Installment #1 8th March 2016
I recently spotted a Mini back end on the local Gumtree freebie ads and, by quick action, was able to get it the following day in the next town. The guy had got a whole shell for parts and had cut it in two, intending to make a barbeque out of the front end, but was having to move house so was clearing out. He told me he'd had about 6 replies since mine so I can consider myself very lucky to get this, as Mini shells are now as rare as hen's teeth around here.
I did a rebuild of a Mini starting in September 2009 and finishing in March 2013 - look up "Total Mini Rebuild of a 1983 Mini 1000" and you'll see the car that I'm doing this trailer for.
The half shell is a major rust bucket with holes and patches everywhere joined up by rust and also has dents on both side panels which I could well have done without. However my original Mini project wasn't much better so I'm going ahead regardless.
Here are a couple of pics the day after I brought it home.
In this second pic you can see the 'raw material' sheet steel (computer, boiler & washing machine panels) in the background
First job was to cut off the roof so I could easily turn the shell upside down to get a good look at it ;:-
Someone had started a repair on one of the side panels and had cut away the bottom of it, (I'll have to do this on the other side anyway) :-
Also some neat welding on of a cheapo aftermarket rear valence ! :-
And two very nicely cut 6 x 9 speaker holes ! :-
Started by removing the rear valence (and associated 'patches') in such a way as to save the panel as I intend to repair and re-use it :-
Then, by way of relief, scraped off what remained of the floor and side panel sound deadening 'felt' :-
Back to the sheetmetal, cut out the battery box and removed the overhanging part of the seat base together with entire seat back and parcel shelf, (still to remove spot welded flanges on floor and wheel arches in this pic.)
Well, that'll do to begin with - hope this meets with general approval as it's certainly not the first time this has been done here on the forums but my 'take' on things might turn out to be a bit different.....