Playmini was founded in 1991 by Nick Paddy whose connection with the Mini came practically from the cradle. His father Graham Paddy worked for Downton Engineering the famous 60’s Mini tuning company, then and was one of the founding members of Moss Europe another classic car company.
Nick met Mr. Yamagata owner of Sanwa Trading, probably the largest Mini parts & accessory importers in Japan after seeing a Mini Nick had restored. He then suggested Nick came to Japan to see how it was all done Japanese style. As Sanwa did not have a reliable UK supplier, they approached Nick to see if he could help them out.
So jumping at the chance Nick sold his car, ICE and all worldly possessions to start up Playmini supplying quality parts to Japan. The relationship has grown over the past thirty one years, Playmini becoming a major player in the Japanese import market.
Finding our parts so successful in Japan we decided to start marketing them in the UK. Starting with the famous Playmini Maximiser exhaust system which has gone from strength to strength being sold in all corners of the world. Known as the original stainless steel sports silencer, made by Playmini and copied by many !
Playmini supplies many UK Mini specialists and shipping to most of the Japanese market with quality parts made in England from the best components. In the UK, we only supply a small number of parts focusing on quality not quantity. Well known for our classic Mini sports exhaust due to its excellent fit, aesthetics and sporty sound, twin carburettor kits made specially for the Japanese market with genuine parts and stainless steel shields, selling over three thousand kits to Japan alone, now becoming very popular in the UK. Not just suppliers like some, we are all enthusiasts who you will find regularly at events and race circuits with our own FIA historic race Cooper S and have made and restored many Mini’s most of which have been in magazines, built to the highest standards
Nicks father back in the Downton Engineering days – click to view
The original Paddys garage back in the 1950’s – click to view
1950’s fuel pumps at Paddys garage – click to view
Graham Paddy outside Downton Engineering – click to view
Nick
Director of Playmini, car enthusiast Nick now looks after the company accounts and sales. His Mini heritage goes way back some generations with his grandfather running his own garage. Nick has owned and built many classis Mini’s most of which you will all have seen in the Mini magazines. Still owning a retro saloon, Moke, van and pickup.
Andy
Andy has been with the company almost from the start. Keen car enthusiast and Mini owner knows the cars inside out and is in charge of purchasing, sales, marketing and IT. Andy has owned and built Mini’s since he was 17 some of which have featured in the Mini magazines, along with Japanese turbo cars and BMW Cooper S
Bill Sollis
Bill generally needs no introduction, well known for his exploits in Mini Seven, Mini Migla and historic Mini racing. With a host of wins under his belt sitting in his “Bill Built” race cars
Attention to detail and producing products to the highest quality is paramount to all at Playmini.
After seeing the quality of our builds we recently had a customer bring his brand new Land Rover straight from the dealer to us for converting into a James Bond look-a-like
