1969 Des McCartney Scoop

It’s a Scoop!

This feature was first published in MotorWeek dated 8th March 1969, and extra pictures have been added from other events.

Much has been written about Dessie McCartney’s famous Mini based “Bucket” Autocross special which enjoyed such success last year, but now a successor has appeared on the scene.

Competition in autocross has become very much fiercer just lately than ever before, and the bucket was the first special to be built in Ireland exclusively for autocross. But nothing stands still, and there are quite a few people working feverishly to get buggies going properly for the start of the “field racing” season, so Dessie has come up with “The Scoop.”

Basically, it consists of a well tweaked 1275cc Cooper S power unit mounted on a Mini subframe to which has been attached a space frame of ultra light construction. At present the car has yet to travel any great distance under its own steam (There are wheels at the back, although you can’t see them in the picture), but trials should be getting under way very shortly. MotorWeek will keep you posted!