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Before Minis
Austin A35 (Alfa version!)
Three New Era Minis
POP 22 through the years
POP 22 restoration
POP 22 today
Technical details
New Era Ltd
 


The New Era Mini was designed by Ken Nightingale with the intention of being put into small-scale production.   It was not the first car that he designed.   He wanted to go motor racing after World War 2 and he used the unlikely base of a Humber air field defence vehicle (see left).   Fitted with an aluminium body and a supercharger, its acceleration was breath taking, but its cornering was nail biting.  

The Humber was followed by a lightweight purpose-built chassis fitted with a small Panhard engine with the intention of competing in the small-capacity sports car class of hill climbs (see right).   It was sold before completion due to various pressures.   In the late 1950s Ken’s efforts concentrated on starting a small automotive business at 1A Caroline Street in central Birmingham.   Initially it was a small garage which acted as agents for Alexander Conversions Ltd, a company that manufactured ‘go faster’ conversions for the BMC cars of the time.   The business was initially called Ecurie Rossignol Ltd (Team/Stable Nightingale in French), but later it was changed to New Era Ltd, the Era being an abbreviation for Ecurie Rossignol Accessories.