Rare editions of normal hatchbacks
Discussion
Before the pedants revolt, this IS a hatch (and sporty/rare)
“ Reportedly the sole survivor of just three Cooper S cars converted to hatchback specification and the only one to feature a steel rather than GRP tailgate, the re-badged Mini's first private keeper was the Rt Hon Ernest Marples MP who took delivery on August 22nd 1968. Notable for opening the M1 motorway and introducing more rigorous MOT tests plus the use of breathalysers, the former Minister for Transport is understood to have specifically wanted a hatchback to accommodate his golf clubs and / or the produce of his own vineyard! Having tried to place an order with John Cooper at the Racing Car Show, Lord Marples (as he became) was referred to the Chairman of BMC, George Harriman. As well as a bespoke folding rear bench seat, reversed door handles and special window frames, the unique Mini featured a padded headlining and dash rails not to mention non-standard front indicators and side repeater lights. However, it is not known whether these additions were made at the behest of its safety conscious first owner or while the car was resident in the Experimental Department. Part-exchanged by Lord Marples during 1974 for a Renault 5 “



“ Reportedly the sole survivor of just three Cooper S cars converted to hatchback specification and the only one to feature a steel rather than GRP tailgate, the re-badged Mini's first private keeper was the Rt Hon Ernest Marples MP who took delivery on August 22nd 1968. Notable for opening the M1 motorway and introducing more rigorous MOT tests plus the use of breathalysers, the former Minister for Transport is understood to have specifically wanted a hatchback to accommodate his golf clubs and / or the produce of his own vineyard! Having tried to place an order with John Cooper at the Racing Car Show, Lord Marples (as he became) was referred to the Chairman of BMC, George Harriman. As well as a bespoke folding rear bench seat, reversed door handles and special window frames, the unique Mini featured a padded headlining and dash rails not to mention non-standard front indicators and side repeater lights. However, it is not known whether these additions were made at the behest of its safety conscious first owner or while the car was resident in the Experimental Department. Part-exchanged by Lord Marples during 1974 for a Renault 5 “



pocketspring said:
Hammer67 said:
Heaveho said:
Section 8 said:
I had one of these at the same time as I owned one of the 4 Corolla GTIs I had.Prior to that particular Sunny, there was a Sunny 1.8 Twincam circa 1989 / 90, much boxier looking thing and rare even then. We had one traded in, seem to remember it went well enough.
Am I right in thinking that Citroen did a ZX Volcane as well as a Saxo VTR and VTS? And the C2.
There's another 3 door model Citroen did a high performance derivative of around the same time, I'm away for a google to remember the name!
Ok, back in the room, the Xsara! How could I forget!
Edited by Heaveho on Friday 29th July 19:40

Sunny 1.8ZX N13 model. Fitted with CA18DE engine 16v twink. I had one for a while and also the B12 ZX Coupe. 127bhp IIRC.
The CA18DE engine also saw service in the S13 200SX in RWD with a turbo and also the FWD Bluebird ZX.
The Sunny GTi N14 had the SR20DE as fitted to Primera GT, Almera GTi etc.
The GTI-R Sunny was 4wd and Turbo. Only 85 UK versions were sold.

http://carbore.co.uk/nissan/pulsar/nissan-pulsar-v...
Matt Cup said:
pocketspring said:
Hammer67 said:
Heaveho said:
Section 8 said:
I had one of these at the same time as I owned one of the 4 Corolla GTIs I had.Prior to that particular Sunny, there was a Sunny 1.8 Twincam circa 1989 / 90, much boxier looking thing and rare even then. We had one traded in, seem to remember it went well enough.
Am I right in thinking that Citroen did a ZX Volcane as well as a Saxo VTR and VTS? And the C2.
There's another 3 door model Citroen did a high performance derivative of around the same time, I'm away for a google to remember the name!
Ok, back in the room, the Xsara! How could I forget!
Edited by Heaveho on Friday 29th July 19:40

Sunny 1.8ZX N13 model. Fitted with CA18DE engine 16v twink. I had one for a while and also the B12 ZX Coupe. 127bhp IIRC.
The CA18DE engine also saw service in the S13 200SX in RWD with a turbo and also the FWD Bluebird ZX.
The Sunny GTi N14 had the SR20DE as fitted to Primera GT, Almera GTi etc.
The GTI-R Sunny was 4wd and Turbo. Only 85 UK versions were sold.

