4 replies to this topic

[edsmini]

what made you build or buy your Zcars mini? and where did you first hear about them?

personaly i had seen the monte carlo at the autosport show a few years back whilst i was building my dax rush, i could hardly see the monte at the show due to the public interest in the mini. So once i finished the rush and drove it for 6 months i sold it and ordered my Zcars kit and no regrets in selling my rush, the mini is much more of a buzz to drive.

Ed

[cptkirk]

I saw an article that I think was in Miniworld when they had put a bike engine in the back fo a mini in about 2004/5 and was gutted because that was exactly what I was planning to do once I could get some cash together. Then I went to the Autosport show (drove up in my Accord Type R) to get ideas and parts for a buggy I was designing and it was there that I saw the Zcars stand and that they were now putting VTEC's in the minis and as a then current driver of a Type R VTEC I was hooked. I somehow managed to talk the wife into letting me get one.

I am not going to sugar coat my build, it was at some points an absolute nightmare, what with delays on the kit being fitted (9months late - paid in Jan, arranged to collect in Mar/Apr, got it in October, sent it back as things werent right, got it back in November), a new engine as the original had been full of water and a whole list of issues that would be too boring to list.

HOWEVER, with all that said and done I can say that I managed to overcome all the problems along the way, I built the car starting with little/no experience and now have a fair amount of experience in building cars. I still love driving it and it makes me grin from ear to ear everytime I step on the loud pedal.

The thing for me is that cars like Ed's old Rush, some other kit cars or uber expensive supercars are all known to be fast so people expect them to be so, they dont expect a mini to be as fast as a supercar (well up a certain speed anyway) and thats what I love about mine.

[Alburglar]

I wanted some reliable horsepower and didn't fancy rebuilding an A series every year. So I made some enquiries with chris, he said they were doing filming for a DVD at curborough sprint track which was half way between me and hull, which meant a 7hour round trip instead of 12! I met them up there and it turned out that they were filming the ultimate mini DVD! With the holeshot (at the time) busa turbo mini and an R1 mini, which chris took me out in, I was sold. I signed a cheque there and then.

...my kit got delivered, I prepped my metal shell ready for the kit, with the minus as my daily driver, then my £3000 1380 lost oil pressure, it turned out a washer from the diff area in my £1500 gearbox went hurtling around the gearbox and engine oil ways. Facing an expensive rebuild on a year old setup, and knowing that I couldn't afford to run both cars once finished I made another call to zcars. Sold the metal shell ready for a z's kit for good money - where is she now? and then sold my 1380 and gearbox after a rebuild, 12hour round trip to hull with my kit and my minus shell and the kit was cut to suit the lower minus shell.

Edited by Alburglar, 27 May 2011 - 05:14 PM.

[Shadyfox]

I wanted some reliable horsepower and didn't fancy rebuilding an A series every year. So I made some enquiries with chris, he said they were doing filming for a DVD at curborough sprint track which was half way between me and hull, which meant a 7hour round trip instead of 12! I met them up there and it turned out that they were filming the ultimate mini DVD! With the holeshot (at the time) busa turbo mini and an R1 mini, which chris took me out in, I was sold. I signed a cheque there and then.

...my kit got delivered, I prepped my metal shell ready for the kit, with the minus as my daily driver, then my £3000 1380 lost oil pressure, it turned out a washer from the diff area in my £1500 gearbox went hurtling around the gearbox and engine oil ways. Facing an expensive rebuild on a year old setup, and knowing that I couldn't afford to run both cars once finished I made another call to zcars. Sold the metal shell ready for a z's kit for good money - where is she now? and then sold my 1380 and gearbox after a rebuild, 12hour round trip to hull with my kit and my minus shell and the kit was cut to suit the lower minus shell.

It all started in 1980,s must have been 13 years old my dad bought a 1959 Austin Mini with a 1430cc Oselli built A series this was fast (we still have the car) of some friends of mine, 5 brothers who are car mad, one of them was building a rear engine Mini. I remember it going down our road as a kid it scarred me for life, I all ways wanted one then about 3 years ago I said to my Dad about getting the MK1 back on the road we had some crazy quotes for a rebuild, I didn’t have an option or the time to build my own car. I had always kept tabs on what Zcars were up to, I was 40 last year no regrets I had been to Ascari with my mates on a track day last June, I was hooked, so week so later called Chris at Zcars flew back to the UK went to the big boys toy shop in Hull he gave me tour and the options of what was what bike or Vtec powered, I just had to get one I bought his personal car (nº98)had throttle bodies fitted stuck it on the dyno, it was delivered 15th Sept last year best thing I’ve done for a long time, it puts the biggest smile on my face every time I drive it.

A moment to remember my old man’s 1st trip in the car his 1st words were “f**k me kid you’ve bought a race car”


Chalk and cheese no turning back

You only live once!!

[drayton min man]

I,ve been involved in motorsport all my life and i mean all my life, pushchair upwards!! Autograss has got a lot to answer for, my parents and uncle are the fouders of our local club (North Shropshire) Now at the age of 42 and being brought up repairing Jags, zephers, 105E etc i was hooked on the sport being brought up through the ranks with standard minis and then on to the larger ranks, It was here that i got to Know Chris possibly 25years ago.

You could say i had a mid life crisis, knocked grassing on the head and built a buas westfield just before Chris became mainstream with his kits, bugger!! But as you say once you have that 1st test ride theres no turning back, and as Andy quite rightly says you have to be prepared for a couple of set backs but it is well worth it.

All i can say anybody consinering building/buying a kit just do it you wont be disapointed.

Geoff