3 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

"The Mini was a fashion icon in London during the Swinging Sixties – celebrities and pop stars alike coveted the little car that was as much a symbol of the cultural revolution as the miniskirt and a Beatles’ mop top.

An original Mini cost just £497 new but to make the ultimate style statement meant a visit to a showroom in South Kensington, now a swanky Lamborghini dealership. From here, coachbuilder Harold Radford put his own unique stamp on the car for a who’s who of famous faces.

Radford had started his career producing bespoke ‘Countryman’ versions of Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars. These vehicles were the forerunners of the modern-day, multi-purpose SUV and could be fitted with a double bed, an electric razor or even a kettle.

But when Radford later realised the potential of the popular Mini, he started offering luxury features normally only found in the most expensive cars of the day. The 63 options available for a wealthy roll call of clientele included a sliding sunroof, white leather upholstery and lamb’s wool carpets.

All four members of the Beatles and manager Brian Epstein owned a Radford Grand Luxe Mini de Ville – Ringo Starr famously had his modified to load a full set of drums in the back. That particular car was recently bought by Spice Girl, Geri Halliwell for more than £100,000.

Pop singer Mike Nesmith from the Monkees, Ginger Baker of Cream and Mick Jagger all swapped their chauffeur-driven limos for a chance to drive a Radford Mini. Footballer George Best was also a customer.

Actor Peter Sellers took his new wife, Britt Ekland, to the Radford showrooms in October 1965, the day before her 23rd birthday. He surprised the actress by driving her modified Mini out of a giant birthday cake. 

Prices soared but eventually, Radford’s popularity waned and the company went into liquidation in 1966. However, today it has been announced that Radford is back, this time under the co-ownership of ex-Formula 1 world champion, Jenson Button."

https://www.msn.com/...u6IxI5z5SdKC3-A

 

[mab01uk]

Radford relaunch in the 1990's....





AROnline - The converters : Radford (2011)
"By the time of Harold Radford’s death in March 1990, he had given his endorsement to the rebirth of his once-proud company in a rather different guise. In 1989, with the Mini enjoying something of a renaissance in the run-up to its 30th anniversary, car designer Chris Humberstone saw an opportunity to relaunch the company, with a particular eye on the lucrative Japanese market. Thus, in a blaze of publicity Humberstone opened a new Harold Radford showroom at George Street in London’s West End from where he sold a new breed of lightly-modified Mini de Villes, with the actual conversion work being sub-contracted to other companies (a situation not dissimilar to that of the late 1940s, in fact). This venture lasted in one form or another until around 2000, since when the Radford name disappeared from the motoring scene.
However, the Radford story took a positive turn as of 2005, when the company found itself under new ownership, and is now in the hands of three ex-Wood and Pickett craftsmen, headed up by Managing Director, Marc Eden, who are undertaking all sorts of coachbuilding commissions for a large number of select clientele.
The company re-launched the Radford-Mini, although predictably, this is now based on the new generation BMW-era MINI. The models available are the Bel Air, De Ville, De Ville S and MINI Miglia, recalling the names from the company’s heydays of the Sixties and Seventies. The current incarnation is built to the same standard as the traditional Radford Minis, with conversions being carried out to customer requirements, while retaining plenty of Radford character…"
https://www.aronline...erters-radford/

Radford relaunch in 2005....

 

AROnline - Tested : Radford MINI Miglia (2011)
"In late-2005, the Radford name made a welcome return to plug the gap. It may be under new management, but the faces behind the company are all well seasoned in the coachbuilding industry, and all claim to know what their customers want. The message for them is loud and clear – buyers want a next generation Radford MINI.
Currently, there are four Radford MINIs on offer, ranging from MINI-One plus-a-bit ‘Bel Air’, through the Cooper-based ‘De Villes’ to the full-fat money-no-object ‘MINI Miglia’ version. Of the most interest to us is the snorty MINI Miglia, because it packs 265bhp, uprated wheels, tyres and suspension settings, and it promises to be an interesting drive compared with the already talented Cooper S."
https://www.aronline...rd-mini-miglia/

Edited by mab01uk, 19 March 2021 - 10:27 AM.

[Maccmike8]

Sadly its a 3 way partnership including Ant Anstead who has to be the most irritating person on the planet.

[Readers14]

Sadly its a 3 way partnership including Ant Anstead who has to be the most irritating person on the planet.

Not as irritating as Mike Brewer.