SOCIAL CLIMBING

Originally intended to be a fast road car, Julian Harber’s plans for his Clubman soon accelerated as his passion for hillclimbing grew.

- Martyn Morgan-Jones

Julian Harber's first car was a humble Austin A35, bought in 1966, when he was just sixteen-years-old. He spent a year rebuilding it. On those occasions he wasn't spannering on the A35, he busied himself working for his mother's catering business, washing dishes, peeling potatoes, laying tables etc. Soon, he had saved enough money to buy the very car he had wanted in the first place, but had been unable to afford: a Mini.

"This was 1968, and it was a Tartan Red Mini 850 Deluxe," recalls Julian smiling. "I did a few road rallies in this car. A pal of mine was an engineering apprentice and we got lots of parts machined during night shifts! It eventually ended up with a 1275S engine, mated to the standard 'magic wand' gearchange, although I'd fitted an ST straight-cut second, third and fourth gearset.”

"The grandfather of another pal of mine owned a garage, and we were allowed to use the facilities at weekends. There was often paint left over from repairs. It was a very colourful period!"

MINI TO METRO

Since those more innocent, carefree, funfilled and colourful days, almost two decades would elapse before Julian would once again own a Mini.

"This was the late '80s," he reminisces. "A friend of mine rallied a Mini, I built his engines and gearboxes. Then he moved house, and had to clear his garage. I bought lots of his spares, including a rolling shell, and built an S-engined Mini. It was a very quick car, which I owned for several years and really enjoyed. I then sold the shell and put all of the bits into a Metro. It too was a fast, fun car."

WINNING BID