Practically Classics Forum

Bondage does nowt for me!

And whilst over on Autoshite.... saw this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-Mini-1 ... _240wt_958

Just as well some late minis have the rear valence welded to the flange at the boot lip or that thing would fold flat when the lid's open.
Prototype? Really? There's only one way to make a properly stiff mini with a hatch and that's by making the flap from slightly less than all of the shell's structural bits in a oner, like so:


Better yet, leave a small lip across the bottom to maintain rigidity, like this one which isn't Ringo's drum carrier but looks a wee bit similar:

that one from aronline's massive and most useful image stash.

Or think outside the box, this one is probably less than stiff but at least it has some corners to prevent the sides folding flat:


Removing the rear bulkhead isn't the wisest thing to do with a mini shell either, this is PEU again, with that lid open:


...but that one at least looks good and if it were only a) built out of GRP and b) on sale now for a stupidly low price, then I very much would!

So, assuming you are open to suggestions other than minis, this is largely fibreglass.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1986-FORD-TIC ... 1616387086

It may be a tad expensive though.

I remember seeing the Tickford Capri at the NEC motorshow in whichever year it was, maybe 1980? It was OK, but then a replica bodykit that lacked the same sort of flow as the original came along and suddenly, any shagged out Capri worth its salt was sporting these GRP bits as they were so good at hiding rotten sills, etc. and the MOT tester wasn't allowed to peel them off for a proper look. Beyond that I'm not really seeing the resemblance between that and a GRP monocoque mini but any picture of a Capri is better than none at all!

I have just found the perfect machine for you to use bringing your plastic mini home
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261733319493

Ah yes, that's well known to anyone who's anyone in the shady World of Reliant(s) and I'd imagine that Clive Microcar boy will be along shortly to explain to us how many rare German off road motorcycles were butchered to create the drive to the front wheel. They should have seen to the kingpin bushes when they were in about at the thing, look at that unevenly worn tyre; inexcusable that is!

(Sorry Dave, but you built it for sh*ts & giggles and looking at it now is providing just that! )

classic morris mini 850 1973

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/classic-morri ... 418ec01214

Steel bodies both, so not really my kind of minis, though I do like the kit car. Is it a Whitby Warrior or a Yak?