FOR THE FULL UNABRIDGED HISTORY OF HARRY RATCLIFFE & BVRT VISIT THIS FANTASTIC NEW SITE
British Vita were one of the most successful A series tuning houses of the 60's. They were consistently innovative in their thinking and were responsible for "among other things" the first semi space framed Mini, the first 3.5 litre rear wheel drive Mini and the very first "weight saving" glassfibre flip up front end. Although the y competed very successfully throughout the 60's in a whole range of motor sport both as "Works" Supported" entrants or in the later years as a full blown works team their finest season was that of 1968, the statistics were as follows.
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John Handley 1968 European Touring Car Champion. Division One. BLMC 999cc Mini Cooper 'S'. Also highest overall points in European Championship (48). Car Prepared by: B.V.R.T. Ltd. Harry Ratcliffe 1968 B.R.S.C.C. Northern Saloon Car Champion. BLMC 999cc Mini Cooper 'S'. Car Prepared by: B.V.R.T. Ltd.
Jeff Goodliff 1968 B.A.R.C. Hill Climb Champion. BLMC 1293cc Supercharged Mini Cooper 'S'. Car Prepared by: B.V.R.T. Ltd. |
Before
BVRT it was just BRT, learn more about the roots of the British Vita Racing
Team. Harry Ratcliffe's & Jeff Goodliff's early days click HERE
for page 1 and HERE for page 2.
To
read the most comprehensive history of British Vita Racing & Tuning
ever published CLICK HERE. Many thanks
to my good friend Pete Flanagan for supplying the Text & the excellent
pictures, most of which have never been published. Also a big thank you
to Harry Ratcliffe for the time he gave to Pete, while researching the
article.
Here's
your chance to read the entire BVRT tuning Catalogue! This was produced
in 1969 to capitalise on the Victory of the 3 Champions. Page
1, Page 2, Page
3, Page 4, Page
5, Page 6, Page
7, Page 8.
In
1968 BVRT built one of the most powerful A Series Mini ever seen anywhere!
It was a 1293 Supercharged, 8 Port Hill Climber, and it handled as well
as it went. Click HERE to read the full article.
During
the 1968 season BVRT & The Cooper Car Company were practically team
mates, CLICK here to find out just how
close.
To
see a copy of the BVRT section of the 1968 Castrol Achievements booklet
entitled "British Vita Triple Champions" click HERE.
It is a fairly large download, but it's worth the wait.
Follow
the link opposite to see a small collection of Harry Ratcliffe's original
photos of BVRT in action. (Thanks to Paul Curotto)

Nice
original set of BVRT Racing cufflinks from the late 1960's.