14 replies to this topic

[ToM 2012]

hi i was eating my tea and all of a sudden i fort how long did it take to build a mini from welding the shell together to driving it of the production line? as its took me 6 months to put mine back together   thanks tom 

[dennismini93]

it depended how long they were on strike for

[ToM 2012]

lol 

[Artful Dodger]

Or when it was time for tea break;)

[Fast Ivan]

5 mins judging by the last ones to roll off

[mab01uk]

I guess it depends if you include building all the sub-assemblies like engines, gearboxes and even sewing interior seat covers together, etc.

I seem to remember on a visit to the Mini production line at Longbridge back in the 1980's it took about 24 hours to build a shell, paint and assemble the major parts.

 

On a recent visits to the new MINI plant at Oxford I think the Mk1 MINI also took around 24 hours to assemble from start to finish even with the help of robots but modern cars are I suppose more complex in some areas. The current Mk2 MINI is slightly easier to build with improved design of complete front bumper/radiator assemblies and one piece dashboards complete with steering wheel/column pre-fitted, the time I believe is now around the 20 hour mark.

[ToM 2012]

I guess it depends if you include building all the sub-assemblies like engines, gearboxes and even sewing interior seat covers together, etc.

I seem to remember on a visit to the Mini production line at Longbridge back in the 1980's it took about 24 hours to build a shell, paint and assemble the major parts.

 

On a recent visits to the new MINI plant at Oxford I think the Mk1 MINI also took around 24 hours to assemble from start to finish even with the help of robots but modern cars are I suppose more complex in some areas. The current Mk2 MINI is slightly easier to build with improved design of complete front bumper/radiator assemblies and one piece dashboards complete with steering wheel/column pre-fitted, the time I believe is now around the 20 hour mark.

i bet that was awsome seeing it for real. yes everything on the car all ready to be sold and used. 

[mk1leg]

it depended how long they were on strike for

the mini production was never stopped during any of the Leyland, BL,Rover strikes..........

and when I visited the longbridge factory tour in 1995 I think 1 rolled off the line every 30 secs.....

[mab01uk]

 

I guess it depends if you include building all the sub-assemblies like engines, gearboxes and even sewing interior seat covers together, etc.

I seem to remember on a visit to the Mini production line at Longbridge back in the 1980's it took about 24 hours to build a shell, paint and assemble the major parts.

 

On a recent visits to the new MINI plant at Oxford I think the Mk1 MINI also took around 24 hours to assemble from start to finish even with the help of robots but modern cars are I suppose more complex in some areas. The current Mk2 MINI is slightly easier to build with improved design of complete front bumper/radiator assemblies and one piece dashboards complete with steering wheel/column pre-fitted, the time I believe is now around the 20 hour mark.

i bet that was awsome seeing it for real. yes everything on the car all ready to be sold and used. 

 

 

Yes, awesome.......if you get the chance go on a modern car plant tour, most like the MINI factory in Cowley, Oxford are free or a nominal charge if you book well in advance.

MINI FactoryTour Details:

http://www.mini.co.u...s/factory-tour/

 

The BL tour guides in the 1980's were slightly embarassed to show us the old fashioned methods on the Mini production line and were far keener to show off the then new and modern Metro robot production lines next door.....

[Dan]

  I seem to remember in the last years of production Mini Magazine did a comparison story between a Mini on the line and a Nissan Micra.  The Mini was on the line for way longer than the Micra (somewhere around 30 hours for the Mini and less than 6 for the Micra) and had many more assembly stations.  This only refers to final assembly, they don't really consider body assembly or paint as part of final assembly because to them the body is just a component like any other.  If you include body assembly you should include everything else like power train assembly and even making the switches and everything.  That would stretch it out to months of work for any car.

[ToM 2012]

 

 

I guess it depends if you include building all the sub-assemblies like engines, gearboxes and even sewing interior seat covers together, etc.

I seem to remember on a visit to the Mini production line at Longbridge back in the 1980's it took about 24 hours to build a shell, paint and assemble the major parts.

 

On a recent visits to the new MINI plant at Oxford I think the Mk1 MINI also took around 24 hours to assemble from start to finish even with the help of robots but modern cars are I suppose more complex in some areas. The current Mk2 MINI is slightly easier to build with improved design of complete front bumper/radiator assemblies and one piece dashboards complete with steering wheel/column pre-fitted, the time I believe is now around the 20 hour mark.

i bet that was awsome seeing it for real. yes everything on the car all ready to be sold and used. 

 

 

Yes, awesome.......if you get the chance go on a modern car plant tour, most like the MINI factory in Cowley, Oxford are free or a nominal charge if you book well in advance.

MINI FactoryTour Details:

http://www.mini.co.u...s/factory-tour/

 

The BL tour guides in the 1980's were slightly embarassed to show us the old fashioned methods on the Mini production line and were far keener to show off the then new and modern Metro robot production lines next door.....

 

will take a look cheers! 

[ToM 2012]

 

it depended how long they were on strike for

the mini production was never stopped during any of the Leyland, BL,Rover strikes..........

and when I visited the longbridge factory tour in 1995 I think 1 rolled off the line every 30 secs.....

 

wow every 30 seconds thats awsome. 

[ToM 2012]

like this .. 

[mab01uk]

Some footage of later classic Mini production line here..........(also detailing the Launch of the New MINI in the year 2000, and showing the last Classic Mini coming off the production line).

[MrBounce]

I remember them fettling the door fitment. If it didn't fit properly, out came the big hammer until it did!