22 replies to this topic

[who_loves_the_mini?]

I kow there were a couple of minis in the 60's that had a hatchback conversion done, think it was the ones done by Radford, but does anyone have or know of a mini with a proper boot?

Ive had a quick think and it looks pretty simple, weld the boot up, cut along the top and sides and move the boot lock down near the bumper. I know its harder than that but thats the general idea. But how would i go about keeping water out? weld a thin strip of metal along the edge to fix a strip of rubber to, like the doors?

any other ideas or thoughts? good idea to try or not?

[Pooky]

I would have thought it would be a VERY tricky job even for a professional, especially getting it to look decent. Maybe a reason why it only happened on a few minis, but fair play for thinking to try it!

Don't forget about re strengthening. You'll lose a lot of strength in the back end I reckon, especially by losing the parcel shelf if you were considering that.

Edited by Pooky, 22 October 2006 - 04:13 PM.

[ed4ran]

I think it would be easier to get a clubman estate / van / or traveller.

[sqweaka]

I kow there were a couple of minis in the 60's that had a hatchback conversion done, think it was the ones done by Radford, but does anyone have or know of a mini with a proper boot?

Ive had a quick think and it looks pretty simple, weld the boot up, cut along the top and sides and move the boot lock down near the bumper. I know its harder than that but thats the general idea. But how would i go about keeping water out? weld a thin strip of metal along the edge to fix a strip of rubber to, like the doors?

any other ideas or thoughts? good idea to try or not?

if you use a rear window frame and glass from a mk 1 it will fit in side a mk3/4.. window opening weld that to a boot and hinge it at the roof jobs a good'n

[Big_Adam]

could try to do a split tailgate sort of thing. boot go down window go up.

could be good.

[sqweaka]

could try to do a split tailgate sort of thing. boot go down window go up.

could be good.

would be even better,quicker to do

[Dog]

At MITP this year, there was a chap selling a hatchback converstion panel!
think he wanted something stuipd for it, but I guess it can be done!

[sqweaka]

At MITP this year, there was a chap selling a hatchback converstion panel!
think he wanted something stuipd for it, but I guess it can be done!

i seen a german mini with a covertion done at the imm think it was mini 30/35 silerstone black or very dark blue it looked mint very orig.. he said he had used a mk1 rear panal as the hatch and fitted it in to a mk3 shell(window opening)

[Dog]

If you want a hatchback, get a Saxo.......

[sqweaka]

If you want a hatchback, get a Saxo.......

could easy say that about enyone that has modded any mini yor self as well???

[Woody]

British Leyland made a hatchback mini , it was called the Mini-metro

[Silicon Skum]

If it's done right, and no strength is lost in the shell, then this is a worth while mod for a mini. I have seen one done a few years ago, the car had a strengthening "rib" welded around the inside of the hatch opening, looked tidy too. The rear parcel shelf was removed and a brace bar fitted allong the back of the rear seat pannel (not sure if this was really needed though).

I'm sure I've seen a german mini that had this conversion done, but the rear seats also folded down (think it might have used the rear seats from a BINI, but I'm not sure). Looked very good too.

Bonus is you will have a bigger boot space than a Bini! I'm sure that would wind a few Bini owners up, if you park next to them when loading shopping in.

SS

[bert998]

There was a grey one for sale at himley hall last year. It was really well done and the rest of the car was superb too. Its the only mini my dads ever said he would own, mainly because he could fill it with C**p from B&Q

I think they are great if done properly (wouldnt even want to consider the consiquences of a C**p one :'( )

Go for it!

[adrian83]

This is something ive been thinking about doing when i get a mini, ive got the lights used on the radford mini de ville gt to go with it aswell. Had thought about the twin tailgate idea but not too much.
Think I'll keep an eye on this thread and see how it goes.

[who_loves_the_mini?]

I think it would be easier to get a clubman estate / van / or traveller.

It would have been easier for you to keep the a series engine in the front rather than a RWD swift conversion, this is the kind of thing that makes minis stand out

If you want a hatchback, get a Saxo.......

This could be said about every mod anyone has ever done to a mini, why build a fast mini when you could buy an evo or impreza etc etc

I was thinking of welding a bar of metal across the top of the "boot" which would then be covered by the headlining and then one across the floor to give the shell its strength back.

I like the idea of the twin tailgate idea as you could have the window open with the boot shut so that you could fit longer items in the car. Plus if there was someway that you could join the 2 sections, the boot and the window, together so that you could open them as one when you wanted to and then separate them when needed to as well. if that makes sense?