Creator: Anthony Hill, Des.R.C.A.
At the time he was a lecturer in Furniture Design at Loughborough College of Art and Design.
TiCi (mk1) Prototype: (Registration RAY 200G)
Between 1966 and 1969, Anthony designed and built the TiCi mk1 which was a small, rear engined, closed, two seater car.
Motive power was from a two cylinder, 500cc, Triumph Daytona motorbike engine.
TiCi (mk2) Prototype: (Registration BJU 300K)
The mk2 TiCi was anounced in 1972, this version was powered by an 850cc BMC Mini engine unit.
The original sales brochure states that Anthony travelled extensively in Europe using the prototype and on occasions travelled over 600 miles in a day!
The main difference between the prototype and the production units was that, on the prototype, the fuel filler pipe projected from the right hand side panel.
On the production units, this pipe is recessed into a slot moulded into the side panel.
TiCi (mk2) Production Units:
Sir Stirling Moss
Sir Stirling Moss - offering a lift, to a young lady, in one of the two publicity cars.The mk2 was powered by a BMC Mini engine installed in the rear along with the Mini's integral gearbox and the complete front subframe including the rubber cone suspension.
At the front, Mini hubs, wishbones and steering were mounted directly to the fibreglass shell.
Front suspension was by means of small coil-over shock absorber units.
The body unit comprised a two part main moulding which included the interior and seats.
The dashboard, engine cover and rear skirt were separate mouldings.
The body units and moulding were supplied by Bourne Plastics.
A flat glass, laminated windscreen was fitted to a steel tube reinforced fibreglass screen surround.
A steel tube roll-over bar was fitted behind the two integral seats.
Another publicity shot
In 1972/73 a comprehensive kit, was available, which included: electrical wiring, lamp units, clutch and brake master cylinders, hydraulic pipes, exhaust & silencer, petrol tank, laminated screen, roll-over bar, front suspension units plus all the required conversion parts, nuts, bolts & screws - in fact all you needed to supply was a complete front end from a Mini and a second set of Mini front hubs.
The cost of the Kit in 1973 was £395 with the optional hard top at £35 and quick detach doors another £35.
It is believed that less than (40) kits were produced before TiCi Cars Limited and TiCi Sales Limited were forced into liquidation at the end of 1973.
Of the kits sold, (6) went to Spain and (6) went to Japan.
A 1974 letter from the liquidator offered various assets for sale including (2) registered vehicles at £550 each, (11) Kits at £350 each and (8) hardtops at £25 each.
The TiCi company received backing from Raymond Mays (of BRM fame) with promotion by the ex.racing driver (Sir) Stirling Moss.
The novel design was featured on TV programmes including Tomorrow's World and Blue Peter.
This 1972 publicity picture of the launch of the TiCi was taken on Westminster bridge in London and featured Stirling Moss along with the usual 'dolly birds'.
The publicity cars bore the registrations (GAY 73L and GAY 400L).
Celebrity owners included, the pop group Showaddywaddy, Earta Kitt and Sir Clive Sinclair (did he convert his to electric power?).
So how do you pronounce "TiCi"?
Official pronounciation as defined by the TiCi sales brochure is "tichy"!
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