151 replies to this topic

[Custom_Minis]

After first going to see Chris @ Z cars (during 2001) and being taken for a blast in the White Standard R1 powered demo car we were well and truly hooked! I remember telling him we'd have a kit within 6 months!
Well, what with moving house, the birth of my little lad and high and low times in the business its never happened............until now.

So this project has been some 6 years in the making and finally its getting started! so here goes;

Here is a picture of how our Clubman Estate first looked when we bought her



Over a period of time and product development, she stands like this today



Shown here with our very first Clubman 2 piece fibreglass front which we've been road testing since July





Areas such as this will be replaced with fibreglass or Carbon Fibre items



This is currently all we have of the kit but components will be added on a regular basis - Cheers MarkRally



Most of my spare time will now be spent stripping down and preparing the Clubman Estate shell, I've started shifting some old A serious stuf on e-bay and in the For Sale section and when available most of the estates components will be up for sale as well.

Cheers, Les

[supermotolee]

wow this will be cool

[8vAlan]

hurry up then, so we can see the final item!!

[dean_chad]

come on Les pull your finger out! we want to see more of this carbon fibre bits!!!!

[Bungle]

I've started shifting some old A serious stuf on e-bay and in the For Sale section

is A serious still going and is the site worth anything ?

[Jammy]

Am I right in think this will be the first Z Cars Estate?

[markrally]

Hi, Just had a look at the pics and it will be an interesting project, But i think you may need to take the shell and rear frame up to z cars for tham to make the front half as the wheel base is longer than std. so the front half will need to be made to suit, plus the floor in the back looks higher than a std mini so where will the fram bolt on to? As i have limited knowledge of normal minis and the way they are put together it was just a thought.
A good concept though as the longer wheelbase will help with the handling as chris has found the short wheelbase a bit twitchy when on the limit with a BMW behind you!!!

Good luck, see you at curbourgh (With my bootlid)

cheers

Edited by markrally73, 14 October 2007 - 08:48 PM.

[frankiebateman]

its going to be well nice

[Custom_Minis]

dean_chad Posted Today, 08:22 PM
come on Les pull your finger out! we want to see more of this carbon fibre bits!!!!

Yes, plenty of Carbon Fibre - may even give Dale a run for his money

jammy basturd Posted Today, 09:13 PM
Am I right in think this will be the first Z Cars Estate?

I think so Jammy but I'll check with Chris

markrally73 Posted Today, 09:41 PM
Good luck, see you at curbourgh (With my bootlid)

I won't forget that Mark!

With regard the wheelbase, Yes, the Estate is longer than a saloon. The floorpans are still the same design, just 4" longer on the estate. From looking at the build DVD i'm guessing I'll just add the 4" to the measurements mentioned for cutting of the floor. The estate has a rear load floor area very similar to a saloon (ie rear wheel well) but without the rear bulkhead. Also the rear seat pan on the Estate is not steel, its just a rear bench that hinges up. I'll get some pictures up during the week which should explain.

One thing that is worrying me slightly is the overhang at the rear and how sturdy its going to be, the Estate has an extra 8" or so after the rear wheels.

In the meatime, I have a modified safey devices cage in the estate at the minute, I may try using the front half of that and have some door bars fabricated to suit.

Les.

Edited by Custom_Minis_Ltd, 14 October 2007 - 10:57 PM.

[Bungle]

can you leave some of the floor in place in the back to stop it flexing ?

[Custom_Minis]

Bungle Posted Today, 10:13 PM
can you leave some of the floor in place in the back to stop it flexing ?

That's what I'm hoping Bungle, the area above the petrol tank. It may double up as a mounting point for the exhaust too!

[markrally]

You can mount a rear body support frame from the antirollbar mounts on the back of the frame, ADE and pete have done it on theirs.

Good luck

[Custom_Minis]

Thanks for the pointer Mark, just seen a picture of Ades. That's definately the route I'll have to take.

Itching to get cutting now but need to shift my A series engine first!

[Custom_Minis]

Well, not done much really this week, still waiting for the buyer to come and hear/drive the car then I can take the engine out for them and get on with the cutting.

Bought a few front suspension components and resurrected the front subframe I began making into a cheese grater a few years back!



Still got a few more holes to do though yet!

Will hopefully begin building it all up next week.

Les.

Edited by Custom_Minis_Ltd, 20 October 2007 - 08:25 PM.

[bpirie1000]

Hole'y cow that is like cheese.......

bet you used a fair amount of drill bits.

interested to see how your over comming the rear false floor problem...

more pics required.

Well, not done much really this week, still waiting for the buyer to come and hear/drive the car then I can take the engine out for them and get on with the cutting.

Bought a few front suspension components and resurrected the front subframe I began making into a cheese grater a few years back!



Still got a few more holes to do though yet!

Will hopefully begin building it all up next week.

Les.

Edited by bpirie1000, 26 October 2007 - 11:25 AM.