Hi,
I acquired this car (pictured) in April 2013 from a man in Belgium. Under normal circumstances, I would not have imported a car however it had only been there 20 months, it had not been registered in Belgium and the owner had reasonable reason for selling it- he was on the large side and realised that a mini wasn't for him, despite always wanting one! I was sad to hear the car came with very little history- something I generally value highly, however when you're presented with a good example, you can't always have it all.
The first thing I did upon arrival back in the UK (I did drive it back!) was write to the previous owner on the logbook- this was possible because it hadn't been registered in Belgium thankfully! Unfortunately I never heard back from Paul Smith (a man from Jaywick). I have travelled to his area and visited properties and businesses he owns but to no avail. I have been told that people know of him but no one has his number (either that or they're unwilling to give it out!) I think many people think that when you're investigating a car, something must be wrong. This case is quite the opposite, everything is right with my mini, I just would like to know the history so I can understand why it is in the condition it is.
There are of course other avenues of search I could have pursued, which I have. I completed a V888 form which I sent to the DVLA to obtain any records they had. This didn't come up with much other than confirming Paul Smith was the previous owner (before the unregistered Belgian man) and the owner before Paul, 'Port Lane Garage'. They had owned the car for 51 years according to the DVLA. Another piece of information the V888 did tell me was that the car was originally registered in Essex.
I therefore contacted the Essex records office as the DVLA didn't begin holding all records until some time in the 70s. The Essex records office gave me a little more information- the name of the lady who the car was first registered to, upon receipt from Port Lane Garage. She was called Alberta Rachel Mary Ladbrook. I felt as if I was starting to piece things together!
I did a search for Alberta and found her on a site which tells you where dead people are buried (picture below). She was buried just down the road from where she'd first bought the mini however died in 1980! How could this be, when she owned the car for 51 years and it was only built in 1960!? I would like to assume that it remained in a 'barn' until a relative decided to flog it Paul Smith in 2011 who in turn passed it on to my Belgian friend, however I don't have any evidence of this. I don't have much evidence to disbelieve it either.
I visited a few of the houses on the street she lived to see if any of the current residents lived there when she did and found one. He couldn't really remember because he was quite old. However he thought that she had been an unmarried school teacher. So I'm thinking, what family would this unmarried school teacher have to pass on her mini to? I take this piece of information with a pinch of salt, as the man was old and I'm not sure how convinced I was.
In my many hours of internet searching, I did find out that 832 YUE had been auctioned at Coys in Mach 2012 (a few months before my Belgian friend bought it). I can only assume that Paul Smith having acquired it from the deceased Alberta/ family of (and restored it?), sold it at this auction (Coys are unable to confirm buyer or seller). I think that it was the man who won the car at this auction who sold it to my Belgian friend, yet another unregistered owner I thought!
The slightly confusing thing comes next. My Belgian friend had lost all contact information for the person he bought the car from other than a small invoice which was signed off 'S P W Smith'. Now I know Smith is a common name but I just thought this seemed slightly odd! I have not been able to find anyone along his lines, even more elusive than the other Mr Smith it seems!
I did do a search for 3866 VW, as I thought if I could perhaps get in touch with the owner of the plate, he may be have Paul Smith's contact details. All I have found is a picture of the car it is now on (pictured below, no prizes for guessing what!)
Whilst writing this it has occured to me that I ought to contact the Essex record office to see if I can find out more about Alberta and the other person named on her tombstone. That could lead me to someone. Having said that, it is really Paul Smith that I need to find. He is the one who is most likely to know of the restoration and the car's history before that. This is what I would like to know so much about. The car is in fantastic condition, mechanically and in terms of the bodywork. It retains many of its original features as well. I just want to know why? Why is it in such a good condition? Who has restored the bodywork so well? Where was it dry stored to keep it in such good condition? Etc!
The 'facts' I have are below:
12-24 March 1960: Car Built (Confirmed by Heritage Certificate- matching numbers by the way)
31 March 1960: Registered (Heritage Certificate, Essex Records, DVLA Records)
31 March 1960: First Dealer- P.G Page Limited (Heritage Certificate)- presumably Port Lane Garage (DVLA) but unconfirmed
31 March 1960: First Owner- Alberta Rachel Mary Ladbrook (Essex Records Office)
12 April 2011: Second Owner- Paul Smith
21 May 2011: Plate Change- 3866VW replaced with 832YUE
6 March 2012: Sold at Coys Auction House
11 June 2012: Sale to Belgian man
16 April 2014: I buy the car
So I am beginning to get some idea of my mini's past however would welcome much more. If anyone knows anything at all about the car then I would find it very interesting. If not, any tips on next steps to gain more information would be helpful.
Many thanks in advance,
Ben
Attached Files
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IMG_6635.JPG 75.33K
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alberta.jpg 119.99K
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London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2011.PNG 777.73K
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Edited by illingworthba, 04 February 2015 - 08:11 PM.
(At least an "A" suffix plate is actually correct for a '63 car, many older cars were automatically given "A" plates when re registered and lost their 3 digit / 3 number plates!)
