Fiberglass Mk1 Mini !

[UHR850]

Have you ever seen this one before

http://topclassiccarsforsale.com/austin ... chile.html
http://smclassiccars.com/other-makes/10 ... chile.html

Kees.

[R&R]

One of my customers has a 1960's original fibreglass mk1. I think these were made as an experiment.

[minimk1man]

British Leyland commissioned Peel Engineering I.O.M. to produce the original moulds for the production of these cars in Chile. Initially 6 prototypes were built at Cowley for evaluation. One was used for crash testing at MIRA and another for durability testing by Fibre Glass Ltd ( Pilkington Group ). The moulds were then shipped to Chile to start production there.
The car for sale is one of the Chile built ones.

[ivor badger 2]

One small point, the glass fibre shell weighed more than the std steel shell.

[R&R]

One small point, the glass fibre shell weighed more than the std steel shell.

One small point, the glass fibre shell weighed more than the std steel shell.

I can believe that Ivor, it is heavy, but it fulfils my customers main requirement in that it won't rust!

[mab01uk]

Read the extraordinary story of how the production of glass fibre Minis and 1100s was instigated in Chile......

"Mini Cooper production by British Leyland’s Chilean subsidiary was already up and running when the parent company, in 1969, sent its senior designer, Syd Horwood, and a 21 year old plastics’ engineer, Martin Ferguson, to set up a parallel operation to make MG 1300 saloons – the badge engineered version of the Morris 1300......"
BMC 1100/1300 : Chilean variations:
http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/bm ... ariations/

[minimk1man]

Interesting article on the Chile GRP Mini production in Mini World January 2011 issue.

[mab01uk]

What wheels are those, they look different front and back?

Don't seem to be in the Mini Wheel directory below?
http://www.wheeldictionary.net/10a.html

[Mini4Ever]

I have seen some fibreglass Mini's. They we made in Chile. A good friend of me bought some of the last remaining stock from the Chile factory years ago.

[UHR850]

Do you have any pictures from your friends Mini's ?

The wheels could be from golfcars ?

Kees.

[bill773mini]

Interesting article on the Chile GRP Mini production in Mini World January 2011 issue.

Well written too.

[olddave]

English one, J reg lhd.

Keeps a glassfibre Morris 1300 company

Door kick plates fitted for short legged drivers.

[minimk1man]

Picture of one of the prototypes out in the open. Well done Dave

Here is another one. The durability test car which has stood the test of time.

[minimans]

That picture from the rear bought an instant picture of a black cab to mind?

[smithyrc30]

That picture from the rear bought an instant picture of a black cab to mind?

Funny, I thought exactly the same thing....

[UHR850]

But take a good look at the rear Mk1 lights on the green one, very different

Kees.

[smithyrc30]

Isn't that because the green one is a production car made in Chile and the other two are the prototypes made by Peel?

[minimk1man]

Correct. The Chile built ones also had wind up windows with quarter lights.
The UK prototypes were a mix of Mk1 & Mk2. Mk1 lights, grill, rear window but Mk2 interior, badging and with Riley Elf dash. The dash was also fitted to the Chile built cars.

[olddave]

Mark 2 interior & 'Elf' dash.

Someone's pinched the heater ears

[olddave]

Rich - nice steering wheel?

And a 'works' dash, must be worth £1500 on fleabay.