Mini Jem - David

[delands]

Looking for David from Cumbernauld.

http://www.minimarcos.org.uk/minijem/xkx646j.html

"
David' from Cumbernauld writes in the Scottish Elises forum: “My first car was an Oselli engined Mini Jem. Looking back this was a fantastic little car to have as an 17 year old - I doubt you could get insurance nowadays. I even managed a KH track day and hill climb (seen here at Strathclyde Park hill climb) although I lacked the experience to get the most out of it.”
"

Could you drop me a PM please?

[neil]

That'd be this David - http://www.scottishelises.com/phpbb/vie ... li#p302249

[David]

Yes, my car. Fond memories of that. Interesting to see the chassis number reincarnated in 1991 under a new reg. I rebuilt it as a Mini Marcos and scrapped the body shell as it had some serious structural problems. I guess it got some TCL and was rebuilt from a new donor car.

[delands]

Did you get my PM David?

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[David]

Did you get my PM David?

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Yes - thanks, sorted now

[Dominic]

The Mini Jem looks like quite a handy piece of kit. Was it fairly light? Looks like fun!

[David]

It was a very impressive car for its time. I don't think I ever weighed it but they were supposed to be about 200KG lighter than a Mini - so lighter than a Caterham. That one had a 130 BHP race tuned engine giving about 300 BHP per tonne. Handled like a mini on steroids below 60 MPH, but very unstable at speed. The story goes that this one was one of two spare cars built for a La Mans entry. There was some construction evidence that this may have had some truth, but never really researched it further.

[jason]

An old friend of mine owned a Midas (later on, Gordon Murray was briefly involved), which was the descendent of the Mini Marcos if you will. We called it the Mad-arse, or little plastic buzz box Was very capable with the 1275cc A-series.

Article about Midas here: http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/mi ... ars-midas/

[David]

An old friend of mine owned a Midas (later on, Gordon Murray was briefly involved), which was the descendent of the Mini Marcos if you will. We called it the Mad-arse, or little plastic buzz box Was very capable with the 1275cc A-series.

Article about Midas here: http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/mi ... ars-midas/

Having owned the Mini Jem, and then a Mini Marcos, I was tempted to buy one but I fell out with D & H over some supply issues for the Mini Marcos and went for a Marlin Roadster instead. If I recall they were launched with the intent to use Metro MG Turbo mechanicals and, needless to say, that let them down. The gearbox was just not up to the job. Looks like it was developed further but the opposition moved on faster.

[jason]

If I recall they were launched with the intent to use Metro MG Turbo mechanicals and, needless to say, that let them down. The gearbox was just not up to the job. Looks like it was developed further but the opposition moved on faster.

IIRC MG Metro donor was when they introduced the 'Gold'? I really liked the Gold (swollen arches, Murray aero influences), was tempted for a time. Later, I owned a Metro Turbo... a mechanically grim experience indeed, including several replacement gearboxes. Thankfully under warranty.

[Dominic]

It was a very impressive car for its time. I don't think I ever weighed it but they were supposed to be about 200KG lighter than a Mini - so lighter than a Caterham. That one had a 130 BHP race tuned engine giving about 300 BHP per tonne. Handled like a mini on steroids below 60 MPH, but very unstable at speed. The story goes that this one was one of two spare cars built for a La Mans entry. There was some construction evidence that this may have had some truth, but never really researched it further.

Sounds like a quick package - especially in the era - must have felt mega. Wonder how much they go for these days... strong money I guess.

My old autotest metro was sub 500kgs, and was set up for autotesting, but on the occasional opportunity I had to get it to higher speeds, it was very unstable (mostly due to the autotest set up I guess). Was a hoot though. Always thought that something like that, set up for speed would be a lot of fun.

[David]

IIRC MG Metro donor was when they introduced the 'Gold'? I really liked the Gold (swollen arches, Murray aero influences), was tempted for a time. Later, I owned a Metro Turbo... a mechanically grim experience indeed, including several replacement gearboxes. Thankfully under warranty.

I had a Metro Turbo too - broke down with 30 miles on the clock (on the way home from the dealer) . The gearbox did last until it was out of warranty but then promptly failed. I manage to get an up-rated flywheel assembly including the tranfer gears that seemed to cure the problem. Kept it in the family for 15 years and it's still seen occasionally around the area where I sold it - so over 30 years old now.

[Dominic]

IIRC MG Metro donor was when they introduced the 'Gold'? I really liked the Gold (swollen arches, Murray aero influences), was tempted for a time. Later, I owned a Metro Turbo... a mechanically grim experience indeed, including several replacement gearboxes. Thankfully under warranty.

I had a Metro Turbo too - broke down with 30 miles on the clock (on the way home from the dealer) . The gearbox did last until it was out of warranty but then promptly failed. I manage to get an up-rated flywheel assembly including the tranfer gears that seemed to cure the problem. Kept it in the family for 15 years and it's still seen occasionally around the area where I sold it - so over 30 years old now.

Wonder how many gearboxes it's been through by now!

I use to get through gearboxes in the autotest metro,... usually one every two or three events (less than an hour on one - albeit secondhand)... party my driving I s'pose. Subsequently went for a slightly different gearbox set up, which lasted much better. Also my driving improved marginally

[jason]

Kept it in the family for 15 years and it's still seen occasionally around the area where I sold it - so over 30 years old now.

Wonder how many gearboxes it's been through by now!

I wonder how many wings/shells it's been through by now!

I bought mine used at 2 yrs old so had a one year used warranty. Sold at 4 yrs old (about 50k miles) by which time it had practically dissolved…

[Dominic]

Kept it in the family for 15 years and it's still seen occasionally around the area where I sold it - so over 30 years old now.

Wonder how many gearboxes it's been through by now!

I wonder how many wings/shells it's been through by now!

I bought mine used at 2 yrs old so had a one year used warranty. Sold at 4 yrs old (about 50k miles) by which time it had practically dissolved…

Ah, so mine didn't have fiberglass and aluminium panels for lightness, it was to replace the rotten ones!?!