The Purchase

THE PURCHASE

After a 4-day, 4000 km round trip to Brisbane in the week prior to Christmas 2012, this baby Marcos arrived at its new home in Warragul to await its restoration.

This car is one of two imported by Competition Cars Aust. Sydney in 1967. I believe it to be the damaged one mentioned in this excerpt from The BMC Experience Issue 8, 2014: “The Australian agent was a chap named Mike Champion from Knox Lane. Double Bay, and two bodies are believed to have been imported. Apparently one was damaged and after being repaired at possibly JS Fibreglass in Bankstown, was sold off. It is now in Brisbane and has been owned for many years by long-time Mini supplier Jack Reid. It is believed that the damaged body and overall poor finish of both the bodies left a sour taste for Champion, who never imported any more.”

It is supposedly a MkIII, but there is a theory that these two shells were a couple of earlier, unsold Mk II versions that were shipped off to the antipodes disguised as the then current Mk.III models.

Jack Read (Readspeed) of Brisbane purchased the car and built it up. It was originally blue in colour (similar to French Racing Blue); but was later painted this mustard shade with a black stripe and rear panel.

The car was used regularly until the windscreen was damaged, it was then stored under the house and ownership changed to Jack’s son Matt. Matt had begun to restore the car by rebuilding the subframes, but due to health issues and too many other projects, decided to sell it on.

It is one of only 5 known Mini Marcoses in Australia.

As found in Brisbane – December 2012

As found in Brisbane -December 2012

Interior of car with dashboard and bonnet panel and other sundry items