Transformer
MiniWorld|April 2017

Phil Higham is the owner and co-builder of this beautifully proportioned 998cc roadster and we hope it’s going to get its fair share of trophies in 2017. His son, Wayne, tells us how it came together.

Monty Watkins
Transformer

Wayne Higham is heatproof. Once upon a time, he was a welder. Now he is a chef at the family fish and chip shop. He has spent years controlling the scorching fires of oblivion so now it’s second nature. When he is not up to his elbows in boiling oil, he still melts steel into small puddles for fun. His creations include seven Minis (most of them extremely modified), two 1930s Fords, a VW split-screen panel van and one top secret early Morris Mini with an unbelievable... but I can’t mention that one because it’s still secret. Wayne is, among many other things, a Mini practitioner.

The 1961 Austin Seven-derived roadster in these pages belongs to his dad Phil who, like Wayne, has the ability to transform nasty, rippled, thin, steel sheet into beguiling compound curves. Phil quite wanted a Mini shorty so he mentioned it to Wayne, who recalls that: “I did one for a friend 20 years ago, just cutting and joining work. When it was finished he went abroad for six months. I stored it for him and he said it would be cool if I took it out a couple of times. I did and enjoyed driving it so much that, about 17 years later, my father Phil asked if I would like to build him one.” This one was destined to be a Mini medium, rather than a Mini shorty, as Wayne explains: “It does drive much better than a normal shorty as we purposely only took nine inches out of the rear footwell floor area, where the pockets would be. It’s not twitchy and you get a nice pair of front seats and a bit of storage behind. With most shorties you take 12-14 inches out, then you use the back seat for front seats.”

Esta historia es de la edición April 2017 de MiniWorld.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición April 2017 de MiniWorld.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE MINIWORLDVer todo
Skin Deep
MiniWorld

Skin Deep

Scott Whitmore raced Mini Stox from the age of 10 and bought his first road Mini at 14. He already knew he was going to work in car body restoration. Just as well really...

time-read
7 minutos  |
December 2019
Master Class
MiniWorld

Master Class

Back when concours restos were on the fringe of the mainstream scene, Roy Gudge joined a small band of visionaries who made their Mini Coopers better than new. He tells us about his stunning twice-restored 998cc Mk2 Cooper.

time-read
10+ minutos  |
December 2019
Weekend Warrior
MiniWorld

Weekend Warrior

This early Clubman was destined for a tough dual-purpose life as a daily driver and international competition car but a thorough restoration has given it a surprising third role, as a prize-winning show car.

time-read
10 minutos  |
November 2019
Tyred & Tested
MiniWorld

Tyred & Tested

Martin Hockley took what was a relatively plain-looking Mini Van and turned it into an eye-catching homage to a great British brand.

time-read
6 minutos  |
November 2019
The Italian Job 50th Anniversary With Art
MiniWorld

The Italian Job 50th Anniversary With Art

Bex Celebrates The Iconic Italian Job Anniversary With Her Exclusive Signed Artworks.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 2019
Mothballed Revival
MiniWorld

Mothballed Revival

Even though Michael Gill’s humble 1972 Austin Mini 1000 had been unused for eight years when he bought it back in 2015, it still required a thorough restoration.

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 2019
A Mini Addiction
MiniWorld

A Mini Addiction

Gary Pearson, of SELKent Mini Club, is a self-confessed Miniholic…

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 2017
Rylstone Classic
MiniWorld

Rylstone Classic

Rylstone Classic

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 2017
Goodwood Revival
MiniWorld

Goodwood Revival

Goodwood Revival

time-read
1 min  |
November 2017
Legendary Grand Tour
MiniWorld

Legendary Grand Tour

Legendary Grand Tour

time-read
1 min  |
November 2017