Streched mini

[clarkey31]

Hi all i have been asked by one of my customer if we would build a streached mini for them to use for function

Have seen a pics of them done and some look quite good the ones i have seen are on standard plate.. i would have thought it would need an sva and go on a q plate any one shed some light on this would be good.

Have got a few idea on how i would add the extra chassis strenth but any suggestion would be welcome..

 

[Tupers]

Anything done nowadays would need to go through an SVA test and would end up on a Q or similar plate.

Most of the ones I've seen done have had something along the lines of 2x4" rectangular section welded to the sills on the inside and some smaller square section inside the sill cavity.

 

[stuvy]

british transport police did a massive crack down on these in london a few years back taking 300 vehicles off the road.

However, there is a stretch limo mini up the road from my parents when im over friday il pop over and get the guys contact number for you

 

[madkayaker]

Might be worth. Heckling but if you keep the rest standard you still have the 8 points needed to avoided sva and keep registration http://webarchive.nationalarchives....llingAVehicle/RegisteringAVehicle/DG_10014199

 

[octo0072000]

limo

i like this one

http://www.booklimo.co.uk/mini-limo-fotos.php

 

[madkayaker]

Forget that have found better info http://www.the-ace.org.uk/chassis-and-monocoque-modification/

 

[pedrobedro]

Have seen a pics of them done and some look quite good the ones i have seen are on standard plate.. i would have thought it would need an sva and go on a q plate any one shed some light on this would be good.

New Mini or Classic Mini ? Whatever you do to the chassis it will have to pass a test and it's a bit stricter and a lot more expensive than SVA used to be. You might qualify for an age related plate instead of a Q plate or even retain the original plate if you don't add too much.

 

[clarkey31]

thanks for the coments so far guy it would be a classic mini not a modern one, had kind of gathered it would need sva or iva which ever it is, i am more than happy about that really as atleast they can sign off everything i do the cost of the test will just get added on tot the cost of the job.

 

[octo0072000]

more minis

here you are loads of pic's classic mini limo wedding cars

http://www.stretchmini.co.uk/gallery.asp

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Have you thought about simply grafting the body to an exisitng rolling chassis of suitable length ? Maybe a motorhome item. That way registration would just be a rebody as long as chassis kept original and thus no IVA test required.

paul hy

 

[Robotstar5]

Have you thought about simply grafting the body to an exisitng rolling chassis of suitable length ? Maybe a motorhome item. That way registration would just be a rebody as long as chassis kept original and thus no IVA test required.

Something along the lines of the Limokopter

 

[Shox Dr]

^^ I watched that program, quite interesting for a Discovery prog

 

[ibrooks]

Have seen a pics of them done and some look quite good the ones i have seen are on standard plate.. i would have thought it would need an sva and go on a q plate any one shed some light on this would be good.

Just because a car goes through IVA does not mean it will end up with a Q-plate. Some of the stretches out there will have gone through IVA and some won't.

There is some discussion as to whether stretches need to undergo IVA - and this is withing VOSA/DVLA, not just people building them and trying to find loopholes to avoid it. Seems crazy I know but that's just the sort of organisations they are.

I know a guy who wants to build one and he's been told categorically that it won't need to go through IVA by the local VOSA inspector (who looks at the rally cars he builds for similar registration purposes - he builds them for a living).

I actually know a Mini that would be the perfect basis for this sort of thing for anyone wanting to avoid IVA. It's registration document states that it is a Rover Mini Sprite but that it's date of first registration is in 2003 (last ones rolled off the line in 2000) and that it's a 4-door saloon. I've stripped and re-built that car and I've never seen the extra two doors. It was imported from Ireland to Northern Ireland in 2003 and I think the local registration office had been to the pub for lunch on the day it's paperwork came across their desks. If you were to stretch it you wouldn't have to talk very fast to convince anyone asking any questions that it was a legit and properly declared/registered stretch.

Iain

 

[octo0072000]

with the IVA SVA etc if the chassis is altered between the wheelbase then it's IVA etc
a bit cut off the front or back with no alteration to wheelbase is ok
this is from the landrover boys the last VOSA inspector i had to inspect a pajero for a dodgy test couldn't even find the fear fog lamp and failed it even though the fog lamp switch was marked there was 2 switches side by side one rear fogs one front fogs (front fogs missing) he pressed the wrong switch
both front shockers lower bushes missing metal on metal that's not a fail but advisory VOSA just a joke

 

[rtcosic]

We have an ongoing project that will need an IVA.

It is not a 'stretch' but nevertheless the biggest problem is proving to be the weight budget.

It is not practical to 're-rate' the OEM's weight limits for the 'axles'. We have found that for passenger cars the OEM will usually state axle weight maxima as the actual weight of the vehicle plus fuel plus 75kg for each passenger* including luggage plus, if relevant, their stated nose weight for towing. Usually that leaves very little if any margin to play with.

We have added considerable weight due to strengthening as you will need to do for a stretch. We have the opportunity to offset this by removing trim, electric windows, air-con, ICE, radically reducing fuel tank size, tiny battery, substituting large heavy 'luxurious' powered seats for light simple ones (from a Mini as it happens) etc, etc.

Much harder to do this in a Mini which is already rather basic.

We regret not going for a three-axle jobbie, or starting with a Land-Rover or older Transit Chassis now.


Just checked this link http://www.booklimo.co.uk/mini-limo-fotos.php that's why they have gone down the three axle route. I strongly recommend that you tell your prospective client that it will need to be a three axle job.


I'm in Milford Haven - PM me if you want to discuss further, have confidential access to our extensive correspondence with VOSA on these issues etc.



* Yes really! The most amusing one in our fleet is the Mk2 MX-5. The difference between unladen and laden weight shown on the data plate is exactly 150kg. Add 2 normal sized sons each around 80 kgs and the vehicle is overloaded before you've added any luggage! Substitute either of smaller sons with the largest one and it's far worse! I checked recently and we have NO adult males under 75kg in the entire family!

 

[Robotstar5]

The most amusing one in our fleet is the Mk2 MX-5. The difference between unladen and laden weight shown on the data plate is exactly 150kg. Add 2 normal sized sons each around 80 kgs and the vehicle is overloaded before you've added any luggage! Substitute either of smaller sons with the largest one and it's far worse! I checked recently and we have NO adult males under 75kg in the entire family!

Looks like a marketing opportunity for Mazda, free gym membership with every MX-5

 

[clarkey31]

Cheers for all the info and imput so far, i have put some details over to the the buyer and waiting for some specs back from them