22 replies to this topic

[Cooperman]

There are often conflicting reports about pattern panels.

I thought I would post to, perhaps, give a bit of confidence to those wishing to use pattern ones.

I'm just fitting a new LH front wing, inner wing repair panel and inner & outer apex panels to a 1964 Mk.1.

The inner wing rear repair panel is from M-Machine via Richy at Mini Spares North, the wing and inner apex panels are Magnum panels from Mini Spares and the outer apex is a Genuine Heritage one from Mini Spares.

They have all lined up accurately with no real issues and I shall be welding it all up tomorrow. Fit has been excellent with only very minor adjustments needed.

These Magnum panels as sold by MS do seem very good and I fitted a new wing to the RH side which was also a Magnum one and I fitted a front 1/2 inner wing from M-Machine, again with no issues of fit.

We don't realise how lucky we are with body panels compared with some other classic cars. The 3 classics best served by panel manufacturers seem to be the Mini, MGB and VW Beetle. Imagine trying to get a front wing for a Sunbeam Rapier or Mk.1 Cortina for around £40.

[Old Bob]

Or a wing for an early 911!

 

Bob

[Artful Dodger]

Magnum panels?? Good?

Made out of monkey metal!! Heratige ones are made out of much better stuff, you don't have to take that horrible Matt black paint off either, worth the money I feel:)

[ado15]

What makes you say the metal quality is poor with Magnum panels? Serious question. I'm genuinely interested.

 

We have been selling them for many years and get on very well with the company. They have a very good attitude towards their products. When they first introduced the "OE style" sill, it was the wrong shape. We helped them get it right and they are now really not a bad panel. Where they have control over the tooling, they are generally happy to improve panels where it is practical to do so.

 

Incidentally, the early front wings all come from Italy. There are a couple of sets of tooling out there. One is dreadful, the other is really not bad. It's the latter one that Magnum supply.

 

I'm with Cooperman on this. There are pattern panels and pattern panels! It is all too easy for people to have one bad experience and then tar all pattern parts with the same brush. Some Heritage panels are not all they are cracked up to be these days either. It pays to pick and choose between Heritage and pattern. A good parts supplier will talk you through the good and bad points of each product so that you can make an informed choice.

[Tamworthbay]

I have found magnum panels variable. Their a panels and wings are good but the door steps are pretty poor (and I think that is kind). But heritage don't do that repair panel so you pays your money and takes your chance.

[ado15]

I have found magnum panels variable. Their a panels and wings are good but the door steps are pretty poor (and I think that is kind). But heritage don't do that repair panel so you pays your money and takes your chance.

 

Indeed Clive. That's why it pays to talk to a supplier who can advise the pro's and con's of each panel.

 

I also wonder sometimes, if it's a level of expectation. If people are used to fitting modern car panels, when they come to Mini's it can be a bit of a shock! Let's face it, the cars weren't exactly consistent off the line!!

[Tamworthbay]

I have found magnum panels variable. Their a panels and wings are good but the door steps are pretty poor (and I think that is kind). But heritage don't do that repair panel so you pays your money and takes your chance.

 
Indeed Clive. That's why it pays to talk to a supplier who can advise the pro's and con's of each panel.
 
I also wonder sometimes, if it's a level of expectation. If people are used to fitting modern car panels, when they come to Mini's it can be a bit of a shock! Let's face it, the cars weren't exactly consistent off the line!!

Very true! The only really bad one I have come across is the door step, the folds are just not tight enough. But compared to availability on other cars it does make mini ownership easy. As Cooperman has said the prices are superb really.

[Cooperman]

We really are spoiled for choice with our Minis.

Try to restore a classic from the same era as the Mini, like a Mk.3 Ford Zodiac or Mk.1 Cortina and see what is available and at what price. Then be prepared to cut & shut to get those parts to fit.

[sonikk4]

Personally with magnum i do notice the difference with the finish and sometimes the metal thickness.

 

For example a door skin, the Heritage ones seem to be stiffer whereas the Magnum ones seem to flop more.

 

The rear quarters are another panel that seem to be similar. However at least we do have the option  to use either and it really does depend on your budget.

 

Having used both suppliers irrespective of who sells them you do pay for what you get. I will still use both if i am welding a car for somebody but again this depends entirely on their budget. When i reskin a door to sell on i use the Magnum door skin and if needed the magnum repair section. I do get good results from these but again it may take a little bit more work.

 

I do rate highly the panels made by M Machine but even these sometimes are not perfect, case in hand here is the inner sill to first flute that i have recently fitted. the floor pan cutout was actually smaller that the existing floor pan so work was needed there.

 

And to mirror what Cooperman said we are spoilt with what we can get panel wise for our little cars.

 

You only have to look at the steps other people have to take to get panels made for their model of car, case in hand here is the MK1 Mexico wings. They were not available at all and nobody in the uk was prepared to make them. One individual took it upon himself to find somewhere where they could be made. And yes it was China. It did take a lot of work time and effort but now the quality is good enough for these to be sold in the uk at an affordable price and its down to the determination of one man to actually achieve this.

[Artful Dodger]

replaced the rear valance on my mini and was sent a heratige one that I had ordered and a magnum one. You could feel the magnum one had more flex, wasn't formed properly and all holes that had been punched were of poor quality. The heratige one was much better and was welded pretty much straight on.

I have used magnum inner A panels on mine however and they did fit well with a little fettling, I had to use a genuine outer though!

[Simont]

Totally agree with the magnum door step panel being pretty bad, however,
doing a 1958 ford consul at the moment, the sill alone is £115

[Cooperman]

Totally agree with the magnum door step panel being pretty bad, however,
doing a 1958 ford consul at the moment, the sill alone is £115

I had heard that Mk.2 Zephyr & Consul panels are like rocking horse poo.

Was looking at a Mk.3 Zodiac for resto recently, but decided against it as it needed a front wing and some door work on one side.

[ado15]

 

Totally agree with the magnum door step panel being pretty bad, however,
doing a 1958 ford consul at the moment, the sill alone is £115

I had heard that Mk.2 Zephyr & Consul panels are like rocking horse poo.

Was looking at a Mk.3 Zodiac for resto recently, but decided against it as it needed a front wing and some door work on one side.

 

 

http://www.steelpane...stID=zodiac3-ec

 

Anyone who complains about the prices of Mini panels.......

Edited by ado15, 14 February 2014 - 11:53 AM.

[Cooperman]

You see why I didn't buy the Zodiac  .

And I guess those panels still might not fit well either.

We Mini restorers are so fortunate, as are MG restorers. I'll be starting on an MGB-GT shortly and I'm pleased that all panels are available at a sensible price and they will fit without too much fiddling about.

When you consider that some classic cars have to have hand rolled panels made specially at huge cost the Mini, even with pattern panels, seems so simple to restore well.

[Carlos W]

I found the lip on the outer wing that meets the inner wing needed a trim to bring the Wing in a little tighter!

Ford parts fetch decent money
http://www.ebay.co.u...E-/161203210337