11 replies to this topic

[AC&SONS]

So, I am contemplating building a Mini from scratch using a Heritage shell but I was wondering if anybody had done this and would be able to provide some tips and advice.

 

I assume that I would need a donor shell to acquire a V5 and chassis number to give the new car an identity?

 

I would preferably like to fit all new parts but would the engine need to come from the donor vehicle to keep the numbers matching?

 

Any help or guidance would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[DeadSquare]

A donor vehicle would save you a lot of hassle.

 

And a bit of money.

[cal844]

You can legally reshell a vehicle using an OEM specification shell, so in your case I'd buy a complete car for a couple of hundred GBP that needs severe welding. Then you have most of the parts available, you are allowed to refurbish parts and rebuild engines but personally I'd do the bare essentials then get it on the road and legal. (Your DVLA equivalent might ask for the car to be inspected, so keep your chances of passing as high as possible)

[elliot341]

If you built a new car with all new parts (including a new engine - would have to non a-series etc) then you could build it as a completely brand new car. You would need to document that absolutely everything was brand new tho.... which might be expensive and hard work! It has been done tho

[cal844]

If you built a new car with all new parts (including a new engine - would have to non a-series etc) then you could build it as a completely brand new car. You would need to document that absolutely everything was brand new tho.... which might be expensive and hard work! It has been done tho

This, or as per my comment above, refurbish things as you go but document it

[nicklouse]

If you built a new car with all new parts (including a new engine - would have to non a-series etc) then you could build it as a completely brand new car. You would need to document that absolutely everything was brand new tho.... which might be expensive and hard work! It has been done tho

but then it would have to go through an IVA that the Mini has no hope in hell of passing as a new car.

[nicklouse]

So, I am contemplating building a Mini from scratch using a Heritage shell but I was wondering if anybody had done this and would be able to provide some tips and advice.

 

I assume that I would need a donor shell to acquire a V5 and chassis number to give the new car an identity?

 

I would preferably like to fit all new parts but would the engine need to come from the donor vehicle to keep the numbers matching?

 

Any help or guidance would be much appreciated.

Thanks

have the same engine number on the refurbished engine.

 

and dont go crazy with the new parts. leave anything none standard till after the rebuild. (period mods should be OK).

[Ethel]

You would need an IVA if it doesn't already have an identity, but I don't see any reason why a Mini can't pass - the last production cars were built to pass more stringent tests.

 

Though I think I'd look for a basket case that's not far off qualifying for free road tax, That'd have rubber mounted subbies & bolt on compatibility with almost everything made since then. There's no issue with using new parts as long as they are original spec or manufacturer replacements.

 

W&P built their 50th anniversary Margraves as you suggest & got brand new registrations by on them. They were permitted to use refurbished engine blocks if that's what you're thinking of, they could have used new instead.

[DeadSquare]

120 MNP  was the first Mini Cooper S to win an international Rally.

 

The body eventually became nothing but a retirement home for tinwowm,

 

I was going to shovel the guts into a GRP shell, but I gave in to the original owner who installed them in a Heritage shell.

 

It is reputed to have sold for around £40,00.00, so if such a reputable car only fetched that,        don't aim to spend any more on your build.

[AC&SONS]

Thanks for all the replies folks. Looking at the various ideas suggested, I think a donor vehicle with a half decent engine that I could have rebuilt sounds like the best option. I could then replace any badly rusted or worn out parts and finish up with a cracking car at the end of it.

 

Regarding the budget, as you say DeadSquare, the cost could soon get out of hand if I used all new parts so anything that is salvageable would be re-used.

 

I was maybe thinking about a carburettor model to keep things a bit simpler in terms of servicing and maintenance.

 

Its something that I'll have to do a lot of research on before I actually get started, so I'll keep posting as soon as I have anything else to report but if there are any more tips and advice out there, please keep it coming!

Cheers

[elliot341]

Images of a brand new (well new in 2012) classic mini built up using a new Type R engine 

 

 

 

 

I dont know if it had to have an IVA etc, but if definitely passed and was registered!

[Ethel]

That would need an IVA regardless I expect: too many parts that'd lose points on the DVSA originality score.

 

There'll be lots of little bits that would add up to a tidy sum even if you could source them all new. That & the prospect of not paying road tax would defo make me look at "reshelling" rather than a new build since that's the USP of a Heritage shell.

 

I'd fully cost getting it to the point where you can start bolting stuff on though. It could easily be a few grand more than just buying the shell.