My 66ish

[mini_surfari]

Evening all!

This my 66ish mini, I bought it when i was 10 and restored it with my dad, we did all the work ourselves, and only just finished it before national mini cooper day this year.

I know its not a genuine car, nor do i proclaim it to be, it was reshelled before i purchased it, i hope you guys can appreciate it for what it is.... changes this winter will be hopefully losing the arches and going to 10s, as the 13s and sportspacks arent too much to my taste much anymore but used to be cool!

im also looking for more power over the winter, it currently has 113bhp and 101lbft....

Cheers!

[smithyrc30]

Nicely prepared and finished. I would agree with you, 13s and big arches do nothing for me.

By the way, how did you get it home?

Some light fingered type seems to have absconded with your steering wheel...

[rolesyboy]

I think that looks great. Agree it would look better on 10's (and probably drive better)
What is the engine spec? Some impressive figures you have there. Cheers. Mark

[mini_surfari]

Thanks for the comments!

Haha my moto lita wheel didn't arrive in time for beauliue and the one that was on there was awful, so decided to go f1 -esque haha.

10s will be the way to go, just debating whether archeless for change of arches

Engine wise,

A+ Cooper carb 1275 engine.
bores to 1293
Omega Pistons
Rods lightened and balanced, arp bolts
Fully worked Med crank, centre main strap
Kent 286 cam
Duplex vernier timing gears
Med 'stage 2' ultralight flywheel and orange diaphragm
Fully worked cylinder head, oversized valves, double valve springs etc
Standard rockers,
aldon yellow dizzy, without vacuum advance
Twin hs4 carbs,
Minispares ram stacks
Sccr box,

Think that's the main spec, I have got it all written down somewhere haha!

[smithyrc30]

Personally I would go archless, however I thought that to fit the 13s and sportspack arches, the front wings had to be cut away?

[mini_surfari]

Yeah I'd have to fit New a panels, wings and front panel!

[mini_surfari]

Featured in mini magazine this month if anyones interested

[foxy52]

Featured in mini magazine this month if anyones interested

....tidy looking job..well done ..as others have said ditch the wide mod arches..they do nowt for a mk 1 look.. some nice period refurbed ali,s and yoko,s.. foxy52

[1963'S']

Looks great Oli
Is this the photoshoot after we were at Castle Combe in September?

You going to Brooklands next week,I will go if weather report is good for the day!
Steve

[UHR850]

Looking very good, comgrets with your very fine article in Mini Magazine.

Kees.

[mini_surfari]

Thanks for the comments guys,

hopefully a few changes coming the approaching months!

It is indeed steve, took a while to get in there! I may do, it wont be in the mini though if i do

[1963'S']

OK Oli may see you there
Steve

[Fanfaniracing]

Hej! What happened to your Car?

Did you do the modifications?

[mini_surfari]

Hej! What happened to your Car?

Did you do the modifications?

Still got it!

Since I made this thread, I drove it to Beaulieu in 2019 as it was, and then it was left under a cover until the end of last year when I moved house.

And coincidently I pushed it outside the other day and washed it for the first time in 3 years!



It was then pushed right to the back of the garage to be covered over, to make room for my Dads Van we recently finished.





As we have another project on the go so these will be staying at my house over the winter.


But back to the 66ish, I have been collecting parts for it, that are stashed away. But I'm in a bit of a dilemma. Originally I was going to put it back to 10 inch wheels etc, but that would mean new a panels, wings, front panel, and all the holes in the quarters welding up. Plus a full respray.

Well, Mk1 shells are obviously available now, so do I just save up and put it back in an appropriate styled heritage shell? Or do I keep the later shell as it is part of its history, seeing as it was reshelled near 40 years ago But there again, how much of the panel work and car is original anyway from that 'reshell' era, so does it make a difference

So still on the fence, but it wont be sold and it will be back out at some point!

Cheers, Oli