187 replies to this topic

[lvm18]

Hi,

I know they're not minis, but they are mini/metro based cars (kind of like mini cousins) running on from the Mini Marcos, produced from the 1980s onwards and still (the convertible) in production today.

Following a little gentle persuasion from some fellow friendly contributors I thought I'd put some photos up for you on my running restorations (well....OK, one is).

Kind regards,

David

[not so mini dan]

Sweet, i want one!!

How much??

[lvm18]

....and here is the pair together.



You will notice that the white one (Convertible) has a different bonnet on it. Thats because it had at that time something a little different under it. The blue one (Coupe) also has now too.

[lvm18]

.... they used to be very expensive at one time. A factory built one was about 8-10k in the 1980's. You can get them on ebay for a grand or two for a good one.

Theres a couple I know about which have damage which can be bought for a few hundred for the pair.

[not so mini dan]

Cool, ill have a look on ebay then

[mini93]

nice...so tel me which one has the nice engine? i want piccys!!!

[lvm18]

One of the innovative things on the Midas Golds were the undertrays.

The cars were developed in conjunction with Gordon Murray who worked for Brabham F1 racing team. Gordon Murray went on to help design the Maclaren F1. I think he was technical director.

The undertrays were designed to pull the car onto the road at speed using a phenomenon called ground effects. Basically it smooths out the flow UNDER the car and creates downwards force. The underside of a Midas with the undertrays fitted is very flat.

Here is a photo of the rear undertray.....food for thought on a mini? It has a cutout for the exhaust.



There is also an undertray for the front however I dont have a photo of that one yet.

[lvm18]

.....here is a picture of one of the heads....



....it only just fits with a slight bit of body carving

[danwebster]

David,

What, pray tell, will be powering this wee beastie of yours?



In fact they both have rather nice engines so spill the beans!

edit:damn you beat me to it by a matter of seconds!

Edited by danwebster, 15 June 2007 - 04:24 PM.

[miniboo]

is the other one a 7 port?

Edited by miniboo, 15 June 2007 - 04:25 PM.

[lvm18]

.....and here is the picture of the other engine



Both cars will be running on Megajolt with Twin 40 DCOE webers

Edited by lvm18, 15 June 2007 - 04:37 PM.

[mini93]

whoa, look at the amount of space in there lol, even with the 16v head! sides look more tight tho but yet still very nice they use front mounted radiators?

[not so mini dan]

I think im in love

[lvm18]

Sorry Dan you got me going

[lvm18]

The photo of the head in the white Convertible was a 7 port AKM/Minisport head. Its now going to go in the blue Coupe.

Yes it has a metro Mk1 radiator with a 9" Pacet fan. The Mk1 metro radiator has the inlet and outlet on the nearside (and in my opinion the better one) whereas the mk2 metro radiator has the inlet on one side and the outlet on the other, plus it is thinner too.

Edited by lvm18, 15 June 2007 - 10:27 PM.