4 replies to this topic

[se7enmvu]

Yesterday I started my Mini checkmate project. It was my 1st car and prior to that my parents runabout.
They bought it in 1999 and ran it for two years until it failed its MOT. At this point it was given to 16 year old me.
I saved for a bodyshop to fit a new front end, sills, boot repair and cheap respray. It was back on the road in December 2002 ready for my driving lessons. I passed my test shortly after and until August 2005 when I blew its head gasket it was my daily driver.
Needing a car I bought my 1998 Mpi and put the checkmate away in the garage.
Since then its lived on my drive, in my garage, my uncles drive and finally for the last 14 years my mums garage.
My plan is to get it running, mot'ed, and carry out a rolling restoration taking it back to original checkmate spec, carrying out some performance mods similar to the cooper conversion kits available when it was new.
Body wise it will need the oversills replaced, rear quarter repairs, a wing, a roof and anything else I uncover.
The interior needs a thorough clean and the original 3 clock binicle putting back.
But first I need to get it running so my next job now its out and cleanish will be to take the head off and see whats what.

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[cooperd70]

It'll be fantastic to see another one of these specials back on the road and great that it's been in your family's ownership for such a long time. Looking forward to progress reports as and when they become ava ☺️

I have a 1990 Flame Red which was lucky enough to be fitted with the JCC from new.

Hope to see this one sometime in the future 😎

[shera12]

What a great story and project to bring back to life! Love that you’re restoring your first car with so much history behind it. Sounds like a big job but a very rewarding one, looking forward to seeing the progress and how the Checkmate turns out .

 

 

Edited by shera12, 25 November 2025 - 09:54 AM.

[bpirie1000]

Oversills.....

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek

Nice project though..

Good luck.

[se7enmvu]

Oversills.....

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek

Nice project though..

Good luck.

Fitted on the recommendation of Warringtons premier Mini parts supplier. Before I knew better.

They'll pass an MOT and I'll set about correcting the damage next summer.

Edited by se7enmvu, 26 November 2025 - 02:49 PM.