459 replies to this topic

[miniyellowmini]

Great to see another Mini 1275GT is to be saved and such an iconic one at that. Much better for it to be out and seen than sat down a dark, cold, damp tunnel slowly decaying away or worse, removed by the developers and scrapped. So hats off to you for doing something about it and actually rescuing it! Would be good to see it in it's current condition at a few shows before you begin restoring it. Mini Fair at Bingley Hall is coming up soon at the end of Jan (hint, hint )

[petehuws]

Hi Steven, I've been following this thread since its inception & have been aware of the 'Tunnel mini' for quite some time myself, c'mon folks it's a car and cars supposed to be enjoyed & driven, if it made it to a museum how many of us would honestly make the effort to travel to where it is? I adore 33 EJB & LBL 6D but never been to see them, I would of had a much better chance of seeing them were they to go to Stanford, Beaulieu or the like. Steven may even let us have a sit in it at a show sometime, we'd never get that close to it in a museum. The proverbial hat is off to you sir!

[stevem4323]

Hi Steven, I've been following this thread since its inception & have been aware of the 'Tunnel mini' for quite some time myself, c'mon folks it's a car and cars supposed to be enjoyed & driven, if it made it to a museum how many of us would honestly make the effort to travel to where it is? I adore 33 EJB & LBL 6D but never been to see them, I would of had a much better chance of seeing them were they to go to Stanford, Beaulieu or the like. Steven may even let us have a sit in it at a show sometime, we'd never get that close to it in a museum. The proverbial hat is off to you sir!

hi there thanks for that great comment and yes i think this car needs to be seen ...but it will seen at its worst ...so it can only get better
thanks again

[Carlos W]

I've just read all 21 pages of this thread, and I'm so glad you saved the car! In the not too distant future it would've been lost forever!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do with it, but ultimately that's your decision!

Oh, and one last thing, welcome to TMF!

[Jamie_RoverMini35]

steve there's one thing to remember, there's no time limit on how long it should take you, do as you please it's you're car! its going to cost alot in the long run but the cost can be spread over a number of years, its can be saved ! also i find this stuff absolutely awesome and cant wait to hear the real history behind this gem!

[Dylan8660]

Looking forward to the build thread, good luck.

[Noah]

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Do it, Do it now.

[Artful Dodger]

And that, ladies and Gents, is my enterance.

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[boybiffa]

WWWWOOOOOWWWW!!!!

Having just seen a post in the "news" section on ARonline (can't even remember what I googling now)
After reading about this mini being inside one of the tunnels at longbridge, I was very intrigued!
I'm only 20 years old so wasn't around at the time of the BL era (rover era certainly).
My dad actually helped build "a part" of the production line for the Cowley plant (around the time of the rover 75 prototypes) not sure if anyone will remember the name "Conveyors yorkshire" sub-contracting for another company, making the conveyor system for the wheels and seats.
Having loved the classic mini for many years (but unfortunately can't afford one) I did have a 1979 Triumph Dolomite 1300 as my first car in March 2011. Since this I have moved on to other cars but I love the history of BL (from what I've been told and documentaries I've seen.)

Going through the various photo's posted through the ARonline "news" post here - http://www.aronline....ves-longbridge/

It's so sad to see the plant like that.. 45 car bodies, laying in wait for a day that never came... the letter regarding the cost and uncertainties about future employment... wish Rover was still British and still built in the factories which hold such vital and precious memories for many people of Britain. (a time when "Made in Britain" actually meant something)...

I totally understand why you felt the need to "rescue" this car. If this restoration can be carried out with full photographic and fully documented history of "what,where when, how" then I see no reason why it shouldn't be restored. (it would have been nice if the heritage museum would have placed it on a stand in it's original form.

it almost make's me want another BL classic!

Best of luck with the restoration and please update us with any pics as I will be watching this thread with excitement!!!

Good luck! :)

[clovus]

Good on you Steve for following your heart and more imprtantly documenting it's history and the significance behind undertaking this project. I am glad you got it out and imagine it would not have been an easy process for you.

