Monterey Car Week is known to turn up a few interesting surprises each year. Going for the brass ring in 2021 could just be the Spectre Type 10, a maniacal reimagination of the classic Mini penned by Sir Alec Issigonis. It’s powered by a Haltec-controled Honda K20 engine that’s expected to put out 230 hp at the wheels. Impressive stuff, but not exactly ground-breaking, right? Mini tuners have been finding ways to shoe-horn these Type-R-related motors for at least a decade and a half. Which is true — but that’s before you notice the layout: this one is mid-engined. And that means rear-wheel drive too.
This isn’t some kind of home-brew concoction either. The company behind it, Spectre Vehicle Design, is based in Vancouver, Canada. The small team describes itself as a “vehicle design studio that strives to enchant and delight customers by building iconic vehicles that navigate the road between remarkable engineering and moving design.” More than just marketing bumf, the team behind the project have put hours into designing specific elements of the Type 10.
Such design details include bespoke three-piece wheels inspired by the iconic 10-inch Minilite wheel, but engineered to be functional in their design. Each corner features a specific fan style that draws hot air out from the brakes, much like the BMW E34 M5’s “Turbofan” wheels of the early 90s. The design of the seat is supposed to mimic a picture of Monica Bellucci in a one-piece bathing suit with a cutout for her belly button. And the cabin is said to replicate a Japanese mudroom.
We don’t have full details about the mechanical parts yet, but what we do know, aside from the Honda powerplant, is that it’ll transmit power to the road via a six-speed gearbox and limited-slip differential. Braking will be courtesy of monobloc four-piston disc brakes and the whole package will weigh approximately 771 kg wet.
Spectre Vehicle Design’s purchasing experience differs from the norm. Rather than sell you a finished project that may have to be registered to a different state or province, a donor car is procured from the client’s state, effectively enhancing a car that’s already on the road and keeping the registry and history of the vehicle local.
There’s an immense degree of customization available too. An interview is arranged with Spectre’s creative director, where you’ll discuss what combination of materials, colors, and details will be used in your unique creation. Then, each chapter of the build is documented, with the customer invited to drive it before final delivery. The Type 10, the first example of which will appear at the Carmel Concours during Monterey Car Week, will be limited to just 10 examples. The price of such exclusivity? US$ 180,000.
