28 replies to this topic

[Colinmac1330]

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere:

http://www.ebay.co.u...69#ht_406wt_952

 

Someone buy them for me

[rally1380]

Superb chance for a business start up...if you like the smell of resin!!!

[silve1999]

too expensive i think. if you cant make at least double the initial investment back in the first year then this is too expensive. as it stands you would probably have to spend 25k on the moulds and then further 10k on materials not to mention building and business costs. meaning you would have to make at least 50k in the first year to break even without paying yourself to live.... then think how many shells you could sell a year and how many people would buy them/afford them.... makes it a very limited and risky business model at the price of the moulds :)

[JacckKirk]

As long as your business plan says youll make a loss for say the first 3 years then youll be fine
You could easily make this into a profitable company within 3 years it just takes time to build your assets then build a customer base
Just need some business experience or someone that has some
Its all about planning , developing then succeeding

[Guess-Works.com]

Obviously first negotiating with BMH and BMW.

[rally1380]

Obviously first negotiating with BMH and BMW.

 

Wouldn't the design be different enough not to conflict with design copywrite issues, and the registed designs must be well lapsed now anyway....and they're not branded as a 'Mini' either so no conflict their either.

 

I appreciate the above issues with costings and lack of profit...bla bla....but surely in the right hands this is a goer.  If everyone was so defeatist about every small idea then nothing would ever get done.   

[markyB]

........................................................... gone to check last weeks lottery ticket !

[Ellie]

Why does the forum not buy them as a corporation?
I'd be more than happy to participate financially.

[JacckKirk]

Surprised the forum doesnt do its own "shop" so with stickers , tops & the odd bits & bobs
Be quite good to be honest

[Ellie]

Is there anyone on here with any serious knowledge on this?
I'd ask my dad to buy them, but he'd ask for some sort of business plan.
What would we actually need to make it a go'er?

[The Matt]

Why does the forum not buy them as a corporation?
I'd be more than happy to participate financially.

Because we're not a corporation and never will be. Mainly because nobody that runs the forum has any interest in making money from it.

There is a shop for TMF Merchandise too. Run by one of out traders, Sticky Fingers.

[rally1380]

What would we actually need to make it a go'er?

 

Years of composite experience, a decent sized and well equiped workshop, a workforce, storage for shells, oh and £25K to start with....and a kettle for brews!

[jpw1275]

And an understanding mrs and camp beds for the late nights !!!!

[blackbelt1990]

 
Years of composite experience,

Pffft... I'd have a bash at it... I repaired an arch once!

Lol ;)

[mab01uk]

1963 HAWK MINI SPRINT - sold

"This car was purchased in December 1997 from Hawk Cars in East Sussex, who marketed it as the Stewart and Ardern Mini Sprint. The kit went out of production after BMW acquired the rights to the Mini, and forbid Hawk to carry on. This car was built and first MOTd as late as May 2008. It was Imported to the USA by Mini Obsession in July 2009 with less than 500 miles. The body is pretty impressive with double skin panels hiding most of the evidence that it is completely made of fiberglass. It has a tube frame providing solid mounting points for the sub frames, doors, and seat belts. Old English White throughout, with black anti chip paint on floor pans inside and underneath. 1340 A+ engine, 11 stud head rebuilt by Morspeed, lightened and balanced with stage 2 head and cam, twin 1 1/4 SUs, 10.1 compressed ratio, high performance uprated RC/40 exhaust, Maniflow LCB, rebuilt 4 speed gearbox, 2.95 diff, lightened verto flywheel, Metro Turbo clutch, new front/rear subframes, suspension fully adjustable, new rear brakes with MiniFins, rebuilt 'S' discs, adjustable Gaz shocks, 4 1/2 x 10 Minilites. Asking price $ 25,000"

http://www.carandcla....uk/car/C378682

 

http://maximummini.b...ini-market.html

 

"This was called the "Stewart and Arden" model manufactured by Hawk Cars in Great Britain. It was a fiberglass version of the original sixties Sprint. Gerry Hawkridge created this Mini "kit" car with an agreement from the original manufacturers of the Minisprint to use their name in the badging of the kit. BMW said that they owned the trademark on this body style and warned them to stop production. Even though Hawkridge had a legal advise to never refer to this kit as a Mini. This legal issue with BMW was never resolved as Gerry Hawkridge simple stopped advertising and manufacturing this kit. To my knowledge only 17 or 18 of these shells were ever made which make these very rare and unique. I know of two in the USA."

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