http://carbore.co.uk/nissan/pulsar/nissan-pulsar-v...
Jakg said:
Handling by Lotus! Pretty sure it even had a badge on it declaring this fact.
ETA
https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/modern-classics...
Earthdweller said:
And the Renault Safrane Bi-Turbo, which dare I say it is a bit of a sleeper too. 
https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/influx/cars/renault-s...
OneTwo said:
Before the pedants revolt, this IS a hatch (and sporty/rare)
“ Reportedly the sole survivor of just three Cooper S cars converted to hatchback specification and the only one to feature a steel rather than GRP tailgate, the re-badged Mini's first private keeper was the Rt Hon Ernest Marples MP who took delivery on August 22nd 1968. Notable for opening the M1 motorway and introducing more rigorous MOT tests plus the use of breathalysers, the former Minister for Transport is understood to have specifically wanted a hatchback to accommodate his golf clubs and / or the produce of his own vineyard! Having tried to place an order with John Cooper at the Racing Car Show, Lord Marples (as he became) was referred to the Chairman of BMC, George Harriman. As well as a bespoke folding rear bench seat, reversed door handles and special window frames, the unique Mini featured a padded headlining and dash rails not to mention non-standard front indicators and side repeater lights. However, it is not known whether these additions were made at the behest of its safety conscious first owner or while the car was resident in the Experimental Department. Part-exchanged by Lord Marples during 1974 for a Renault 5 “



Probably worth a few quid then.“ Reportedly the sole survivor of just three Cooper S cars converted to hatchback specification and the only one to feature a steel rather than GRP tailgate, the re-badged Mini's first private keeper was the Rt Hon Ernest Marples MP who took delivery on August 22nd 1968. Notable for opening the M1 motorway and introducing more rigorous MOT tests plus the use of breathalysers, the former Minister for Transport is understood to have specifically wanted a hatchback to accommodate his golf clubs and / or the produce of his own vineyard! Having tried to place an order with John Cooper at the Racing Car Show, Lord Marples (as he became) was referred to the Chairman of BMC, George Harriman. As well as a bespoke folding rear bench seat, reversed door handles and special window frames, the unique Mini featured a padded headlining and dash rails not to mention non-standard front indicators and side repeater lights. However, it is not known whether these additions were made at the behest of its safety conscious first owner or while the car was resident in the Experimental Department. Part-exchanged by Lord Marples during 1974 for a Renault 5 “



pocketspring said:
Om said:
pocketspring said:
Off you pop then, no one forcing you to be here. Just because no one replied to your other trolling post.
Trolling? Really?My second comment about the 'sorry thread' was in reference to the state the thread had become not the original purpose of the the thread itself - I could probably have worded that better...
It certainly wasn't my intention to offend.
Anyway, that is enough off-topic conversation - back to the hatches!
pocketspring said:
David87 said:
Could be a right little hoot on some twisty back roads! Om said:
pocketspring said:
Om said:
pocketspring said:
Off you pop then, no one forcing you to be here. Just because no one replied to your other trolling post.
Trolling? Really?My second comment about the 'sorry thread' was in reference to the state the thread had become not the original purpose of the the thread itself - I could probably have worded that better...
It certainly wasn't my intention to offend.
Anyway, that is enough off-topic conversation - back to the hatches!
pocketspring said:
David87 said:
Could be a right little hoot on some twisty back roads! I think the CVT-based auto damps the fun a bit, but yeah there is some enjoyment to be had on those really narrow twisty Japanese mountain roads, where power isn't relevant and you can lean on the chassis a bit.
But yeah, while I can see Toyota's desire to defray the costs of the unique bodyshell, even if FF I think a bit more power would've been in order.
DrBrule said:
Honda Civic GTI - Mk3 I think - mid 80s.
My mum had one, in fact the photo here that Google threw up is her exact one as I recognise the reg, or what you can see of it. The owner has put new alloys on and removed the GTI sticker than ran across the bottom of the doors.
She sold it 15+ years ago now to a guy in Kent. Mechanically it was okay but the rust lurking underneath was terrible. He knew they were rare and put the hours in sorting it out.

Good shout! My mum had one, in fact the photo here that Google threw up is her exact one as I recognise the reg, or what you can see of it. The owner has put new alloys on and removed the GTI sticker than ran across the bottom of the doors.
She sold it 15+ years ago now to a guy in Kent. Mechanically it was okay but the rust lurking underneath was terrible. He knew they were rare and put the hours in sorting it out.

Honda Civic GT. 1.5 litre 12 valve with fuel injection, which was quite rare for 1985.
EW model code if anyone is interested.
I had one of these too, also around 15 years ago. Sadly the rust got the better of it.
Great little car. Mine was a 1985(B reg) in red on mini lite style wheels. Handled brilliantly with it torsion bar front suspension.
Mine was the same as the pic below bar the wheels.


Edited by TurboFan on Sunday 7th August 16:23
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff