Description
Kelham Hall | Newark, Nottinghamshire Viewing: Tues 22nd September 2026 from 12pm Auction: Weds 23rd September 2026 12pm Location: Kelham Hall Main Street, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG23 5QX Registration No: Un-Registered (Formerly SOH 878H) Chassis No: XAD2405A MOT: Exempt Understood to be one of just two Works 1275 GT cars prepared by BMC Special Tuning Taken after launch duties to Abingdon Special Tuning where it was converted to Gp5 race specification for the 1970 Marathon de la Route at the Nürburgring Subsequently reconfigured as a rally car by Abingdon Special Tuning, and thereafter seen on the Welsh, Scottish, and RAC International events Part of the Ronald White Collection since 2004 and extensively restored during that time The ‘blunt-nosed’ Mini Clubman and 1275 GT were introduced alongside the original ’round-nosed’ models in 1969. The revised snout was the work of former Ford stylist Roy Haynes. The Clubman was intended to replace the upmarket Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet, while the initial rôle of the 1275 GT was to take the place of the long-running 998cc Cooper though, following the demise of the Cooper S in 1971, it ultimately became the only sporting Mini to be offered for the rest of that decade. The model was better equipped than its round-nosed siblings and offered better crash protection. The performance was lively for the time, with a 0-60mph time of 12. 9 seconds and strong mid-range torque ensuring good in-gear acceleration. This rally-prepared 1275 GT was originally a standard car in Red, retained by British Leyland (Austin-Morris) Ltd. for press use, featuring prominently in the Hot Car road test of December, 1969. In 1970, it was transferred to the MG Division at Abingdon, where it became one of two 1275 GTs to undergo works preparation. Lightened and tuned to Gp5 specification, it has been described as “a full works Cooper S in a Clubman GT shell.” It competed in the 1970 Marathon de la Route, run at the Nürburgring across 86 hours from August 4th to 7th, with John Handley, Alec Poole and Julien Vernaeve, but retired with head gasket failure. Afterwards, Handley purchased it and sold it to Ron and Liz Crellin, who took it to Abingdon’s Special Tuning Dept. to have it turned into a rally car, making it the last competition car to leave Abingdon. Driven by Liz and known as the AMOCO Mini, it was campaigned across 16 rallies in 1971, including the Scottish, Welsh, Manx and RAC, and much of the Motoring News Rally Championship. In 1983, it won the Bowood and Coronation Rallies and made a name for itself in historic events, but in 2004 it was bought from us by Ronald White and exported to Northern Ireland. Its restoration by Joshua White Ltd. was completed c. 2010, but after long-term static display it will require recommissioning. The rich history file includes copies of the original logbook and an old V5C, a 1973 sales invoice from Glover Garages, a copy of the Hot Car article, and assorted letters and period photographs. About the Ronald White Collection: A lifelong enthusiast, Ronald White inherited his interest in motor cars from his father, Joshua. Joshua was still an adolescent when he took over a small bicycle repair shop and grew it into a successful family-run garage as private car ownership became more commonplace after the Great War. Father and son alike caught the collecting bug, and Joshua started the collection with a Bullnose Morris, which he displayed at the garage, and it grew from there. One of the White Collection’s gems is a delivery-mileage Morris Minor, which Joshua had the foresight to preserve from new, astutely identifying it as a landmark in the post-war Morris range. Another was the Alvis, which was sold new to a local gentleman, Nevill Bond, who lived at a stately home called The Argory. Joshua bought it back after Mr Bond had suffered an assassination attempt while driving it! The Whites also developed a personal friendship with Harry Ferguson; hence, the White Collection came to feature Ferguson tractors. By the 1950s, Joshua White Ltd. was well-established as a large BMC, Ford, and Ferguson dealership. It was around that time that Ronald—known to friends as Ronnie—started competing in tests, hill-climbs and rallies with his local motor club in Northern Ireland, always displaying the proud sponsorship of Joshua White Ltd. Upon his father’s retirement, Ronald took over the business and also set up Armagh Garages to sell Fiats. Come the 1960s, his competition career blossomed and took him all over Ireland and into England and Scotland. He was successful in many events, including the Circuit of Ireland Rally. In the late 1970s, his interest turned to rallycross, again competing in Ireland and England. It was a testament to his amiable personality that many of his employees at the garage would work through the night to prepare his cars for their sporting outings, and several continued to maintain his collection after he retired from running the garage. While...
