25 replies to this topic

[uksurvivor]

Ok so a moment of Ebay madness and I'm now the proud owner of a rare but frankly Fugly mini that once again is in need of a fair amount of work before it can be submitted for an MOT etc....

I'm yet to see the paperwork or VIN tags either which is slightly worrying having handed over my hard earned to a guy operating out of a dodgy looking yard in Forest Gate! The chassis is rolling (towed home with an A frame) and the front subrfame and suspension / brakes have clearly been replaced recently (I would say as part of a project started but not finished). The rear has a beam axle and coilovers off a motorbike and again, backplates appear to have had a refurb and new pipes are in place.

Overall the fiberglass is showing its age but then it is 35 years old... I suspect that at some stage it was blue as there are patches showing through. I also stupidly left the front valence there but as I've arranged to go back and get the engines and paperwork I'm hoping it'll still be there next time I visit!

I've propped the bench seat in it and sat inside and it is TINY (I am 6'2" though) so I'll need to figure out how I'm going to fit in it! Got some very wierd looks on the way home and I was only towing it - god knows what it'll be like to drive.

On the plus side NO WELDING and no rust

Watch this space....

[guywithvan]

i had a lil look at this,i had a top gear moment and thought chuck a outboard motor on the back don a life jacket and hit the waves ,will be a very interesting project im sure

[Ethel]

Nana na, na na nah.......

[uksurvivor]

Nana na, na na nah.......

White and pink looks good

Edit - Just found a set of 5 6X10 Cobra Supa Slots round the back of the garage (I think they've been there for about 15 years as I'm not that keen on the style) but Stimsons used to have 6x10's (special 4 spoke wellars I believe) - is the SupaSlot 1970's? about the right era????? Anyone????

Edited by uksurvivor, 09 October 2009 - 04:13 PM.

[uksurvivor]

I've been doing plenty of research tonight and some of the mini bugs seem to be on Q plates whilst others are on age related plates.... What is the difference?

If mine turns out to be a q plate can it still be tax exempt if I can prove its year of manufacture??? ie the donor car is newer but the shell is pre 73??

[Ethel]

Q plates are for cars of indeterminable age. To qualify for an age related plate you'd have to use a new body with all the major components from one donor (the plate would match the age of the donor). If your buggy was built before the regs came in to place, it could have just been reshelled and kept the original registration. I guess you could try and get tax exemption if you can make a case that it was built before 73 but I think they call it a concession not an entitlement, so they get the last word.

[mwalsh]

I love the Mini Bug. I don't know if you seen this one before, but it is without question the coolest one in the world:

[uksurvivor]

I love the Mini Bug. I don't know if you seen this one before, but it is without question the coolest one in the world:

Have you got any other pictures of that one from different angles? I've found that piccy on the net too but I'm not sure I'd want to modify the original panels as heavily as that given its rarity and current originality.....

[mwalsh]

Have you got any other pictures of that one from different angles? I've found that piccy on the net too but I'm not sure I'd want to modify the original panels as heavily as that given its rarity and current originality.....

I'd have to go back through my old Mini mags to find the write-up I scanned that photo from. I will scan the whole thing for you, if I can find it.

[uksurvivor]

Have you got any other pictures of that one from different angles? I've found that piccy on the net too but I'm not sure I'd want to modify the original panels as heavily as that given its rarity and current originality.....

I'd have to go back through my old Mini mags to find the write-up I scanned that photo from. I will scan the whole thing for you, if I can find it.

Much appreciated if you would (or even let me know which issue number so I can get a back copy)... There's not much info out there on these things....

[mwalsh]

Much appreciated if you would (or even let me know which issue number so I can get a back copy)... There's not much info out there on these things....

Found it. Cover headline for the article was "The Weirdest Kit Car Ever!" . Mini Magazine, November, 2001.

Will try to get it scanned at work during the next couple of days.

Edited by mwalsh, 11 October 2009 - 11:30 PM.

[mwalsh]

Will try to get it scanned at work during the next couple of days.

Files are up:

http://www.responsiv...m/minibug/1.pdf
http://www.responsiv...m/minibug/2.pdf
http://www.responsiv...m/minibug/3.pdf
http://www.responsiv...m/minibug/4.pdf
http://www.responsiv...m/minibug/5.pdf


They are between 6 and 9mb each, and feature one page of the article. Sorry about the sizes, but this scanner is designed for publishing so they don't generally care whether the files are big or not.

Please try to get them downloaded within the next week or so - I've had to steal storage space from one of the sites we run, since my own space is already chocka.

[minitiae]

By amazing coincidence, there's a Mini Bug advertised today on Belfast Gumtree ads for £650 ! (no pic unfortunately). You don't here of, or see one for 20 years and then two come along the same day I noticed this thread! Staggering!

Edited by minitiae, 12 October 2009 - 06:58 PM.

[uksurvivor]

Gumtree link if anyone is interested...

Never started a craze before

[bananaman]

I've got the four spoke 6x10 wellers they fitted to these, very cool looking too, and different from your usual eight spoke jobbies.

They came fitted on my Scampie project car.