GTS in OZ

[askalbert]

The first pictures show the car at Killarney outside Shawn Bester and Stephen Whiteheads garage. The red GTS and gray mini belong to Stephen. I'll ask them if they know the car.

Thanks Dion. Due to the marvels of the internet :-

I have had a reply from Marthinus Potgieter the prior owner, who mentioned he used the car at track days and as a weekend club driver.
He purchased the car from a Gareth Decker who was a building contractor, and perhaps the second owner. The first was a lady.

I am amazed at the moment as I have opened the first image sent and found I may already have a related picture, captured from the site here. (First two pictures from the forum.)
My first thoughts on paint were a light metallic blue with silver or grey roof, wheels and stripe similar to the first red car shown (but in blue).
I have a set of five "Mini Light" 12 inch wheels which I had decided to use as they suit the vehicle with the Clubman front.
Later as the initial colour became apparent, I am leaning towards white, similar to the second car shown. Oddly it has the wheels I had chosen.

       

The third photo Marthinus emailed to me, a similar vehicle to that which his wife used to own and also similar to the photo from this site. A forth shows them together. My car was originally similar in appearance, monotone white.
Not really sure what to do now...  I will take some time to digest it all.

       

Signing off for now,

A.

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Thanks GTS Phil for your detailed reply.

Although I know little, the vehicle has been described as both a '74 and a '77. Likely parts were changed. I now know the carburetters were changed during Marthinus' ownership, along with the block and head. I probably need "the book' to help. Either way, what I have is just that.
Brakes are single circuit with 8.4" discs. Wheel arch extensions removed but spot welding depressions remain on underside. Yes an oil cooler fitted.

       

Mini Tim, many thanks. Spot on. I had a feeling it would be recognised.

A.


Marthinus' Photostream:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/37685950@N...900572563/

M's Mini Folder:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/37685950@N...2230021796

M's Mini Run Folder:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/37685950@N...2068552495

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Original Correspondence:


Dear Marthinus,

I have purchased your old Mini GTS which was exported in 2014. It remains in the condition you had it in, and the history file with service record has been passed on. It went from the exporter to a former Mini specialist, and then to myself.

I am interested in collecting the story of the car from prior owners, and thus collected your details from the exporter. I hope that is OK with you.

I am a serial Mini collector, and own vehicles from 1961 through to a mid 90's Rover Cooper. Most are projects requiring substantial work, but the main thing for myself is to preserve and to pass on when that time comes, so I see myself as a custodian more than an owner.

If you are happy to, I would welcome any more history you may know, or recall including that of prior ownership if that is still known, so I can fill in the vehicle's story as is possible.


Regards

Andrew Kerridge
askalbert@yahoo.com



Marthinus'Reply:

Hi Andrew
 
Happy that the GTS has found a good home with someone who has a passion for mini's.
 
I purchased the mini in approximately 2007, owned it until Dominic purchased it from me I think in 2014.
 
I purchased it from a chap Gareth Decker, Building Contractor - but not sure where he is at present. I can try and locate him for you as he might have some interesting stories. I believe he bought the mini from the original owner - a lady. The car was originally white - you will see that the British racing green is a new colour and in the engine bay you will be able to see traces of the original white.
 
I used the car mainly for mini club rides/functions, weekend drives and the odd day to work if the weather was good. It was always stored either under my carport or in my office basement so I managed to keep it rust free and in reasonable condition.
When I purchased the vehicle it was in a more original state. I modified it slightly to take part in a few track days with the historic cars at Killarney track which is the premier racetrack in Cape Town.
 
I had the engine redone, new block and pistons. refurbished head and new valves. I purchased fin drums for the rear, I think spax type adjustable shocks. Purchased a new twin SU carburettor, and some exterior modifications - stainless steel mirrors, stainless steel seam covers, stainless steel exhaust, gearknob, stearing wheel, bucket seat and Luke belts, and when a part or item needed replacing then I had it fixed and serviced as you will know with old cars that problems can spread to other areas rapidly.
I probably  travelled between 1500-2500km per year and the rest of the time I disconnected the battery from the positive terminal and kept it parked. I would sometimes visit family in a town called Heidelberg about 300km's from year and take a scenic trip with the kids there and stop at the roadhouses along the way. At that specific time of all the vehicles I owned the kids wanted to travel in the mini as their first option.
 
I will attach some pics for you in the meantime and forward a few more with additional photos. If there is anything specific that you need to know then pls email me - I miss driving the mini but had to sell it as I had become too busy with other more pressing things and could not spend enough time driving it.
 
There was a time when I thought I might have an accident or injure myself as the mini did not like to be driven slowly - it kind of turned me into a bit of a hooligan and I would always get myself in trouble either going in too hot into a corner or out but the mini always delivered and of course many people with much faster and more modern cars were constantly upset when I left them behind. I now have a more sensible Merc W123 230CE coupe which prefers to be driven more sedately.
 
To my knowledge the GTS was only manufactured in South Africa in limited numbers at a local Leyland BMC factory in Blackheath Cape Town. I have seen possibly 2 or 3 others in my travels here in SA. Leyland left the country with economic sanctions imposed due to political matters and unfortunately with the closure then parts became scarce.
Mini's then became sourced mainly by collectors and enthusiasts here - I still do however see the odd student or old couple driving a Mark 1 or 11. I have also seen about 3 or 4 rover mini's here and I once spotted a Mini van den Plas which was a limited run mini with higher spec finishes, seats and interiors. My wife also had a white mini GTS with black stripes when I met her - and we used that mini as our day to day mode of travel. I have attached a pic below of what the minis should look like in their original condition.
 
let me know if you need any other info,
 
regards
Marthinus