20 replies to this topic

[Jammy]

I guess theres no one who could say for sure, even the trademarks guys I rang who work on behalf of BMW couldn't give me a straight answer, and they said in the case of small batch productions per year, like we're talking about, would have to be taken up with BMH and not BMW.

The only way to find out for definite would be for someone to try it, someone with deep pockets who can afford for the venture to be unsuccessful.

[onefastmoke]

its perfectly legal to build your own car from the ground up, have it tested and registered as new, you must have all reciepts to prove all parts are new, you are only allowed one second hand part which is usually the engine it can still be badged as a mini. the only problem will be in selling them unless you were to register them in your name first and selling them as a 2nd hand, new car but I would imagine it would be a very thin line.

[timbo]

Might be a bit off topic but surely to build a special run of brand new classic minis would cost a fortune?

[ricky_mini]

rumor has it domino's will be going back into production soon, possibly with a range of hybrid cars. could be something there.

[spaceoctagon]

Do they still make 'A' series engines? And would it meet current emissions regulations?

[mab01uk]

Might be a bit off topic but surely to build a special run of brand new classic minis would cost a fortune?

I think your right, at the very least the spec would have to be a handbuilt and probably upgraded 2000 MPI Mini to meet current type approval, emmisions regs, safety SRS air bags, also the EC directive on pass-by noise (92/97/EEC) that all post-October 1996 registered cars must meet, demands a maximum of 74dB(A) measured by a special test procedure. In order to achieve this, the later Minis featured higher gearing, a front-mounted radiator with electric fan, a larger rear exhaust silencer box and extra acoustic insulation in all the interior trim. Most of this stuff including the A series engine and gearbox is no longer in production and many MPI parts have already become unavailable.....so small volume manufacture and testing of complete cars would be very expensive unless their are exemptions as mentioned for kit cars.
Also if Euro Ncap did a crash test video and achieved say a 1 Star rating there would be a lot of bad publicity for the classic Mini as happened for BMW/Rover with the Rover 100 version of the Metro a few years back.

Edited by mab01uk, 25 August 2008 - 11:09 PM.