The storyA Mini revolution
Minimal investment, maximum impact
The Crayford name entered the vehicle modifying market in 1963 as founders David McMullan and Jeff Smith invested £20 each to get the fledgling business off the ground. They only had a toolbox each – but plenty of engineering know-how and passion.
Daring to be different
Crayford modified its first Mini in 1963. The ‘Mini Convertible’ was a daring project that turned heads and put the Crayford name on the vehicle modification map. Around 800 Minis were converted by Crayford, with the conversion work costing £150 for each vehicle.
A groundbreaking Heinz collaboration
Crayford vehicles quickly became a prized purchase and caught the eye of the Heinz food company who exclusively commissioned 57 Wolseley conversions to give away as competition prizes. The collaboration secured the deposit needed for a new Crayford factory.
International success is secured
The company turned its hand to the successful conversion of various other vehicles during the 1970s, including the Mk3 Ford Cortina ‘Sunshine’, the Mercedes-Benz Estate, and the Austin Allegro. Spain ranked as the brand’s largest export market at the time.
British Motorshow exposure
Moving into the 1980s, Crayford continued to transform new vehicles and earn a fresh audience. Notable conversions included the three-door Mercedes Benz 450 SLC ‘Condor’, VW Scirocco, and a Mk5 Ford Cortina convertible – all unveiled at the British Motorshow.
The Crayford relaunch
The last car produced by Crayford in significant numbers was the Fiesta ‘Fly’ which got off the ground in 1981. After some time away, the Crayford name was relaunched in 2023 with the unveiling of the 1962 Mini Mojito Mk1 Beach Car at London Concours.
Back to the future
The eye-catching Mini Mojito Mk1 was true to the original mission statement penned by the Crayford founders in the early 1960s: ‘to design and build cars that are unique, and to redefine what’s possible when you harness devotion and innovation’.
A car without compromise
Reminiscent of the very rare and original Mini-based Beach Car, the Mini Mojito Mk1 was designed, re-engineered, and built from the ground up to ensure it was fun and easy to drive in modern traffic conditions and that there were no period compromises.
The new and refined Mk2
With the Mini Mojito Mk1 reigniting the Beach Car category, the Crayford Automobiles team embarked on a detailed research and development project to further refine the car ahead of the launch of the enhanced Mk2 model in the Spring of 2026.





