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Old 27 Jun 2005, 22:39 (Ref:1341540)   #1
Steve Holmes
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Mike Bennion Morris Minor V8/Restored (Merged)

OK all you UK Supersaloon enthusiasts. Can you help out with info on this car? A photo of it was sent into New Zealand Classic Car mag, enquirying about its fate.

Its a low light Morris Minor, built and raced by Mike Bennion and fitted with a small block Ford V8. Had Jag gearbox, double wishbone suspension, and was semi spaceframed. The exhausts exited out the sides of the bonnet.

The cutting is from Marcus Pye's Club Legends, and it says the car ended up being shipped to New Zealand. There was a V8 Minor which raced here, but it wasn't that one. The NZ one was actually a Morris Minor body mounted on a shortened Ferrari GP Super Squalo chassis.

Does anyone know anything about the Bennion car, and what may have happened to it?
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Old 28 Jun 2005, 06:06 (Ref:1341680)   #2
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hmmmm

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Originally Posted by Steve Holmes
OK all you UK Supersaloon enthusiasts. Can you help out with info on this car? A photo of it was sent into New Zealand Classic Car mag, enquirying about its fate.

Its a low light Morris Minor, built and raced by Mike Bennion and fitted with a small block Ford V8. Had Jag gearbox, double wishbone suspension, and was semi spaceframed. The exhausts exited out the sides of the bonnet.

The cutting is from Marcus Pye's Club Legends, and it says the car ended up being shipped to New Zealand. There was a V8 Minor which raced here, but it wasn't that one. The NZ one was actually a Morris Minor body mounted on a shortened Ferrari GP Super Squalo chassis.

Does anyone know anything about the Bennion car, and what may have happened to it?
you could check AtlasF1 where I am sure this has been discussed...
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Old 17 Jun 2007, 14:07 (Ref:1939937)   #3
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hi this is my first post so here goes
i went to pick up my friend to go clay pigeon shooting yesterday and he showed me his morris minor that he has been restoring for the last eighteen years. when we were out he asked me to do some research on the internet as he does not have it.the car is Mike Bennions v8 tin top racer.its nearly finished and is in berkshire england.i will post some pictures of it when i get my digital camera working.he would be gratefull if anyone had any old photographs of it.cheers lee
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Old 18 Jun 2007, 09:18 (Ref:1940601)   #4
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For those that don't know, Mike passed away a couple of years ago, great shame as was a lovely bloke.
I don't think Dad had any photos of the car in his collection but I'll have a look.
If the car is being restored I'll mention it to Mike Moore, who was Mike Bennion's best mate and also a well known racing driver and car builder and I'm sure he would know all the details of the car in period.
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Old 18 Apr 2009, 18:07 (Ref:2443940)   #5
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Hi GBRM
Have you managed to get in touch with MIke Moore? We would love to hear more about this moggie, I have been restoring it for the past 18 years and it is almost ready to show off again. If you could let us know more about its history and possibly find some old photos for our portfolio we would greatly appreciate it.
Many thanks
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Old 19 Apr 2009, 22:09 (Ref:2445005)   #6
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Mike Bennion Morris V8 RESTORED

Hi all,

I have been carefully restoring this piece of motoring history. I saved this in 1990 from going to be cut up and scrapped.



Through research I have found out a few good bits on its history and a few of its famous races, but there must be more and so would appreciate a little help from anyone on this forum to help collect facts and stories about its history. I Understand by a few other threads that people Knew the great Mike Bennion.

I am hoping to get it out this year so will keep all thats interested posted as to where we will be.

As Promised I have managed to get a few photos on this thread for you to enjoy.

