Barnfind Peel is ‘Best Mini Variant’

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When asked to make a nice display of Mini based cars last year, a tradition was started. That first Action Day for fans of the classic Mini and anything based on Issigonis’ best design, turned out to be a hit and the Maximum Mini display boasted a modest variety of Mini derivatives at the grounds of Blyton Park, Lincolnshire. For the second running, this year on 2 and 3 May, the weather may have been worse but the turn-out was better. With two Ogles SX1000, a Fletcher GT, Unipower GT, Broadspeed GT, MiniJem and Mini Marcos, Cox GTM, Biota, Nimbus Coupe (plus a surprise visit from its creator), no less then three Neville Trickett-built MiniSprints (substantially lower then ordinary Minis with chopped pillars and waistlines) and the TiCi city car driven by Sir Stirling Moss back in 1973. Photographic reports here and here.

The title of ‘Best Mini Variant’ of the weekend was rewarded to a Peel Viking owned by the Fisher-Garrett family who discovered the car in a Yorkshire barn just months earlier. Built on the Isle of Man in 1966 this is one of supposedly just 24 Vikings. This one has been re-registered for unknown reasons in 1980 and wears its first coat of paint. When found all of the car’s interior had been eaten up by mice, but the mechanics turned out to be just fine, with the 848cc engine starting on the first attempt after an oil change and overhaul of the cooling and clutch systems. The car had been MOTd and was seen driven on the park grounds during the weekend. A worthy winner of the title, but the owner would like to learn more about its early history. Let us know if you have any ideas.

(Words and pictures Jeroen Booij)

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