Archive for November 16th, 2010
Restored Prototype ‘Mini’ Tractor
John Poulter’s prototype Nuffield ‘Mini’ Restoration project.
Displayed at the Newark show
Long hours of very hard work have been put into this restoration
The unrestored tractor as John found it.
John Poulter has now restored two Nuffield ‘Mini’ tractors. The first was a very rare Petrol engined version – He’d been told by a member of Tractor Research, the company who designed the Mini tractor, that three petrol and one calor gas version had been built. John now knows where one of the petrol and the calor gas versions are. The second tractor that John restored was his own prototype Mini. This was rebuilt from the wreck that he acquired and was probably built in 1963, but carried a 1965 registration number and was registered as a “Tractor Research” on 30 April 1965 (model number:- MK1. Serial No 503/5)
John’s Mini after full restoration.
It uses the first of the 9 speed gearboxes and has various development updates, such as different hydraulic lift casting, hydraulic oil tank and pump. These found their way into production but it still retains the 5 stud 15 inch front wheels and different rear axle with 8 stud Ferguson wheels!
Many components carry Tractor Research part numbers rather than the later BMC BTJ numbers. John has now found and photographed 3 of the first 4 prototypes – 495 EUE. 497 EUE & 498 EUE. John would like to know if anybody knows what happened to 496 EUE?
John’s tractor has always been grey and every part was painted individually. He had to make a new bonnet and tried to accurately replicate the original right down to the dome hammered into the top. This was to allow for the cap on the production style hydraulic tank – the cap was in a different position on the actual production tanks.
He has been unable to find any information on the tractor used in all the publicity film and brochures. EAC 214C registered as “Tractor Research Mk 1 serial number 503/12 on 7 April 1965″. However John has been fortunate to meet the driver – John Tugwood, who also drove the first prototype 495 EUE now owned by Mike Thorne.
John’s next task is to get the original registration number back. This tractor was displayed at recent Newark Show.