She rallied a mini with another lady whose name I think e was Pam Elam. Pam went on to do PR work within motorsport if I recall correctly.

_________________
Chris

Everything I like is either
illegal, immoral or fattening.

I remember being shown a Clubman rally car at MG Workshop in Bentleigh, VIC,, a few years back ('95/'96?)....when I was gathering parts for my own mini. It was being restored. Didn't take tto much notice but it was clear it stuck in a bit of a time warp. It was blue. Roll-cage. Intercom system plummed in behind the driver/navigator's heads. 3 fuel tanks (twin tanks with auxillary tank located in the top of the boot)....but pretty sure it was an English model. I remember the lack of quarter vents and the different boot lid. I din't know much about English Clubmans then but knew enough about Oz ones to realise where it was from. The motor wa getting rebuilt at the time too.

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72 Clubman and a 75 Van.