Not content with reviving the Austin Pedal Cars name, the team at Burlen has turned its attention to slightly bigger and more famous Austins: the Mini.
Two cars have been built and have already been broken-in on-track by making their debut at the Goodwood Revival. Ex-Grand Prix racer Karun Chandhok and Mini specialist Nick Swift secured a top-six finish sharing the first of the cars, with Le Mans class winner Darren Turner 12th partnering Burlen’s Mark Burnett, himself a seasoned Mini racer.
The pair of Austins are built entirely to 1959 spec, the year of its launch, powered by Swift’s ‘Swiftune’ faithful early A-Series engine. Naturally, Burlen’s SU brand provides the single carburettor, as it did in period.
Owens Fabrication, run by fellow Mini front-runner Endaf Owens, built the body to recreate the first run of cars from Abingdon, and the ride height is raised to ensure plenty of its signature roll.
“Over at Burlen we’ve been producing a small range of classic car parts under the Austin name for years and in 2020 we set up Austin Pedal Cars, which is such a lovely natural path into the world of historic motoring for young people,” Mark Burnett, managing director of Austin Cars Ltd, said.
“The next step was always going to be the production of something for the grown-ups, something basic but fun, soul-stirring and memory inducing, no frills motoring, simply because we can. The Austin Cars cup of tea has been brewing for quite a while!
“What a way to showcase Austin Cars and who knows, perhaps their debut provides a hint of our plans for the future.”