Photo 1: shows the car when we bought it. Not pretty eh.
photo 2: Is after a bit of modifying and love, looking better
Photo 3: is the engine as we bought it, Looks a bit tired eh
Photo 4: is the engine now.
Photo 5: is how she sits now
Attached Thumbnails
as bought 1990.jpg   as bought 1990 001.jpg   as bought 1990 3.jpg  

as bought 1990 3 001.jpg   IMG_0196.JPG   IMG_0198.JPG  

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Old 20 Apr 2009, 05:02 (Ref:2445185)   #7
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Good to see and old race car saved. It looks great.
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Old 20 Apr 2009, 07:21 (Ref:2445218)   #8
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I have a colour slide of this car taken at Silverstone in period. I will try and sort it out and post it here soon.
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Old 20 Apr 2009, 08:00 (Ref:2445227)   #9
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Al Weyman has a real shot at the podium!Al Weyman has a real shot at the podium!Al Weyman has a real shot at the podium!Al Weyman has a real shot at the podium!
Good effort well done.
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Old 20 Apr 2009, 09:08 (Ref:2445269)   #10
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thank you for the replies. I have had great pleasure doing it amist all the sinics

RBS that would be great, I look forward to seeing them. I am always after more history of it.

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Old 20 Apr 2009, 20:16 (Ref:2445825)   #11
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GREAT a lot of time and effort and it shows
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Old 25 Apr 2009, 22:07 (Ref:2449540)   #12
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Great to see that car again but it never looked that good back in the day - saw it race once at Silverstone when it was a sort of matt orange - couldn't get over the sound it made as it ran a truck motor that probably peaked out at 3000rpm- went pretty well though! And Mike was one of the good guys - helped us with parts when we ran Zephyrs in Classic Saloons in the late 70's. Still got my old scrap books so must have photos somewhere.
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Old 3 May 2009, 11:21 (Ref:2454512)   #13
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Hi
I have worked very hard on it. The guy who bought it before me tried to drive it and crashed, so it was a bit battered.
Hope you can find some photos. I cannot seem to find any, the only one is on the front cover of CCC which I am still trying to get a copy of.
So I would love to see some more.
I was never lucky enough to meet Mike (RIP) but I do know that he was told just before he died that his moggie was being restored and that really made him happy.
Best wishes
Precious
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Old 4 May 2009, 07:39 (Ref:2454986)   #14
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When are you going to give it a run out Precious?
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Old 5 May 2009, 08:46 (Ref:2455670)   #15
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Hi Al
the electrics are just being worked on now, I am hoping to be ready for goodwood. But will definately keep you posted.
Thanks for your interest.
best wishes
Precious.
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Old 30 May 2009, 14:29 (Ref:2472198)   #16
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Let me know which cover of CCC it's on and I'll have it (I have them all).
Great to see what it looks like now, maybe a little too new but I'm sure it'll settle down after a race or two.
Would you like to do a photo-shoot with the Minor and Old Nail? That could be fantastic, I'd be able to get a few other cars there too.
Also, I'll forward the pics to Mike Moore (Mick B's best mate) and see what he has to add.
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Old 31 Oct 2009, 15:29 (Ref:2573007)   #17
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V8 minor

Hi i have just found this site today and can,t believe ive found this thread.I bought this minor in around 1972/3 time.It was advertised in the exchange and mart for about £350.I exchange a ford anglia 1500gt for it.I meet the owner who lived in battersea and we went to stretham were the car was garaged.It was orange and had a few dents and cracks in the wings but was pretty sound.The exhaust had been altered to exit from the side under the car as in the photo,s they came out the side of the bonnet.I towed the car back to battersea and there was a pile of papers with the car with letters from differant companys that the builder had written to plus lots of history,i believe the car raced against Albert betts mk1 jag a few times.I had the car transported to a friends house in harwell berkshire so i could work on it weekends.I think the engine was out of an old thunderbird 352cu in? i remember it had an overdrive jag gearbox and a westminster rear axle?After laying for some time and lack of time i sold it to a friend in romford essex who drove the car on trade plates for short distance,s as it would over heat in traffic.As to where it went from there i have no idea but he may have sold it to Reg Gubbings (V8 anglia fame from the 60,s) who had a speed shop in romford at that time.Hope this is of interest to you.
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Old 1 Nov 2009, 10:39 (Ref:2573340)   #18
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V8 minor

