53 replies to this topic

[nuclear_mini]

So back in 2005 my father and I got this mini. We were planning on rebuilding it together as a bonding exercise and end up with something we would both enjoy blasting around in. With my dad i started stripping the car. Unfortunately, we didn't get far into the strip down when he had a heart attack and died.

Over the past f years I have done bits on the car however I have never been able to get stuck into it as it was tough to continue on alone. Now 7 years on I feel as though I should finish the car so that my children will grow up with something that I can say was started off by my dad and theirs.

The stripped down van:









Now whilst the rust wasn't bad in the scheme of uk cars, it was/is pretty stuffed for a mini over here... So I built a rotisserie for it:





And up she goes:

[nuclear_mini]

The next step was to start on the floors...




In with the new....





I'm sure you can see what was a hodge job I initially did on the rear floors... They came out and I put new ones in. Unfortunately there is no where in Aus that sells new van floors, and I hadn't bought anything from overseas before, so I used saloon floors and had to cut the rear pockets out of the panel and replace with new metal.

I also had a new exhaust tunnel made up from sheet metal and welded it in.

[nuclear_mini]

[nuclear_mini]

So now I have started the parts and panel collection:






The new panels are from the uk. Hurray, I found the wonderful world of buying parts from the uk. Sooo much cheaper than buying in aus at the moment.

[nuclear_mini]

I'm starting to rebuild the subframes and these bad boys turn up from minitastic!

[nuclear_mini]

The van in its new home...



Stripping the underseal/deader off the rear deck floor

[PNL629G]

Nice looking project and good work on the floors!

Edited by PNL629G, 26 December 2012 - 10:35 AM.

[nuclear_mini]

Cheers mate. I'll be posting up heaps more pics and updates over the coming weeks and months. Finally getting traction with this build.

[Old Bob]

There is a good message for all of us in this thread because none of us knows what will happen in the future so best to grab the day while you can. And if you can leave good family memories, then you really will have done something right in life.

Good luck with the build - it looks as though it is going well.

Bob

[nuclear_mini]

Cheers Old Bob. Death unfortunately seems to be the only thing that brings true perspective...

[ginsters]

Brilliant build looking forward to it coming together!

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Very nice build mate. Cant wait to see more

[nuclear_mini]

So I got down to the garage this afternoon and got some more deadner stripped off.



Got a set of rebuilt door hinges



One of the things on clubbys that make or break them is the grille. Before the work started...



Paint stripped



Into the chemicals in the laundry to remove thE anodizing


Stay tuned for the polish and paint

[Minidarren83]

Good luck with the build looks like it will be a crackin van when you have done and it will mean something to you when it's done

[olds_kool_lews]

Ahhhh a proper clubvan! Heres my uk version i built last year for inspiration...



Keep up the good work!