42 replies to this topic

[PaddyShepherd]

Starting up a build thread for my car, won't be a full rebuild until January when my insurance runs out, at the moment I'd call it a rolling resto as it's my daily, and I don't really know where else to put this topic. I've had the car since about november 2011 and have been doing odd jobs with it so thought I'd put something up here to start. Here's the first lot of photos and notes, I'll be updating properly with more photos and notes on what I've done later on when I've got more time.

So here goes:

1992 K reg British Open classic.
115000 miles (110k when I first got her)
All original when I got the car.
Resprayed about 4/5 years ago and a new front end fitted.

Here's me and the car on the day I got the old girl.



Mine and my friends' first run out when I passed




Sorting the engine tie bar bushes, first job as veryy jerky.



My dash shelf haha!

[joezone2001]

always fancied an open classic! good luck with it mate! what are your plans for it? keep it standard or something different? my first car was a mini too. do yourself a favour. NEVER sell it as you'll only live to regret it. good luck anyway. Joe

[PaddyShepherd]

always fancied an open classic! good luck with it mate! what are your plans for it? keep it standard or something different? my first car was a mini too. do yourself a favour. NEVER sell it as you'll only live to regret it. good luck anyway. Joe

Plan is to just keep it running until january when my insurance runs out, kinda like a rolling project, then after that it'll be a proper project providing I get a motorbike :)

Thinking fairly original with period mods, nothing too fancy. May upgrade the engine etc tho. At the end of the day it's me putting the effort in so I don't see it as fair to make it to what a buyer would want haha!

[jagman.2003]

Good looking project. That sunroof has got to be a bonus.

[Dev20]

Will be watching this, good luck with the project mate.

I'm hoping to have my british open on the road in the next few weeks

[PaddyShepherd]

Hi guys, I will do a major update tomorrow, just havent had the time lately!

[PaddyShepherd]

At Christmas time I got a new stereo (did have a fitted pic but I can't find it);



After this, I got a new passenger footwell fitted as mine urgently needed doing.

And then, I had some happy motoring for a few months.

[PaddyShepherd]

I then fitted a Moto Lita Wheel, and some Lucas LR8 Spots that I got at a show.







I had to modify the bumper slightly, I didn't care as it seemed to be non-genuine, to fit around the mounts;

[PaddyShepherd]

I then started to create a custom dashboard for the mini. This still isn't finished yet as I'm fitting speakers to it.



My car then went for some body work repairs, which turned out to be more than bodywork and I ended up with a new rear subby, brake drum, and suspension components.

I swapped the moto-lita wheel for a metro rocker cover and some work on my car (tie bar bracket snapped)



I got an astrali deep dish wheel.



I also got new door cards which are to be recovered and then fitted.

[scotty_1987]

Class lil mini paddy !!

[PaddyShepherd]

Class lil mini paddy !!

Thanks dude! Got another update coming tomorrow, just try'na get caught up, as i've started it 8 months late! haha!

[scotty_1987]

Hahah!! Lol :L
Cool though like the open classics there cool !!

[PaddyShepherd]

Sorry for the delayed update.. Been busy.

My mini went for some welding at a 'mini specialist' in darlington. After getting the car back i'd say 'pikey' was more the correct term!!

I was annoyed at this but I got a new (non-genuine mind, I think) rear subby, adjustable dampers, hi-los and new cones on the rear, along with some bodywork out of it.

I then purchased new parts for my front suspension.


Old parts vs new parts



... and one seized bottom arm!!



But the other side went in like a dream.. (we are changing whats left of that bump stop.. don't worry)



I then got some Corbeau GT bucket seats from Leroy26 on here.. love them

[PaddyShepherd]

I do apologise for the lack of updates on this. I've been working on my dashboard lately and not really done much else to the car that deserved photos. The custom made dash is nearly finished and I will update with photos of that project once I've got the speakers fitted and the speedo surround finalised.

Come january, when my insurance has ran out, the car will be took off the road and Dan Chilver and I will be doing it as a project. We'll be splitting the work between us and hopefully should only take a few months, if that, once we get up and running. I'm saving up for this from now, and will be buying smaller parts in the run up to this starting, and be using my wages for the work once we know exactly what's needed. The engine will be completely rebuilt, and rebored if needs be, not by a lot though. I may add some performance parts at this point but nothing special. The car runs nice as standard so it'll probably stay somewhere near.

[myredmini]

Looking good Paddy! Hopefully theres not too many nastys hidden when we start on it!