Mistral Prototype History

Below is a transcript of a letter received from Ian Donald about the history of the prototype Mistral after it was sold by Bob Blackburn.

“The Mistral that Bob Blackburn raced in the late 50’s was sold as a kitset to Peter Taylor of Temuka, who with his uncle Colin Westoby built it as a road car. The original (racing) body was removed and a new (street) body supplied with the kit. The chassis number of this car was 59001 indicating that it was the first one made. Colin Westoby owned a small garage at the top of North Street in Timaru, further up but opposite Timaru Boys High School.

I bought the car from Peter Taylor in the early 60’s.

The 100E Ford engine had two Amal monobloc carbs, a free flow exhaust, a mild cam, and could easily be over-revved in top gear causing piston rings to break at all too regular intervals. The three speed 100E gearbox was not ideal. It took the car to about 45 MPH in second gear and on to over 90 MPH in top, OK on the flat but embarrassing on hills (e.g. near Dunedin) where you would be restricted to around 40 MPH going up hills because the car wouldn’t pull top gear.”

(It appears the Willment OHV conversion and four seed gearbox reported in earlier tests of the prototype Mistral had been replaced before the sale by Bob Blackburn)

“I put a Cortina 1500 motor and box in it, bored the motor to 1650cc with the usual hot cam, free flows and twin side draft Webers. I widened the wheels and fitted a set of the “new” radials. To it. I fitted a Vauxhall Victor (1958) front screen (inverted) as a windscreen and fitted a tilt front (like E type Jag). I then built the dash around the “new” windscreen and altered the hard top to suit. The new dash had rev counter, speedo and the usual four smaller gauges. Phase III Vanguard taillights were then fitted. One of my friends said “fancy putting truck taillights in your car” I quickly pointed out they were identical to Aston Martin DB5, he never mentioned it again.

About 1970 I sold the car to Terry Butt and I don’t know what happened to it after that.”

Above and below, Mistral protype in late 1960's at Tarbottons Rd, Temuka