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DVLA - V765
For 1959 Minis only
Modification of early cars sent to Scandinavia
From time to time we email people who have registered their cars for invites to shows etc.
Unfortunately we receive a lot of "bounced" emails.
Would you be sure to send us an update if you change your email address via the contact form please?
This is the only way we can communicate with you.
No MOT for our 1959 Minis

As from the 18th November 2012 it will not be necessary to MOT pre 1960 cars.

For full details please read this letter recently sent to us by the DVLA.

Indian 1959 Mini

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Indian 1959 Mini 
A few months ago I was talking to Dave Gate, a car restoration specialist in Nantwich, who told me he was going  on holiday to Goa. I told him I knew of someone with what was probably the only surviving Mini in the country. I gave him the contact details and a few weeks later Dave is there looking at the Mini.
We have over 150 cars recorded on the 1959 Mini Register from all around the world. A few of these surviving early Minis do turn up in unusual locations.
In the first 2 years of Mini production a very small number of cars were exported to Goa to the one and only dealership there. One of these Minis was bought by the garage manager for his wife. It eventually was passed on to her son, Milind Angle who still owns and uses the car. It is most likely it is unique now on the roads of India. Because of the lack of spare parts for the Mini,  Milind has to improvise a little to keep the car running. The 10’’ wheels have long gone as that tyre size is not available.  The brake and clutch master cylinders are gone too to be replaced by ones off some sort of minibus. The floors have been fabricated and the drive shafts modified. It all works though enabling Milind to keep the Mini on the road. The car has clocked over 100000km. The car was originally Old English White when it left Cowley in 1959 but has been painted yellow since and is now Red & White.
Dave and his wife have become good friends with Milind and his family and are going back to see them in Goa next year. Maybe he will take a few spare parts for him.
Many thanks to Dave Gate
www.phoenixmotorbodies.co.uk

Trevor Ripley.

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I run a classic car body restoration company in Cheshire.  In a chance conversation with Trevor Ripley from the 1959 Mini Register (for whom I’ve done some work) I mentioned I was visiting Goa, India for a holiday in March 2013.  Trevor told me of a member of the 1959 Mini Register, Milind Angle, who has probably the only Mini in the country and a 1959 built one at that.  His family have owned it from new.  I emailed Milind before setting off to Goa and arranged to meet. We got on very well and my wife and I were invited to his home.  He showed me his Mini and told me how he had come by it.  We have become good friends and will be visiting him and his family next year.
Milind Angle lives in Panaji,  Goa and his 1959 Mini has covered over 100,000 km.
It arrived in India in December 1959 to January 1960 in consignment of 8 Mini’s via Lisbon to Milind’s father’s garage.  Milind’s mother was the first owner then it was passed on to Milind’s uncle and then finally to Milind.  Milind’s 59 Mini originally left Cowley as an Old English White De-Luxe, it had a colour change to Yellow and is now Red with White roof.  All exterior panels original with both floor pans fabricated and fitted in India.  It had the original driveshaft splines machined from 18 to 19 and still going strong.  It has clutch and brake master cylinders adapted from a Minibus. It has been fitted with bigger wheels- 10inch tyres are not available locally and had the bonnet badge cast in brass and rechromed.

Dave Gate
Phoenix Motor Bodies
Wybunbury
Cheshire
http://www.phoenixmotorbodies.co.uk
Tel 01270 842049