16 replies to this topic

[reez1891]

After spending 3 years re-shelling and restoring my 1979 Mini 1000 in the British Virgin Islands, she got destroyed in hurricane Irma, only a year after getting her back on the road. During our rest and recovery time in the UK my husband and I purchased a 1982 Clubman Estate shell with no front end, had a roundnose put on it at a garage in the UK and then shipped it out to the BVI to begin rebuilding.

 

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[reez1891]

Arrival in the BVI
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[reez1891]

The floors had already been replaced when we got the shell, but as well as the front end it needed new door skins, a rear quarter repair and some other bits. Most of these repairs were all done by NDM in Ightham, Kent ndmvintageandclassics.co.uk, although the doors were done by Shaun at Sevenoaks Minis.

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[reez1891]

The first thing to do was prep the shell, primed and then painted in Island Blue with an Old English White roof. This is all happening really quickly by the way, the shell arrived on the 10th of September. My husband had September off to build it, but the shipment was delayed by two weeks, so we are a bit behind schedule.

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[reez1891]

While the paint was drying the old car was brought in and the front subframe dropped out. As much as was possible was kept on the subframe, the estate shell was spun around to face the saloon (it's on a wheeled pallet), subframe turned around, cleaned, repainted and fitted straight onto the estate shell. The remaining items were stripped from the saloon's engine bay and the engine completed in the estate.

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[KTS]

a real shame about the saloon, and all the other carnage that Irma wrought in the area.

 

estate is looking very good - retaining the colour scheme is a nice touch !

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

That's coming on nicely.  A unique Mini estate. 

[reez1891]

Thanks, we've changed from Pageant Blue to Island Blue. Mostly because I felt we needed to take a small emotional step away from the saloon. She was my first car, I got her in 2003. I wanted to keep it blue though as we had reupholstered the seats in blue vinyl and the front ones are still useable.

[reez1891]

All lights have now been fitted, front bumper and front wheels are on (and off again and on again!). Wiring has been run along the inside of the roof to the back. We couldn't locate a frame for the headlining, so we took the rods out of the saloon and drilled new holes, so that they would fit where the channels are in the estate headlining. Fitting of the headlining has started, but we've realised that there are items of interior trim that hold it in place at the back and sides, so trying to decide what to do about that. The front windscreen is in, and rear side glass in one side only, as we are missing the exterior window frame on one side.

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[reez1891]

Handbrake, gearstick, number plates and front seats fitted. Had a bit of trouble with the rear subframe as bolts on both sides had sheared. Welded nuts onto them and attempted to remove, but they snapped again and eventually had to be drilled out. The subframe has been attached now and the exhaust is in place. The rear number plate is going to come off again and the mount will be sprayed blue at the same time that the seam strips get sprayed.

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Edited by reez1891, 03 October 2018 - 02:54 PM.

[reez1891]

The wheels that are on will be changed eventually, as we have a set of Revolutions for it.

 

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[reez1891]

We are finally finished with the saloon shell. I just want to drain the fuel out of the tank, so that I can have the petrol cap off of it, as it was a pretty new one.

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[reez1891]

We are waiting on exhaust fittings we can;t get the right clamps on island, and a window frame for the L/H rear, so that we can get the last of the glass in. The fuel tank is fitted, we'll be running the fuel and brake lines tomorrow. In the meantime, we got the back doors and number plate lights on, but we've been busy with work and training courses for the last couple of weeks.

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[Daviewonder]

That's a cool looking Mini. I like how you've gone to round nose with the Mk1 chrome.

[reez1891]

Work stalled for a while as my husband went back to work and i had a baby. He's managed to get a few bits done recently though. We bought a rear window frame on ebay and shipped it here. Carpets, front and rear seats and seat belts installed. It needed to be moved and had to be towed, it won't start, not sure why yet. Thinking a problem with the carburettor. 

 

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