Race Retro Classic & Competition Car Sale 2023 24th - 25th February 2023

55 + buyers premium of 12.5% plus VAT (15% incl VAT) on the first £300,000 of the hammer and 10% plus VAT (12% incl VAT) thereafter Lot 342 1970 British Leyland Mini Clubman 1275GT In the days when rallying was as much about proving a car’s reliability as its speed, the 1970 Daily Mirror World Cup Rally was the ultimate test. Just 23 cars finished from nearly 100 starters, the slimmest percentage of all the original ‘marathon’ rallies. It was so named because the route would follow the direction of the Jules Rimet Trophy as the World Cup’s host city moved from London in 1966 to Mexico City in 1970, the trip was hardly direct, taking in much of western and central Europe and the length of South America on its 16,000-mile journey. A sole Mini took part in the World Cup Rally, with BL at that point having switched its sporting focus from the Cooper to the square- fronted 1275GT. Though fully works supported, the Mini wasn’t expected to actually complete the rally, but BMC hoped it would lead the European sections, proving the new 1275GT’s speed (crucial, considering that it was a fair bit slower than the soon-to-be- discontinued Cooper ‘S’) before inevitably dropping out in America. It didn’t even do that, however, after blowing its pistons in Yugoslavia due to poor fuel. This particular example is an exacting replica of the car that took part, because the owner of the original doesn’t usually attend shows. A committed rally fan, our vendor worked as an apprentice at RTS Motorway Remoulds, which entered car number one – a Ford Cortina GT– in the London-Sydney Marathon rally in 1968. His interest in long-distance rallying grew from there: “I’ve always had Minis, ever since my first car, so it was natural for me to make a replica of the only Mini to take part in the World Cup Rally.” That car was originally built in 1988 and appears to faithfully replicate, XJB 308H, British Leyland’s only Mini entry in the 1970 World Cup Rally. By 2009 it was ready for a bit of a refresh and long-established specialists, Mini Sport in Burnley, were selected for the task. There is a file with the car documenting the components used and costs and they are summarised in full on our website. The Mini has covered just 4,750 miles since the build and has been regularly maintained. The car has a current MSA Logbook but the seats and fire extinguisher are out of date, however, it’s fully usable for non-MSA events and is always being invited to historic events and shows where lots of people still remember the 1970 World Cup Rally. Nostalgia apart, this is a superbly built little rally car in its own right could be very competitive in the right hands. Originally built in 1998 as a replica of XJB 308H, the penultimate ‘Works’ 1,275GT, and less than 5,000 miles since a total rebuild by Minisport. Registration: AOK 816K Chassis No.: XAD2 84117A Estimate: £22,000 - £26,000 Consignor: Rob Hubbard Telephone No: 07775 511825 More Details Lot 342 Bid On Lot 342