21 replies to this topic

[Calderwood]

Looking at a Mini Cooper up on auto-trader at the moment, looks promising in all ways except it is a 'q plate'. Is this something that decreases the value of the car, in the way a cat c or d would? I have also heard they increase insurance premiums, anyone had experience there?

http://www.autotrade...s/200?logcode=p

Thanks

[mini-luke]

Very dodgy reasoning for the Q plate and way over priced, run a mile

[Shifty]

Not heard of that before, and it doesn't seem to make sense either.

The cars also hugely overpriced as well.

[mini-luke]

There is no logic at all, how would they even get the engine from a 90's Mini into a 70's kit car!

[Shifty]

If they could get a late low mileage lump to replace the one they got from the cooper, why not just use that in the kit car?

Nope, sounds hugely dodgy!!

[Bungle]

i would want to know it's history

many minis have replacement engines with out getting a Q plate

Edited by Bungle, 16 February 2013 - 10:39 PM.

[mini-luke]

I want to know how they managed to take the engine out of a 93 car in 73, that is some feat of time travel

[dow62]

Engine change equals a q plate, would be a awful lot of q plate cars out there. Nowt wrong if priced accordingly.

[surfblue63]

That Marcos story is daft, Q-Plates weren't around in 1973, they were introduced in 1983 when the reg plates changed from the suffix style (??? ***Y) to the prefix style (A*** ???).

However that Mini has been on a Q since 1993

The vehicle details for Q981 NYB are:
Date of Liability 09 11 2012
Date of First Registration 17 06 1993
Year of Manufacture 1993
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1300cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour RED
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available

Edited by surfblue63, 16 February 2013 - 11:54 PM.

[Shifty]

I'm assuming the '73 bit is a typo and really means '93?

Why not register the car, pull the lump and then sell with the other engine?

It just makes no sense at all?

[Calderwood]

I did think the Marcos story didn't add up, read it about 4 times to make sure i wasnt making a mistake and was still confused. And as for it being overpriced, obviously as its a dealer I'd hope to get some money off that price, but generally it seems difficult to find a rust free well maintained cooper for less than 2.75k (and those are the private sales). Thats why i was asking if it was in need of a discount for the q plate. Thanks for all the replies anyway.

[surfblue63]

Just done a quick search for the Mini Marcos

http://www.minimarco...g.uk/mmhmm.html

The depression in the late eighties caused a fall in demand for the more expensive Rover V8-engined Mantula, and Marcos looked to cheaper alternatives to fill the order book. The coupé body was adapted to use Ford Cortina Mk.IV parts and launched as the Martina, while in 1991, the Mini Marcos's Silver Jubilee year, and in response to considerable interest from Japan, the Mini Marcos was further updated and given a new lease of life.
The Mk.V had larger arches to accommodate 12" wheels (or 13" with low profile tyres) and a front air dam. Wind-up windows and the later push-button door locks were fitted, along with the rubber mounted front subframe, but the traditional Mk.1/2 Mini external door hinges were retained. A rear spoiler was available but few if any of these were sold.
Although only sold in the UK as a kit car, a number of fully built vehicles was made for export. For this purpose Marcos would purchase a complete Mini 1.3i, strip out the mechanical components and sell the steel shells. This proved to be cheaper and less hassle that attempting to obtain the necessary parts separately from Rover. An air conditioning unit was available, and was fitted under the dashboard on the passenger's side. In all ten cars were sold to Japan and several others went abroad.
Production of the Mk.V Mini Marcos continued until 1995. Although the company has ceased production of all component cars to concentrate on it's successful and more lucrative Mantara, LM500/600 and Mantis models. Two shells were produced for a French racing outfit, with the intention of more to follow. However this proved a false hope as apparently no finance was forthcoming.

In view of this I would guess that the car for sale is one of the spare 10 shells and had a used engine and mechanicals fitted to it. As the original car was probably not registered in the first place, and the shell was fitted with a second hand engine, it was not entirely new when registered. Perhaps they found an almost new write off and removed the mechanicals from that.

