It was with sadness that we learned of the passing of one of Britain’s most inventive and prolific designers, Barry Stimson, at the age of 82
Barry Stimson was a remarkable designer of many kit cars, Campervans, a Hull for a 60ft racing yatch and a Trailer 'Tent' that was also a boat.
Brief details on some of these are below.
Stimson Mini Bug
Overview Production - Mk1: 1969–71, Mk2: 1971–73
The Stimson Mini Bug is a Mini-based front wheel drive beach buggy-styled motor vehicle designed by Barry Stimson. The Mk1 was produced from 1970 until the following year, during which time about 20 were made. It was replaced by the Mk2 in 1971, which continued in production until 1973. About 160 Mk2s were made.
A racing version of the Mini Bug Mk2 – the CS+1 – was developed and offered for sale in 1972 by Stimson's Barrian Cars, then based in London, and later by Lainston Investment Services.
The Stimson work shop back in 1971 72
Stimson Safari Six
London to Brighton run 2010
Overview Production 1972–73
Layout Front-engine, front-wheel drive
The Stimson Safari Six is a Mini-based six-wheeled pickup motor vehicle designed by Barry Stimson. It was introduced into the UK market in 1972, when it was offered for sale by Design Developments at £800. That price included a hood covering the entire vehicle from the rear to the windscreen, with a zip-up sidescreen that served as the driver's door. The car was also available in kit form from £270, depending on its level of completion.
The Safari Six was in production for about a year before Design Developments went into receivership in 1974, having by then produced about 20 cars.
Construction
The vehicle's glassfibre body is mounted on a steel tubular-frame chassis. It has a fold-down rear bench seat and a lockable underfloor boot.
Engine and transmission
The front-wheel drive Safari Six is powered by an 848 cc (51.7 cu in) Austin Mini engine and gearbox mounted on a Mini sub frame.
Later developments
The rights to the Safari Six were acquired by Automotive Services, who planned to convert the vehicle to use a Ford Fiesta or Peugeot engine and relaunch it as the Shikara, but that never materialised.
Sea Dart (and Sea Sledge !)
1974
Stimson Scorcher
Overview Production 1975–80
Layout 2 front wheels, 1 rear wheel. Front-wheel drive.
Powertrain Engine Four-cylinder 848–1275 cc
The Stimson Scorcher is a three-wheeled vehicle designed by Barry Stimson and first produced in the UK in 1976. The Scorcher was available preassembled or as a kit, sold by Noovoh Developments of Brighton for £385.
During its four-year production run, ending in 1980, 30 Scorchers were produced. There was an unsuccessful attempt to resuscitate the Scorcher project the following year.
The Austin Mini 848 cc (51.7 cu in) engine, one of those used to power the Scorcher, is able to deliver a top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h).
Construction
The glassfibre body is mounted on a steel tubular-frame chassis and is completely open to the elements, offering the vehicle's occupants no protection from the weather. Even the engine is exposed, unless the buyer purchased the optional plastic bonnet.
The Scorcher has two wheels at the front and conventional car controls. Its unusual configuration of three seats with the driver and passengers sitting in line astride the machine meant that the UK's licensing authority classified it as a motorcycle and sidecar combination, which had the consequence that one of the passengers was not required to wear a crash helmet.
Engine and transmission
The Scorcher is powered by an Austin Mini engine and gearbox of between 848 cc (51.7 cu in) and 1275 cc (77.8 cu in), mounted on a Mini sub frame at the front of the vehicle. The car's weight of only 560 pounds (250 kg) allowed the 848 cc engine to deliver a top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h).
Later developments
Scorcher production ended in 1980, but in 1981 the project was bought by Gerald Pickford of Clanfield. Pickford made some design changes to the lower front end, but by the end of 1982 only three of the new Scorchers had been produced.
Appraisal
In a 2003 interview published in The Daily Telegraph, Stimson observed of the Scorcher that "It's the worst seller of all my cars, but the most famous – I find that weird". Motoring journalist and author Steve Hole has described the Scorcher as "one of the most bonkers kit cars ever made".
Stimson Trek
The Trek was also known as The Trek King and were supplied in four colour's Blue , Red , White and Green .T he driver sat in the middle and the two passengers sat each side at the rear , they also had foot rest by the side of the drivers seat . The Trek sold at £785.00 +vat basic kit
Stimson Trailfinder
Stimson Storm
Overview Production 2002–07
Powertrain Engine Suzuki 1157 cc (70.6 cu in)
The Stimson Storm is a three-wheeled motor vehicle and offered for sale as a kit car. It was introduced into the UK in 2002 and continued in production until 2007, although only one was built during that time.
Stimson Sting
Overview Production 2002–07
Layout2 front wheels, 1 rear wheel, Front-engine, rear-wheel drive. Powertrain Engine Suzuki 1157 cc (70.6 cu in)
The Stimson Sting is a three-wheeled available as a kit car, it was introduced in the UK in 2002 and continued in production until 2007, although only one was built in that time. It has two wheels at the front and two seats.
The Sting uses the 1157 cc (70.6 cu in) powertrain of the Suzuki Bandit 1200 motorcycle, giving it a 0–60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration of under four seconds.
Stimson Buggy
2004
French Holiday and Artic Circle.
Stimson Adventure Cube.
2007
Morocco to Sahara Desert
MINIKITS Stimson cars tribute at NEC Restoration Show 2023
Minikits and Paul Mini Buger Wylde at the NEC :
We dedicated the stand to the cars designer, the late Barry Stimson who passed away on the last day of 2022 .
Have there ever been five different Stimson designs together on one display? I don't think so. Paul Wylde and his team of Minikits enthusiasts have been working for ages to get just that together and they've finally succeeded too.
The weekend saw the most colourful display of Stimson vehicles brought together at the Classic Car & Restoration Show in the NEC in Birmingham. The Stimson Mini Bug is there in two variants, joined by a Stimson Scorcher, Stimson Trek and Stimson Safari Six as a grand tribute to their creator Barry Simpson.
What a brilliant weekend at the NEC. So many good things over the weekend. Friday we had the guy who used to make the bodies for Barry's cars and later took over the production in 1972 and daughter's and granddaughter on the stand. Saturday we had Caroline Stimson, Barry’s wife plus Tom and Benny, Barry's sons there.
Also a guy who just stopped dead in his tracks at the site of a trek on the stand as his dad got him one at the age of 10 to drive around there farm in Kingsbridge Devon. The following day mom and dad was at the show and the photos say the rest.
Some more memories made at the NEC. Rogers daughter's and granddaughter. Roger made the bodies for Barry Stimson and took over production when Barry moved to France in 1972 . The sisters recall being taken to school in this safari 6 back in 1972.