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A Long Time Standing , 1982 Mayfair

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#1 vortexjim

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Posted 15 August 2013 - 10:48 AM

Ok , 

 

I thought It was about time I started my own thread rather than just lurking in the background viewing everyone else's work.  Congrats to everyone that has posted on here , there are some truly fantastic builds that provide loads of great advice and inspiration. 

 

 

So the background : I loved minis from as far back as I can remember. When I was 17 I bout an "A" plate Mayfair project that someone had already butchered , further examination once home proved the car was just a wreck and good for nothing except maybe a trailer/bbq ...I then bought a rolling rally shell form one of my dads friends for £50 , it had 6x10 alloys , roll cage , good subbys and a quick rack . I stupidly then forgot about them , moved out from home only to find when I went home one weekend that my dad had scrapped them for me !!!!! I'm still furious 18 years on.

So that takes me to this :) . I first bought this Mini back When I was 18/19 for £40 it needed a rear subframe and a patch to the floor for the mot. I absolutely LOVED it ... I used it for 2 years , looked after it , serviced it, drove it sensibly *ahem* but I could never quite afford to do the things I wanted to do to it but after the first two years I needed something bigger/more powerful and bought a mk3 Cavalier ... biggest mistake EVER .  I then sold the mini to a friends brother for £150 , It needed more welding for the mot , new tyres and I just couldn't afford it. So she was gone to be done up for his wife to learn to drive in.... 

In 2004 I bumped in to this friend and got the chance to buy it back for £50 , apparently his brother had done loads of work on it :s .... this is what I bought back 
36954_414659796215_1588678_n_zps492dc884

(notice the grill? it's a childs hospital bed headboard it was now also missing the alloys/stainless exhaust / all my fancy interior bits and bobs and no working electrics and 5 shades of green and black)

 

So with all good intentions I got it working and drove it back to my dads the same day . Straight away I set about cutting off the front wings and planning out all the new panels , mods and accessories I was going to buy for it.

It then sat in the exact same position for 9 years , due to growing up (hmmm) , having kids and work commitments and with every year I think dad threatened to scrap it at least 3 times. 

IMG_6761_zpsc10bdd92.jpg

 

 

Until yesterday :) I've been pricing up panels for the last couple of months and searching through the forums and image searching on how I want this to look. Ideas are still rough at the moment however yesterday a conscious effort was made to get started.  
 

As you'd expect the brakes were seized solid and by solid I mean I had to smash off the front drums ( ohh well , disc conversion ) , rear drums came off with a gentle persuasion
All rubbish and mouldy interior was removed and now finally back in pride of place in the workshop. 

I want and need this done for IMM2014 , I would love to make L2B 2014 but I we'll see....Also living in the north of Scotland these events require some planning .

Sorry for all the rambling but thanks for looking and I will update as often as I can...

 

mini2_zpsb3faf757.jpg

mini3_zpsd841ad2d.jpgIMG_6778_zps1073fad5.jpg

IMG_6782_zps845b6475.jpgIMG_6764_zps1eaa7f3d.jpg

mini1_zps2c5dbeae.jpg

 



#2 alex-95

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Posted 15 August 2013 - 11:04 AM

Look's like it's going to be a good project, What are your rough plans for it? Keeping it the same colour?



#3 vortexjim

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Posted 15 August 2013 - 11:18 AM

Thanks Alex , 

 

to be honest a lot is still undecided ... but I do know that I've never liked that green lol... I've always wanted a black mini but I've recently seen a really nice dark blue and I suppose it depends on how much input I give the other half ( shudders ) ....

 

it'll have a dark interior ( I have non trustworthy kids )

 

I know I want it sitting on 6 x 10's with adjustable camber brackets front and rear and lowered slightly.

 

it'll have a stage one if I keep it 998cc but being old now I don't really have to worry about engine size so if the right engine crops up at the right price throughout the build I might put in a 1275 or bigger .... non of this redtop or vtec conversion though.

 

I think the most important thing for me to do once the body work is out the way will be front brake conversion and see how it goes from there...



#4 adampat84

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Posted 15 August 2013 - 11:40 AM

Now it is started keep the momentum going! we need to keep as many minis alive as possible!


Edited by adampat84, 15 August 2013 - 11:41 AM.


#5 olds_kool_lews

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Posted 15 August 2013 - 12:08 PM

Looks pretty decent for a mini thats stood outside for a long time! Should be a quick turn around on the bodywork!

#6 vortexjim

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Posted 15 August 2013 - 01:01 PM

Cheers , just off to go and do a few more bits and bobs now. Get the glass out , doors off and spray some penetrating fluid over everything else that needs removed. 

Will definitely keep the momentum going this time. I'm on the lookout for another as a project for my 13 year old daughter ... the next 4 years will fly past I'm sure so she best get learning :)



#7 Sleeping Park Lane

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Posted 15 August 2013 - 04:18 PM

Wow - that's been sitting untouched even longer than my Park Lane! :D

 

Good luck with it.

 

Nice workshop space too; I take it from the English wheel that someone's good at fabricating bodywork?



#8 rally515

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Posted 15 August 2013 - 04:23 PM

Following this and looking forward to your progress updates

 

That grille in the first pictur looks different ;), also please can i buy your english wheel ???????????????????? :D

 

Cheers

Cliff



#9 Zeemax Adventure

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Posted 15 August 2013 - 05:37 PM

Great project. Again does'nt look too bad for the time its been stood, but you've still got your work cut out.  My new project is being delivered monday but i've had enough of rust on past projects so hoping for a bit less this time.  Fingers crossed my 2000 cooper sport only needs a front end :s



#10 vortexjim

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Posted 15 August 2013 - 09:18 PM

Thanks guys I will try my best to deliver some good result s :)

Re: the English wheel ... I honestly should have no excuse for this build to be poor quality as my father is a professional panel beater and fabricator to trade. Spent most of his life building E types, D types, and countless other classics from sheet aluminium to perfection. However growing up I/we never worked well together in a work environment and I didnt really learn the trade.
Years past and unfortunately due to ill health he has had to quit this line of work completely and I'm sat wishing I'd stuck in and learned all I could.

#11 Archived4

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Posted 15 August 2013 - 10:26 PM

Awesome! Nice workshop too! Looking forward to seeing it progress



#12 vortexjim

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Posted 25 August 2013 - 11:43 AM

Sorry for lack of updates, been a hectic week. 

First week back at work and nackered my back on the first day... (never good)...

Kids went back to school and of course came back with bugs and germs from all the other midget people...

 

however:

got the windows, doors and bootlid removed

headlining gone 

dash rail gone

front shocks heated up and free'd off

everything engine wise disconnected ready to drop front subby maybe later today or tomorrow

 

been working on a spit aswell which will be made up from two previously made metal trellis frames. it's not going to be the most conventional of designs but "adapt and overcome" and all that...

 

pics to follow asap :) 







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