COMPETITION CAR
PROFILE/HISTORY.
Morris Mini Minor 1963 Reg No ATR 203B.
Sold to us as having a 1100cc engine fitted in place of the standard 850cc, closer inpection put a smile on our faces as the engine fitted was a late type 1300cc unit with a rod change gear box.
The performance was poor, due to the original 850cc 1¼ inch carburettor fitted, after fitting a 1½ inch with a suitable needle we now had good performance and entered club events.
From now on a number of parts were collected and fitted, beginning with a long centre branch exhaust manifold and performance silencer as extras. Next a set of Weller 10 x 5½ wheels and tyres, 2 x 12 inch wheels for PCT'S, roll cage, high-back bucket seat, full harness seat belts, a Weber 28/36 DCD was found in the garage, Hi Lo's were fitted to the front, home made ones for the rear, longer bottom arms for negative camber and competition front suspension bushes.
A pair of M & S (mud & snow) tyres for the 12'' wheels were purchased, we now used ATR for Autocross, Autotests and Production car trials.
At this time ATR was not road legal and a trailer was used each time to take ATR to events.
After a couple of club sprints the original drum brakes were not the best way of stopping A search for discs brakes was now on. Soon a fellow club member came to the rescue with a set of 1275 GT Mini disc brakes, these were overhauled and fitted. Unfortunately these would have to be used with 12'' wheels (a set of cooper 'S' discs for 10'' wheels far too expensive).
Now a full set of Weller 12'' wheels and Falken tyres were fitted & also at this time a plumbed in fire extinguisher system fitted.
A bored out 1300cc short engine block was offered to us and we took up the offer, although it wasn't till another year had gone past that work was started.
The block was stripped and checked, this had Triumph pistons fitted which worked out to have a cc of 1400, the bore a little worn, the pistons were reringed. The crank shaft was in good condition and new bearings fitted, the camshaft turned out to be a 531, an old formula junior profile, a little lumpy at tick over but still ok for PCT'S. New cam followers were fitted.
Another cylinder head was ported, skimmed and fitted with double valve springs, the engine had a compression ratio of 10.5-1. When the engine change came a new high flow radiator was also fitted.
ATR is now road legal and towed to events using an 'A' frame.
The sprint class is road modified up to 1400cc.
In 1999 & 2000 ATR has joined in track sessions at Snetterton with the East Anglian Lotus Club.
The car was sold in December 2002.