Edited by surfblue63, 17 February 2013 - 01:08 AM.

[Tamworthbay]

Just done a quick search for the Mini Marcos

http://www.minimarco...g.uk/mmhmm.html

The depression in the late eighties caused a fall in demand for the more expensive Rover V8-engined Mantula, and Marcos looked to cheaper alternatives to fill the order book. The coupé body was adapted to use Ford Cortina Mk.IV parts and launched as the Martina, while in 1991, the Mini Marcos's Silver Jubilee year, and in response to considerable interest from Japan, the Mini Marcos was further updated and given a new lease of life.
The Mk.V had larger arches to accommodate 12" wheels (or 13" with low profile tyres) and a front air dam. Wind-up windows and the later push-button door locks were fitted, along with the rubber mounted front subframe, but the traditional Mk.1/2 Mini external door hinges were retained. A rear spoiler was available but few if any of these were sold.
Although only sold in the UK as a kit car, a number of fully built vehicles was made for export. For this purpose Marcos would purchase a complete Mini 1.3i, strip out the mechanical components and sell the steel shells. This proved to be cheaper and less hassle that attempting to obtain the necessary parts separately from Rover. An air conditioning unit was available, and was fitted under the dashboard on the passenger's side. In all ten cars were sold to Japan and several others went abroad.
Production of the Mk.V Mini Marcos continued until 1995. Although the company has ceased production of all component cars to concentrate on it's successful and more lucrative Mantara, LM500/600 and Mantis models. Two shells were produced for a French racing outfit, with the intention of more to follow. However this proved a false hope as apparently no finance was forthcoming.

In view of this I would guess that the car for sale is one of the spare 10 shells and had a used engine and mechanicals fitted to it. As the original car was probably not registered in the first place, and the shell was fitted with a second hand engine, it was not entirely new when registered. Perhaps they found an almost new write off and removed the mechanicals from that.

Just done a quick search for the Mini Marcos

http://www.minimarco...g.uk/mmhmm.html

The depression in the late eighties caused a fall in demand for the more expensive Rover V8-engined Mantula, and Marcos looked to cheaper alternatives to fill the order book. The coupé body was adapted to use Ford Cortina Mk.IV parts and launched as the Martina, while in 1991, the Mini Marcos's Silver Jubilee year, and in response to considerable interest from Japan, the Mini Marcos was further updated and given a new lease of life.
The Mk.V had larger arches to accommodate 12" wheels (or 13" with low profile tyres) and a front air dam. Wind-up windows and the later push-button door locks were fitted, along with the rubber mounted front subframe, but the traditional Mk.1/2 Mini external door hinges were retained. A rear spoiler was available but few if any of these were sold.
Although only sold in the UK as a kit car, a number of fully built vehicles was made for export. For this purpose Marcos would purchase a complete Mini 1.3i, strip out the mechanical components and sell the steel shells. This proved to be cheaper and less hassle that attempting to obtain the necessary parts separately from Rover. An air conditioning unit was available, and was fitted under the dashboard on the passenger's side. In all ten cars were sold to Japan and several others went abroad.
Production of the Mk.V Mini Marcos continued until 1995. Although the company has ceased production of all component cars to concentrate on it's successful and more lucrative Mantara, LM500/600 and Mantis models. Two shells were produced for a French racing outfit, with the intention of more to follow. However this proved a false hope as apparently no finance was forthcoming.

In view of this I would guess that the car for sale is one of the spare 10 shells and had a used engine and mechanicals fitted to it. As the original car was probably not registered in the first place, and the shell was fitted with a second hand engine, it was not entirely new when registered. Perhaps they found an almost new write off and removed the mechanicals from that.

Well hunted out! So it may be legit but is still way overpriced.

[mini93]

Eww Q plates!!

[Bungle]

they have their advantages if your carrying out major mods