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The Last Works Minis
$59.95
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Description
The Mini, the car of the 20th Century and still in motorsport in 1997, 35 years after its 1st event. This book sets out to complete the untold recent history of the mighty “works Mini” in international motorsport. How the Mini came to be in Monte Carlo and at the famous Nurburgring battling with the giant teams such as Fiat and Citroen. Of how different manufacturers where building “works” cars on either side of Birmingham but not knowing the other existed. It tells the story of cars developed from 1994 up to the last group A cars of 1997, with fuel injection and six speed sequential gearboxes. The book also covers Rover’s plan to go around the world competing in various rounds of the world rally championship. It’s all here, copies of Rover internal documents plus many unseen photos that Rover would not want you to see, if they were still around. With many unseen photos of the car’s development, copies of Rover’s internal documents, copy pages from the road books of top rallies, all of this in color this book truly brings this previously untold story to life.
Bryan Purves bought his first Mini in 1965, which at the time was only two years old. The car was progressively modified, including designing and making adjustable suspension components, machining grooved and drilled brake discs, building his own engines and gearboxes. Purves only entered local clubman rallies as the car was also used as daily transport. His interest in Minis developed into a part time tuning business, in conjunction with his brother. They then built a formula Mini Seven race-car that Purves eventually wrote off while racing at Cadwell Park. The following ten years were spent racing national and international 100cc Karts. A family oriented break ensued. Once his daughter had grown up Purves then became interested in rallying once again and has since participated in many competitive “classic rallies”, having been in the hot seat in an Austin Seven Ulster to Monte Carlo and also across the Sahara Desert. He then rebuilt a MKII Cooper “S” which he also rallied. Purves then met Tim Brenchley and they started working together – it was a short while later that Purves and Brenchley formed a sporting partnership. They rallied Purves’ MG A Coupe and 1964 MkI Cooper “S”. In 2005 Purves purchased what was the last works Mini to ever finish the Monte Carlo Rally and just a month later Brenchley purchased the sister car which was the last works group A Mini ever built.Happily married to Nicki for twenty years, who he met when he was seventeen, Tim Brenchley has been in the motor trade all his working life. Starting as an apprentice technician with a Fiat & Lancia main dealer. Once qualified he spent a short while in a tuning garage, fitting turbo chargers to anything that had an engine. From here Brenchley moved to a BMW dealer working as a service advisor and progressing to senior service advisor. Eventually needing a change he left BMW and started to do “smart” interior trim repairs to cars at main dealers, which is where he met Bryan Purves, who he then started working part time for. Purves and Brenchley started to do a few rallies together, firstly in his MG A and then in his Mini Cooper. This is when we purchased the last two works Minis and the rest, as they say, is history. Happily married to Nicki for twenty years, who he met when he was seventeen, Tim Brenchley has been in the motor trade all his working life. Starting as an apprentice technician with a Fiat & Lancia main dealer. Once qualified he spent a short while in a tuning garage, fitting turbo chargers to anything that had an engine. From here Brenchley moved to a BMW dealer working as a service advisor and progressing to senior service advisor. Eventually needing a change he left BMW and started to do u0022smartu0022 interior trim repairs to cars at main dealers, which is where he met Bryan Purves, who he then started working part time for. Purves and Brenchley started to do a few rallies together, firstly in his MG A and then in his Mini Cooper. This is when we purchased the last two works Minis and the rest, as they say, is history.
New Zealand Classic Car, February 2008
NZ magazineWith the Mini getting close to its 50th birthday, we can expect a plethora of books about Issigonis’s little marvel over the next couple of years.
This new title focuses on a detailed part of the Mini history, but should be of interest because of the unusual slant it takes. We all know about the exploits of people like Hopkirk and Makinen in the early days of Mini rallying, but this book offers a detailed look at some absolutely dedicated efforts to keep the Mini spirit alive one last time before the car was no longer eligible for international rallies.
In 2005, the authors bought a pair of Minis. One was the last ‘works’ car ever to finish the Monte Carlo Rally, and the other was the last Group A Mini ever built. They have now written about those cars and the final few seasons of the original Mini in world and UK rallying. As well as the Monte Carlo Rally (1994-97), the two Minis competed at the Network Q rally in the UK, the Catalunya Rally and the grueling 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.
The amount of detail assembled in this book is amazing, and it’s accompanied by plenty of competition photographs and shots of the cars being prepared. For anyone contemplating restoring or rallying a classic Mini, this book is an absolute mine of information.
NZ magazineWith the Mini getting close to its 50th birthday, we can expect a plethora of books about Issigonis’s little marvel over the next couple of years.
