Biota (United Kingdom) - AllCarIndex

Biota was a British sports car manufacturer that operated from 1969 to 1976. Founded by Houghton Coldwell, the company initially set up its operations in Thurcroft, Yorkshire, before relocating to Dinnington, Yorkshire. Biota specialized in producing lightweight sports cars based on the Mini platform.

The Biota sports car featured a space frame chassis, utilizing components from the Mini, including the front subframe and a trailing arm/coil spring rear suspension. Its design included a distinctive doorless fiberglass body, characterized by a prominent roll-over bar and a large bulge in the bonnet to accommodate the taller Mini engine. Weighing only 8 cwt (approximately 400 kg), the Biota was known for its impressive performance, particularly in hill climb events.

In 1972, the company introduced the Mk2 model, which featured a De Dion rear suspension and a larger cockpit for improved driver comfort. Throughout its production run, approximately 35 units of the Biota were manufactured, marking a brief but notable chapter in the history of British sports cars.