TWINI TWOUBLE
JUST BEEN reading the fabulous article in issue 400 called ‘Mini Twini”. It is fantastic to read about the exploits of these adventurous engineers who tackle such motoring oddities. You should include more such articles as these cars are truly ‘Unique Cars’ and for the fact that people build them to be used and enjoyed.
Apart from the creations by John Cooper – most likely the original Mini Twini and Prototype 4WD Twini Mokes offered up to the Army for trials – stories have popped up over the years detailing other people’s twin engined Mini creations variously called ‘Twini’, Twiny’ or ‘Twinnies’ but all trying to overcome the difficulties of synchronising both engines, gearboxes or clutches. This is the first time I have ever heard of anybody solving some of their design issues by reversing the engine and together reversing the direction of rotation. Stroke of genius.
I seem to remember reading a story many years ago about a guy who built one, perhaps in South Australia. He solved this issue by equipping his particular Twini with a pair of Mini-Matic Auto gearboxes. Easier to synchronise the two engines if the gearboxes take care of themselves.
When I read the Unique Cars article I decided to Google ‘twin engined cooper’ and came up with a very recent example. This one is a 2002 modern example of the Cooper S which somebody decided to turn into a twin engine competition car. The owner and creator of this ‘Monster Twini’ was explaining in this YouTube video, the construction method and issues to none other than Jay Leno. Jay completed the interview by taking the vehicle out on the tarmac for a blast and Jay’s final comment was about making a road legal example. Awesome. This 2002 example of the Twini was apparently easier to create than an original concept. Firstly no Carburettors to synchronise, secondly the gearbox operation is via cable so the creation of a longer cable run to a rear engine was simple. The throttle was simple because it’s a ‘drive by wire’ system and the clutch used a duplicated master cylinder. Just think of a modern ‘Twini for the road’ – 3.2 litre, 8 cylinder, quad cam with twin superchargers – a real Monster Mini.
Lastly in the DoubleTrouble breakout there’s mention of a very rare Mercedes AMG A38, stating that only four of these German Twinis were built and that one each went to Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard. I gathered that the writer was unaware that one is included in the Lindsay Fox collection at Melbourne Docklands. Perhaps you can ask Mr Fox to lend you his rare AMG A38 for a road test. It would be awesome to compare this modern German built version with the classic Mini Twini example. A story of Old and New.
Great magazine, keep up the good work and find us some more stories that evoke the memories from decades ago or illustrate the efforts behind some truly inspiring and challenging ‘Unique Cars’. Also keep Morley’s Garage coming; its great value! GM Bastin Email
ED Glad you enjoyed reading the article as much as we did putting it together, GM. Great to get the information about the Fox car. We‘re on the case.
Oh, you’re not Morley’s brother-in-law by any chance.
TORANA SIGNATURES
Although I am mainly a Ford man, I read with interest the article in April’s UC magazine about the mighty little LC GTR Torana.
Many years ago I drove one with a 186 Holden donk and was quite impressed despite the car’s tendency to step sideways, if the throttle is given a stab. Fun!
I noticed four autograph signatures on the Glove Box lid. I’m ver y curious, is there any chance you could tell me who signed them? One signing looked vaguely like Peter Brock’s name !
I have Craig Lowndes’ signature on the glove-box lid of my ’66 ’Stang (from when he drove Fords) so I wondered which champions signed on the Torana. I’ve started reading the May issue now, which arrived in mailbox yesterday, so that will shut me up for a while.
Great mag guys! Geoff Scard Morayfield Qld
EXPORT COPS
I enjoyed reading about past Australian police cars in the last edition. It’s interesting to note that the current Holden Caprice V8 has been n exported to the United States es as police cars for some years rs now. The American police have always had a penchant nt for good V8, rear wheel driveve patrol cars (cruisers). At last count 15,460 Australiann Caprices had been exported d to the USA. Up to 3900 per month have been delivered d at times. Seems to me, it’s a great pity our domestic car building industry is comingg to an end, particularly when we can ‘sell snow to the eskimos’. Here are some working examples: Keep up the good work. Rick Hodge Perth WA ED You’ve touched on another unfortunate outcome of the loss of local manufacturing, Rick. You can’t help suspecting our political masters didn’t do the sums.
4WD TRAUMA
A few months ago you threatened to include 4WDs in my favourite CAR magazine but thankfully the plans did not go ahead, These ugly, impractical, cumbersome pieces of FARM MACHINERY should have no place in a CAR magazine. Even AUSTRALIAN AND INTERNATIONAL CAR awards have been given to these bloody things,
BUT
In issue 401 on page 22 there is a (small,(small thankyou) 4WD article by Guy Allen, THEN
On page 32 there is a commercial vehicle (a bloody ute), again on pages 34/35/36 and again on pages 138/139, THEN
In Morley’s Workshop there is the continuing stor y about a f lamin’ truck! ALL THIS
In amongst some great articles including MINI REMASTERED, PORSCHE WAREHOUSE FIND, ONES THAT GOT AWAY, POLICE CARS & ICONIC HOLDEN.
Please don’t ruin a great magazine. If we needed to read about 4WD/SUV vehicles and utes we could read “Wanker’s Weekly”, “Masturbater’s Monthly” or “Floggers Fornightly” and we could read about trucks in “Tough Truckers are Tremendous” Philip Bradshaw Warnbro WA
PLYMOUTH FAN
Great piece mate, on this machine. Yes, two doors usually run preferable to four but in the Australian release, the four door was just fine thank you very much. And as a 19 year old petrol head back then (and still), I can clearly recall that this was the car that rained on the GMH and Ford parade. It was the golden child for Chrysler out here in every way. The old Ford advertisement of ‘trim taut and terrific’ was surely applicable to the Chrysler.
Floor shift, gutsy slant six and great lines; what more could you want? Maybe a push button auto. Eric Waples Albion Park NSW
ED The Brock signature is Bev’s, Geoff, along with Colin Bond, Ian Tate and Bob Morris. A pretty impressive honour roll, I reckon.
ED I bet you feel better now, Philip, with all that off your chest. Perhaps it’s best if you flip quickly past page 38.
ED It seems we’re pretty much in furious agreement about the R-Series, Eric.