The Biota history - a summary
The name Biota stands for "Bi" to indicate its two-seater design and "iota" for small, to refer to its minimal size and weight. The first prototype car was built by John Houghton in 1968 and consisted of a tubular steel spaceframe with an aluminium body. The GRP-bodied production model accepted all Mini mechanics and Series-A engines, from basic 850 up to 1275 Cooper S specs and tuning stages beyond. Delivery options included complete "turn-key" cars, and various kit "stages" to be completed by the owner with parts sourced from other Mini's.
From 1969 - 1972, about 25 Mk 1 production models were built. The famous 1972 BARC Hillclimb championship at Prescott Hill was won in 1972 by Chris Seaman with a light-weight competition version, proving its excellent performance and road-handling capability. The Mk 2 model was built from 1972 - 1974 with various technical improvements, increased interior space, and a revised front-end body design. Only 6 Mk 2 cars were delivered when the company and production ceased in 1974, due to lack of sales combined with too high production cost
For a more comprehensive Biota history and other Mini derivatives, the wonderful book Maximum Mini by Jeroen Booij, published by Veloce Publishers, is highly recommended. Our Biota is featured in this book.
Create Your Own Website With JouwWeb