Just remembered the dynamo ran off of the propshaft,it had a pulley on the prop.I was going to put it on the road but i just did,nt have the time,a few years later it was advertised in the exchange and mart again and it was road registerd as far as i know.
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Old 9 Jan 2010, 13:22 (Ref:2610472)   #19
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thank you for the information Boyzee, and may be pleased to know that we do have this car and it is ready. woop woop, to go out and be seen this year. hopefully goodwood.
I will post some more details later.
Unfortunately, all the history ect was lost through the previous owner giving them to a historian who was supposed to be doing some more research on it? We are trying to track this person down, but so not hold much hope which is sad.
Thank you everyone for your interest in this lovely little car.
best wishes
Precious
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Old 9 Jan 2010, 13:29 (Ref:2610476)   #20
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Precious, pleased to be able to tell you that your car would now also be elligible for Classic Thunder as they have decided to allow engine changes from other marques. We are also staging a sprint at Goodwood which should be interesting.
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Old 9 Jan 2010, 13:34 (Ref:2610478)   #21
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thats great AL thank you. I will be on later with some more info.
best wishes
Precious
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Old 19 Dec 2011, 09:56 (Ref:3001795)   #22
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A nice shot of the car from 1968 at Santa Pod also Mick Hill's Janglia on following page

http://www.ukdrn.co.uk/forum/viewtop...=108&start=720
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Old 27 Nov 2015, 22:33 (Ref:3593769)   #23
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Hi mate: I decided to check the net to see if I could find some info on a couple of old race cars I owned when in UK late '60s/early '70s and strike-a-light, here it is, my old Morrie! I can't believe it still exists. Incredible!!!

I owned it in 1969 but it was stolen in 1970 and I recovered it in '72 -- long story. It was damaged as it had been used in Autocross racing and a few parts were missing so I decided to get rid of it. But never forgot it! What a beast!!!

Anyway, it's a long story and I hope this thread (and everyone else) is still alive.
Let me know if you want me to fill you in on some more history of the car.
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Old 30 Nov 2015, 03:06 (Ref:3594357)   #24
275 GTB-4
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Originally Posted by Gronkster View Post
Hi mate: I decided to check the net to see if I could find some info on a couple of old race cars I owned when in UK late '60s/early '70s and strike-a-light, here it is, my old Morrie! I can't believe it still exists. Incredible!!!

I owned it in 1969 but it was stolen in 1970 and I recovered it in '72 -- long story. It was damaged as it had been used in Autocross racing and a few parts were missing so I decided to get rid of it. But never forgot it! What a beast!!!

Anyway, it's a long story and I hope this thread (and everyone else) is still alive.
Let me know if you want me to fill you in on some more history of the car.
tell us what it was like punting that beast around tracks

Last edited by 275 GTB-4; 30 Nov 2015 at 03:18.
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Old 30 Nov 2015, 05:26 (Ref:3594373)   #25
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Morrie V8

Hi, GTB; thanx for your reply. I saw your post on this car from 2002 was it? Interested to know how you knew about it as it was never in Australia.

Anyway, it was a complete beast to drive. I think you would be quite complimentary if you said it was "a bit of a pig!!!!”

The main problem was the gearbox. Or more accurately the shift action which was more up-and- down rather than forward-and-back. This was because the gear stick came forward from behind the driver.

The engine was set so far back in the frame that two plugs on either side of the V8 had to be changed from inside the car. With the massive Jag box bolted-on the shifter exited the box somewhere in the vicinity of where the back seat used to be!!!

The rear-end was Austin Champ (4WD) independent with bespoke suspension. Front-end was TR4 with discs and rack & pinion.

I was getting rear-wheel steering going thru the off-camber Paddock bend at Brands!!!!!

Exciting to say the least!!!!
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