Scaled Audacity - Car culture has long been shaped by individuals who see familiar platforms as starting points rather than limits. In Britain, that attitude produced a rich ecosystem of hand-built specials, many of them based on
the Mini and driven by personal vision rather than commercial intent. Among the rarest of these experiments is
the CJC Bison GT, a car that quietly extended the tradition of Mini-based reinvention into the supercar-inspired territory once explored by
the Unipower GT, famously dubbed
the “Mini Miura.”  |
| The CJC Bison, a car that quietly extended the tradition of Mini-based reinvention into the supercar-inspired territory once explored by the Unipower GT, famously dubbed the “Mini Miura.” (Picture from: Pinterest) |
The CJC Bison GT emerged in the mid-1990s, a period when small-scale builders still had room to experiment without the constraints seen today.
Created by Colin James Cooper from Leicestershire,
the car takes its name directly from its maker’s initials.
Completed around 1994 and registered in the UK under the name “CJC Bison,” it was conceived as a single, standalone project rather than the prototype for a production run, immediately defining its identity as a true one-off.
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| The CJC Bison was created in the mid-1990s by Leicestershire-based builder Colin James Cooper, completed around 1994, registered in the UK under its own name, and conceived from the outset as a single, one-off project rather than a production prototype. (Picture from: ClassicAndRecreationSportscars in Facebook) |
Its styling makes its intent clear without explanation.
The Bison adopts the sharp wedge proportions associated with
the Lamborghini Countach, translating them into a compact form that sits much closer to the ground than
a standard Mini. A low nose, pop-up headlights, and a steeply raked windscreen create a dramatic silhouette, while the bold red finish reinforces its visual impact.
A British Q-plate confirms its special-build status,
and subtle details,
such as a bull emblem, acknowledge its Italian inspiration without attempting imitation.
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| The CJC Bison spent years in obscurity before being restored and taken into the care of Tony Bucknall of ABS Motorsport, securing its place within the ongoing history of British Mini-based specialist cars. (Picture from: ClassicAndRecreationSportscars in Facebook) |
The engineering beneath the bodywork is where
the CJC Bison distinguishes itself from mere visual exercises.
Power is supplied by a mid-mounted, four-cylinder 1275cc Austin Mini engine,
repositioned behind the cabin in a layout far removed from the Mini’s original front-engine configuration. This choice reflects a genuine engagement with supercar principles, placing mechanical balance and layout at the center of the project rather than treating performance as an afterthought.
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| The CJC Bison’s interior reflects its hand-built nature, prioritizing a compact, driver-focused layout shaped by necessity and function rather than comfort or ornamentation. (Picture from: ClassicAndRecreationSportscars in Facebook) |
Inside,
the cabin reflects the priorities of a hand-built special.
Space is necessarily limited,
and the interior appears focused on functionality rather than comfort or luxury.
The driving position,
compact controls,
and close proximity to the mechanical components reinforce the sense that this car was built to be driven, not merely displayed, aligning with the practical ethos common to many British specials of the era.
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| The CJC Bison departs radically from the standard Mini by using a mid-mounted 1275cc four-cylinder Austin Mini engine positioned behind the cabin, aligning its mechanical layout with true supercar principles. (Picture from: ClassicAndRecreationSportscars in Facebook) |
For years, the CJC Bison GT remained an obscure footnote, known mainly through enthusiast circles and brief appearances in online listings and blogs. Its survival, however, is now well established. The car has since been restored and is currently in the care of Tony Bucknall of ABS Motorsport, a collector known for preserving unusual Mini-based creations, ensuring that the Bison remains part of the living history of British specialist cars.
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| The CJC Bison resonates as more than a curiosity. It represents a moment when creativity, mechanical curiosity, and individual ambition could converge into something genuinely singular. (Picture from: ClassicAndRecreationSportscars in Facebook) |
Viewed today,
the CJC Bison GT resonates as more than a curiosity. It represents a moment when creativity, mechanical curiosity, and individual ambition could converge into something genuinely singular. Neither replica nor parody, it stands as a compact expression of big ideas, reminding modern enthusiasts that some of the most interesting automotive stories were written far from factory floors, by individuals willing to rethink what
a Mini could be.
*** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MAXIMUMMINI | WIKIPEDIA | CLASSIC AND RECREATION SPORTSCARS IN FACEBOOK ]Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
