14 replies to this topic

[-Lost-]

I'm not planning on actually using the rear seats, they will just be a parsel shelf. I was thinking it might be helpful to be able to fold the back down to fit large things in the boot. Has anyone done or seen anything like that?

[Quinlan minor]

Whatever you do, don’t let the DVLA know!

[mab01uk]

Radford made a Hatchback Mini with folding rear seat:-

https://www.theminif...de-ville-£240k/

 

[PoolGuy]

Whatever you do, don’t let the DVLA know!

[mab01uk]

However there will be no problems with any modifications to the bodyshell with the UK DVLA as I think the Mini owner is based in the USA....

Edited by mab01uk, 18 November 2024 - 12:15 PM.

[Designer]

Whatever you do, don’t let the DVLA know!

 

 

I don't think that applies in New Jersey. Unless they have an equivalent department that manages to screw things up for classic car owners.

[-Lost-]

Yeah, I'm in New Jersey, so nobody here is inspecting my car. That hatch looks incredible, but more work than I had in mind.

[mab01uk]

You could do the conversion as you suggested but without the hatchback but the rear bulkhead and parcel shelf in a Mini is an important part of the bodyshell structure so if all or a large part is removed suitable extra metalwork must be added to take its place. It is also a firewall between passengers and the fuel tank. A rear roll cage with braces to the rear wheel arches as used in race and rally Minis might also be a good addition for adding back any lost strength to the shell.

 

Mini Rear Roll Cage - with diagonal:-

https://www.minispor...-roll-cage.html

Edited by mab01uk, 18 November 2024 - 07:42 PM.

[absx2]

I used to put my 12 foot long fishing rod in my mini in the boot by flipping down the back seat having removed the cardboard from the rotodip hole.

 

The rod was in two pieces of course but I used to get the odd funny look when people noticed a huge fishing rod coming out of a mini boot :)

[-Lost-]

The extra bracing added is really what I'm curious about. I figured I would need maybe a cross member up top and maybe one lower down?

What hole did you have the fishing pole through? I don't have any holes through there.

[stuart bowes]

earlier cars had a hole in the back seat like there is in the front bulkhead which they used when they rotodipped the shell

 

later cars didn't have it, mine doesn't either

Edited by stuart bowes, 19 November 2024 - 10:06 AM.

[absx2]

What hole did you have the fishing pole through? I don't have any holes through there.

 

 

You can see the hole in this picture covered by cardboard from inside.

Mk1 to 3 minis had them up to about 1975.

It wouldn`t be the hardest job to copy if you were good with sheet metal work.

That`s not my car by the way :)

Edited by absx2, 19 November 2024 - 05:22 PM.

[DeadSquare]

Using a modified rear seat from a Countryman, a got a 6'6" flat load space in a Riley Elf.

 

All the windows were darkly tinted.

[-Lost-]

My bulkhead has an oval pressed in right at that spot, I guess they still kept that shape but just didn't cut the hole through?  Mine's a 74 so it must have just missed the cutoff. 

[imack]

The rear bulkhead hole was deleted (along with other minor changes) at the end of 1972 when the early mk3 with the round tunnel for the remote gearshift changed to the late mk3 with the square tunnel for the rod change gearshift.