This new title focuses on a detailed part of the Mini history, but should be of interest because of the unusual slant it takes. We all know about the exploits of people like Hopkirk and Makinen in the early days of Mini rallying, but this book offers a detailed look at some absolutely dedicated efforts to keep the Mini spirit alive one last time before the car was no longer eligible for international rallies.
In 2005, the authors bought a pair of Minis. One was the last ‘works’ car ever to finish the Monte Carlo Rally, and the other was the last Group A Mini ever built. They have now written about those cars and the final few seasons of the original Mini in world and UK rallying. As well as the Monte Carlo Rally (1994-97), the two Minis competed at the Network Q rally in the UK, the Catalunya Rally and the grueling 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.
The amount of detail assembled in this book is amazing, and it’s accompanied by plenty of competition photographs and shots of the cars being prepared. For anyone contemplating restoring or rallying a classic Mini, this book is an absolute mine of information.
Australian Classic Car, March 2008Australian magazine With such great success in events like the Monte Carlo Rally, the 1960s were halcyon days for BMC Minis. However, Mini production continued through to 2000 and the mid ’90s saw another launch onto the international competition stage. This excellent publication tells the story of when in 1993, Rover funded the preparation of a new batch of Minis for the next year’s Monte Carlo. Given that it was close to 30 years since the previous encounter, it was a momentous decision. As it happens, enthusiasm feeds on itself and the 1960s almost happened all over again when under British Motor Heritage, further cars were built for subsequent rallies and race events, such as the 1996 ADAC 24-hour Nurburgring race and again in the Monte Carlo from 1994 to 1997.Read how a 35 year old design was made ready for modern rallying and how it performed in each event. As an ex-Mini owner, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and especially the myriad of photos of cars in various states of undress, on display and in full competition. Understandably, the snow and ice hasn’t changed all that much from the 1960s.
Teme Valley Times, February 2008
Worcestershire local newspaper, UK The Mini is undoubtedly one of the best-known cars there is. In the 1960s it enjoyed massive success in motorsport, as well as having a starring role in ‘The Italian Job’. Less well-known is that fact that works-backed Minis reappeared in the 1990s. This book tells their story.
In 2005, Bryan Purves bought the last works Mini to finish the Monte Carlo Rally and Tim Brenchley bought the last works Group A Mini to be built. Bryan and Tim have combined their knowledge and experience to create this book.
The idea of entering the 1994 Monte Carlo Rally in a Mini could easily have been dismissed as a fantasy. Having Paddy Hopkirk drive one of the cars (30 years after he won the event in a Mini) simply makes the whole project sound even more unlikely. It sounds more like a Boys Own tale than a wonderful – but true – story. And if you’re wondering what the outcome was, then you should enjoy the book!
This is a fascinating and well-illustrated account of the trials and tribulations that faced the team as they tackled events such as the Monte Carlo and RAC Rallies. With around 300 pages, there is ample space to chronicle what went on, and how the team overcame the difficulties. These ranged from the inevitable mechanical failures and accidents, through to one of the cars being stolen.
Even if you know nothing about rallying, this book provides a useful insight into the sport, and even if you aren’t terribly interested in Minis per se, the enthusiasm of the writers and the inherent interest in the narrative should be enough to hold most people with an interest in motorsport.
Worcestershire local newspaper, UK The Mini is undoubtedly one of the best-known cars there is. In the 1960s it enjoyed massive success in motorsport, as well as having a starring role in ‘The Italian Job’. Less well-known is that fact that works-backed Minis reappeared in the 1990s. This book tells their story.
In 2005, Bryan Purves bought the last works Mini to finish the Monte Carlo Rally and Tim Brenchley bought the last works Group A Mini to be built. Bryan and Tim have combined their knowledge and experience to create this book.
The idea of entering the 1994 Monte Carlo Rally in a Mini could easily have been dismissed as a fantasy. Having Paddy Hopkirk drive one of the cars (30 years after he won the event in a Mini) simply makes the whole project sound even more unlikely. It sounds more like a Boys Own tale than a wonderful – but true – story. And if you’re wondering what the outcome was, then you should enjoy the book!
This is a fascinating and well-illustrated account of the trials and tribulations that faced the team as they tackled events such as the Monte Carlo and RAC Rallies. With around 300 pages, there is ample space to chronicle what went on, and how the team overcame the difficulties. These ranged from the inevitable mechanical failures and accidents, through to one of the cars being stolen.
Even if you know nothing about rallying, this book provides a useful insight into the sport, and even if you aren’t terribly interested in Minis per se, the enthusiasm of the writers and the inherent interest in the narrative should be enough to hold most people with an interest in motorsport.
Additional information
| Weight | 3 oz |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 1 × 7 × 10 in |