My 1962 mini so far

[Daz1968]

I have joined recently but have been working on a mk1 mini for a while now, welding basically complete now and waiting for weather to improve to get some more painting done. It needed inner and outer sills, some floor repairs including in boot and a full front end as well as heel board replacement. A couple of latest pics.

And one of the full skirt front panel mod required for pre 1964 cars.

Not a perfect concourse restoration but hoping to keep it as near to original as possible

underside

 

[Piero]

Its looking very good.
I had many years of fun owning and driving quite a few early type mini s
Keep going with it and the photos

 

[Daz1968]

Thanks, I have this a 850 deluxe 1962 and a 1968 mk2 cooper, but need to get this one finished as the cooper has been off the road a while but just needs a bit of tlc not a restoration. Just been out of the messing with cars mood for a while. Getting the bug again now so am glad I didn't get rid of everything.

 

[Epicyclic]

Nice job by the look of it, well done, Mini's are great!
Wish I still had my '68 mk2 Cooper, old english white with a black roof, blended flared arches, lowered with rear minifin's and Mambas wheels. 998 TBR built and tuned engine on 2 x 1 1/2" SU's, LCB etc. Inside was standard except for a Leyland competition recliner.
Happy days....

 

[johniban]

how did you get it on its roof?

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

Car spit or on a mattress, A bare mini shell weighs nothing

 

[Wallace]

Car spit or on a mattress, A bare mini shell weighs nothing

Looking at the fit and finish of those panels in the photos I doubt a matress irrespective of the shell weight.

 

[Daz1968]

The upside down pics were taken when it was on a scaffold pole, as early minis have a hole identical to bulkhead speedometer hole in the rear seat back, so easy to run a pole through and make up some brackets to secure in the holes, then a couple of frames with a couple of discs with holes in at one end so it can be locked in any position, I have since taken it off the spit now working on the front end as the pole prevented me fitting bonnet and lining up front panels. Will probably put it back on the spit to spray the underside almond green. I used magnum front end panels and although not perfect they fitted with little hassle. Most other panels were from mini machine as they do some very good panels and there inner and outer sills are superb.i am just lucky with how solid this shell was have seen far worse. But thanks for comments will add some more as I complete it. It will never be concourse as I haven't the skills to do it that good, but hoping for a good solid and useable mk1 mini,
Some of my earlier repairs I used a joggled lap joint but as I got a bit more confident with welding I started butt joining everything. It's the filling and flatting I am trying to get good at now, but won't apply any top coat till I am happy with it. Best way to polish up your skills as minis are quite cheap to restore panels are widely available and plenty of info on forums.

 

[Sean]

The upside down pics were taken when it was on a scaffold pole, as early minis have a hole identical to bulkhead speedometer hole in the rear seat back, so easy to run a pole through and ,,,.

And allows for comedy moments pulling skis etc out the boot !

my first car was a Clubman saloon and it had a large hole in the seat back allowing the insertion of christmas trees and the like

 

[KemppiFrog]

That is nice... Very tidy work. Reminds me of two projects from the 60s. First, my brother wrote off his 997 cooper when he avoided a twit and hit a kerb with the gearbox. Bought a new shell and subframe and completely rebuilt it. Used a (crude) spit to to paint the shell. Then bought an BMC 1100 engine (cheap) and swapped the crank for the shorter stroke 998 Cooper one. The bores are the same and the engines were give away. Did a few more mods and it was as quick as a standard 1275 S.
The other was more interesting: Bought an early shell, they were 40lbs lighter due to thinner metal. Deseamed all the vertical joins (not the best way to learn gas welding...) and fitted another 998 (ex 1100) rebuild. Amal carb and the old 731 rally cam with an ex F3 head. No trim, plastic windows and Lotus Elite seats (friend at Lotus) Suspension modded for negative camber at the front and an anti roll bar at the back. Spax adjustable shocks all round. Would go 7000rpm with the twin chain cam set up. It would out drag my brother's next car, a Downton modded 1275 S, But, as a daily drive, was a bit noisy inside. Plus, dispite looking mild, was a police magnet. I asked one lot why? Well, they said, the reg is out of sequence and it looks interesting enough for a pull. I was offered an Alpine for little money. Bought it and was never stopped again. Restored that and bought a Ginetta. Nicest handling car I have owned.

The Mini? no market then for odd modded ones. Sold the engine for peanuts and scrapped the body.
If I had it now, I would lose my licence in a month
KF

 

[Exuptoy]

Very nice work. I love my minis until I buy one and first catch my head on the bonnet and scream "aargh why the f*** did I buy one of these"