1979 Maguire Mini Twin-Cam
- Engine
- Twin-cam configuration
A John Maguire Racing Mini built in Coventry by Tom Shepherd, this car is notable for its bespoke 16-valve twin-cam A-Series cylinder head developed in collaboration with ex-Weslake engineer Gary Oldfield — among the first of its kind. Originally campaigned in Germany where it dominated its series sufficiently to be banned, the car later ran in British club racing before entering long-term storage. It retains its original unrestored condition, features a Jack Knight five-speed dog gearbox with LSD, and is documented in Chris Harvey's book Mighty Mini. Roughly half of the original Maguire Mini production run of approximately 25 cars survives.
Ownership
- 2023-08-25Auction saleSold £27,500 (≈ $34K)
- → 2020Private salePeter Wartenburgpartial documentation
Operated the car under the PW Racing banner from Mönchengladbach, racing it in Germany and later in British club events. He co-developed a 16-valve cylinder head with Gary Oldfield, completed the final engine build in 1993, and then placed the car in storage until offering it for sale in 2020.
- 2020 →Private saleCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Acquired the car from Peter Wartenburg after a personal connection through the car's original builder emerged. Had the car dyno-tested and recommissioned for hillclimb competition starting in 2021.
- Date unknownFactory deliveryDave Horsleypartial documentation
Original commissioning owner for whom the car was built; his initials appear in the chassis number. He sold it quickly after being unable to adapt to the car.
Competition
- 2021York Motor Festival Wolfstone HillclimbDriver: Current vendor2nd overall
Inaugural running of this event; the car missed fastest time of day by a margin of 0.1 seconds.
- 2021-05-01Prescott Mini FestivalDriver: Tom Shepherd2nd overall from an 80-car entry
The car's builder, Tom Shepherd, drove at the vendor's invitation — his first time driving a Maguire Mini and his first visit to Prescott. He recorded a 47-second run.
- —Nürburgring raceDriver: Peter Wartenburg1st (pole position also recorded)
Photographic evidence in the car's archive shows it on pole and holding the winner's board. Performance was dominant enough that the car was eventually excluded from the series.
- —Wendy Wools Mini seriesWendy Wools seriesDriver: Peter Wartenburg
Raced in Britain alongside competitors Peter Baldwin and Doc Enderby after the car was excluded from its German series; found to be insufficiently competitive at this level.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1989Modification
A bespoke 16-valve twin-cam cylinder head for the A-Series engine, developed with ex-Weslake engineer Gary Oldfield and modelled on BDH principles, was machined, assembled, and installed into the car. The head was publicly unveiled to the German press that year.
Peter Wartenburg and Gary Oldfield machined and built the first head together. Rights to the design were later acquired by Kent Automotive Developments.
- 1993Engine rebuild
The definitive version of the 16-valve engine was assembled, concluding a period of development and testing focused largely on resolving valve-spring reliability issues.
Further development was curtailed by personal circumstances; the car subsequently entered storage.
- 2020InspectionSH Engineering
Following purchase, the car was placed on a dynamometer at SH Engineering, recording an output of 167 bhp.
- 2021ServiceGT Services
The car was recommissioned and prepared for competition by Tom Shepherd, operating through his company GT Services, ahead of the inaugural Prescott Mini Festival.
This work followed an extended period in storage; the car retained its original unrestored condition throughout.
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