15 replies to this topic

[Tupers]

Does anyone know where I can find some pic and info on a 4wd mini. I believe it was a concept car way back in the day and it was in a blue clubman shell. I know I've seen it in a mini book or magazine but can't for the life of me remember which one.

Can anyone help me or am I going mad?

[Dan]

There's been more than one, can you be more specific? I can't think of one in a Clubman body.

Edited by Dan, 03 February 2009 - 12:35 AM.

[Tupers]

There's been more than one, can you be more specific? I can't think of one in a Clubman body.

I believe it used was a single A-series engine and from what I remember the gearbox looked very similar to a standard box. I think it was used for rallying or autograss, other than that I'm blank.

[Bungle]

i think i remember reading about the one your thinking of

clubby body mini engine up front with another take off from the diff going to the rear wheels

from what i can remember it was built for rally cross, but was a pig to drive with no front to back diff

[stickycreambun]

yup I remember that one, pretty sure it was in a minimag (not miniworld) about 2 years ago. Blue clubby, but I seem to remember not too many tech details, more just the overall story.

[Dan]

I can probably find information or an article about the 4WD Moke prototype if it helps, might even be the same setup from the sound of it.

[Goldie1275]

there was a 4wd "austin ant" or was it rear wd? haha, but anyway it did a few shows last year, real concept car, they featured it in mini mag i think?! When we saw him at beaulieu he was really friendly and helpful and showed us all the plans for the car.
thinking back i think its a rwd a series...

well i was loads of help... sorry xx

Edited by Goldie1275, 03 February 2009 - 10:13 AM.

[pogie]

There was a Special Tuning rallycross clubbie around in the early 70s which I read a review of in a magazine in the last couple of years.

From what I remember of the article, the 4x4 system was from the 4 wheel drive Moke and was crude by modern standards. It didn't have a centre differential and the tester said you could feel the car winding it self up as the front and rear axles tried to move at different speeds. Apparently it was ok on loose surfaces but awful on tarmac.

[Asphalt]

there was a 4wd "austin ant" or was it rear wd? haha, but anyway it did a few shows last year, real concept car, they featured it in mini mag i think?! When we saw him at beaulieu he was really friendly and helpful and showed us all the plans for the car.
thinking back i think its a rwd a series...

well i was loads of help... sorry xx

No, Austin Ant is correct! It had a transverse A-Series engine & box and 4wd.

I have some pics of the 4WD Moke... Somewere.
Will dig them out...

The 4WD clubman used a Healey sprite rear diff, if I remember right.

[Tupers]

i think i remember reading about the one your thinking of

clubby body mini engine up front with another take off from the diff going to the rear wheels

from what i can remember it was built for rally cross, but was a pig to drive with no front to back diff

yup I remember that one, pretty sure it was in a minimag (not miniworld) about 2 years ago. Blue clubby, but I seem to remember not too many tech details, more just the overall story.

Thanks guys that the one I was on about. I don't suppose anyone on here's got a copy of the aforementioned mag? If not I'll email minimag and see if a can get a back issue.

Also I would love see any other info on other 4wd minis.

[Grayedout]

One of my friend's car sort of fits the bill !!

Edited by Grayedout, 04 February 2009 - 07:37 AM.

[tedmcedd]

i remember the clubby... cant remember if it was in miniworld or mini mag though... i also remember a pickup on a panda chassis... that was pretty cool!

[mab01uk]

The BL Special Tuning 4WD Mini Clubman was part of a Display of vehicles from the BMC Ex-Works and Special Tuning Register at last years (July 2008) Silverstone Classic meeting.
(The BMC Ex-Works and Special Tuning Register was formed in 1995 by Basil Wales, who was manager of the BMC Special Tuning Department from 1964 to 1973, the most active and successful period for BMC and later BL in various forms of motorsport).

Four-Wheel-Drive Mini Clubman
This unique car was built in ten days by the British Leyland Special Tuning Department after the closure of the Competition Department to compete with Roger Clark's four-wheel-drive Capri in Rallycross. It used the running gear from an experimental Mini Moke built by the Longbridge Experimental Department for possible Army use.

A central propeller shaft from the Mini gearbox connects to a rear central differential unit and then drive shafts to the hubs on the new rear radius arms, which have individual aluminium mountings and cone rubber suspension units.

Bob Freeborough was the first person to test it in a local gravel pit and then, first time out at Lydden Hill circuit with Brian Chatfield driving, it beat Roger Clark to everyone's great satisfaction. It continued to run with drivers such as David Preece and Hugh Wheldon until four-wheel drive was banned. It is now owned by Ronnie White in Northern Ireland.

http://archive.oxfor.../22/254243.html

[mini mayhem]

i remember the clubby... cant remember if it was in miniworld or mini mag though... i also remember a pickup on a panda chassis... that was pretty cool!

i remember the clubman on the panda chassis it was half pick up as well i thought it looked like a landrover defender from the side

[rudeboy]

there was also a dutch guy i think it was that converted a mini pick up to 4wd and fitted a v-tec engine and used 4wd running gear from a honda of some kind also if i remember correct, it was in one of the mini magazine's but cant remember which one, but it was quite a few years ago i seen this, there used to be a video of him going round the nurburgring kicking about the net but cant seem to find it anymore, like i said this was a few years ago now...