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Mini Shell


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#1 Fish Lord

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Posted 16 January 2006 - 10:52 PM

After flicking through numerous mags and websites advertising every panel (It seems) for the Mini, I have to ask the question....

Could you make up a whole mini shell by yourself from the individual parts?

Has anyone ever done it?

Would you need special jigs?

I know it would probably be dearer than a heritage one but then again you wouldn't have to shell out (no pun intended!!) in one lump sum and you would have the satisfaction of saying "I built that car from scratch"

It's a thought that has been nagging me for ages.

#2 mini1976

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Posted 16 January 2006 - 11:02 PM

Im pretty sure that the mini shell is built on jigs to get it striaght and the right shape. Also the roof isnt just spotwelded on its like a spot welder but with rollers so you get a continues weld to make the roof water tight and add strength. Im guessing that that part might be very difficult to achive without the proper sort of welder

#3 Bristolmini

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Posted 16 January 2006 - 11:03 PM

You probably could, but without all the jigs and stuff getting it all lined up right would be an absolute nightmare. The result would probably be nowhere near as good as a complete shell.

The cost of all the panels and the cost and time of welding would be so much more than buying a complete shell that you could probably buy it on a credit card and pay it off over a couple of years anyway for the same money.

The satisfaction however would be good.

#4 The Roadie

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Posted 16 January 2006 - 11:49 PM

Could you make up a whole mini shell by yourself from the individual parts?

No. Its not a Land Rover!
Well at least not a very good one, unless you broke into Longbridge at night and robbed all the stuff :grin:
Get some extra shifts/overtime and graft my man. Don't go out so much. Soon pay for a new shell. There is a huge satisfaction on that.

#5 Dan

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Posted 17 January 2006 - 12:34 AM

Your homebuilt shell would have no legal 'identity'. It wouldn't technically be able to be registered with that shell unless it was SVA tested (which a Mini pretty much wouldn't pass). If you start with a rotten shell and repair one panel at a time then it's fine but building the whole thing from scratch wouldn't be. Funny quirk of the rules but that's how I understand it. It would be the same as any other homebuilt car.

#6 The Matt

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Posted 17 January 2006 - 08:18 AM

aren't there a few panels they still don't produce (I am sure I read that you can't get new roof panels for instance)???

#7 Jammy

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Posted 17 January 2006 - 11:02 AM

They produce every panel needed to make the salloon (Mk3 onwards I think??), and the Clubman body, otherwise how would BMC be able to make and sell the bodyshells themselves??

I think the panels can't make are the van roofs, and possible parts of the pickup load bay?

#8 The Roadie

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Posted 17 January 2006 - 11:28 AM

Also the bulkhead in the pickup - basically the back of the cab with the window in.
Can tell a shniiiiiideee van a mile away from the the slanty rear end and the rear bulkhead.

#9 Fish Lord

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Posted 17 January 2006 - 02:04 PM

Thanks for all the replies.

I had no plans to build one from scratch.

Just wondered if it was possible.

I will just struggle on repairing my sieve......!!!

#10 hayman9644

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Posted 17 January 2006 - 02:22 PM

Very interesting idea. Could you not make plywood jigs from a factory car and then make the "parts car"? It would be alot of work But so is constantly chasing rust.




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