Best of luck, enjoy the whole process. There will never be another mini like this one.

Cheers

Edited by clovus, 25 November 2012 - 07:48 AM.

[CraigieB]

Please take it as is to PoL 2013, it would literally be the only thing I would go to the show to see.

[miniyellowmini]

Guy at work today told me about this article

http://www.thesun.co...r-30-years.html

Edited by miniyellowmini, 10 December 2012 - 09:21 PM.

[Derelict-UK]

As this is the Introduce yourselves section, Hi!

I posted the first images of this Mini back in 2007 so it has a good place in my heart, it's also been my avatar ever since!

I agree on both sides of the fence, every time I go past the site on the Lickey Road, I remember all the good hours spent in there and discovering many (what seemed like) miles of tunnels etc. But all of this has been photographed and can be found on many sites (including my own.....ahem.... http://www.photoaddiction.co.uk ......ahem) which is what, back then, urban exploration was supposed to be about, recording history before it was to be demolished or developed.

Now, many years on, St Modwen's have demolished an incredible amount of the site, if you live close by it or visit the area regularly, you will have seen the sheer amount of the site to have been pulled down in the past year. Now only the very top of the hill where the remainder of the production factory is has been left untouched.

Having the mini in the tunnel or handing the mini over to the Coventry Transport Museum (who have part of the Flight Shed roof that was also demolished earlier this year) would have been best. BUT if you are going to restore it then that was what it was intended to be built for anyway, to be driven on the road, then I could live with that. I would like the panels to be left as it was in the tunnel.

Out of interest, how much did you pay for it? And do you have any pictures of you removing it?

For a quick view of what St Modwen's (The c***s) have done to Longbridge, here are a few pics...

The Lickey Rd buildings in May This year...





And the Material Lab building that I quite liked...




Then St Modwen moved in to demolish the area in October...



The lower Lickey Rd buildings (which have now been totally demolished)...






By the look of the current (non) production of MG sports cars, it won't be long until the whole site is swallowed up by the developers.

[stevem4323]

As this is the Introduce yourselves section, Hi!

I posted the first images of this Mini back in 2007 so it has a good place in my heart, it's also been my avatar ever since!

I agree on both sides of the fence, every time I go past the site on the Lickey Road, I remember all the good hours spent in there and discovering many (what seemed like) miles of tunnels etc. But all of this has been photographed and can be found on many sites (including my own.....ahem.... http://www.photoaddiction.co.uk ......ahem) which is what, back then, urban exploration was supposed to be about, recording history before it was to be demolished or developed.

Now, many years on, St Modwen's have demolished an incredible amount of the site, if you live close by it or visit the area regularly, you will have seen the sheer amount of the site to have been pulled down in the past year. Now only the very top of the hill where the remainder of the production factory is has been left untouched.

Having the mini in the tunnel or handing the mini over to the Coventry Transport Museum (who have part of the Flight Shed roof that was also demolished earlier this year) would have been best. BUT if you are going to restore it then that was what it was intended to be built for anyway, to be driven on the road, then I could live with that. I would like the panels to be left as it was in the tunnel.

Out of interest, how much did you pay for it? And do you have any pictures of you removing it?

For a quick view of what St Modwen's (The c***s) have done to Longbridge, here are a few pics...

The Lickey Rd buildings in May This year...





And the Material Lab building that I quite liked...




Then St Modwen moved in to demolish the area in October...



The lower Lickey Rd buildings (which have now been totally demolished)...






By the look of the current (non) production of MG sports cars, it won't be long until the whole site is swallowed up by the developers.

hi yes it was your picture that inspired me to retrieve the old mini and not let it be left to rot i have known that mini was there for a long time and as a bit of a austin heritage freak i had to salvage as much as i can on your picture is the N gate sign that is now hanging on my shed also the original cast iron L signs from L gate are in my shed the car will be restored as for leaving the panels bashed up is maybe the wrong thing to do as this car deservs to be put right

[stevem4323]

this is just some of my longbridge collection

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