one of those forbidden mk1 replicas, but with a difference

[mini-van-josh]

i have started this build thread as although its a replica, its different to the 100,000 other mk1 replicas that everyone else does, and thought it may be of interest to some of you. The story goes, i purchased the car 7 years ago, i did a lot of the welding to make it road worthy (but tatty) and used it as my everyday car, and first car for a year before removing it off the road to sort out. i always wanted a mk1 but due to being only on apprentice ages at the time couldn't afford one so set about with a replica. i have also always wanted a race car so set about the project with a 60s style race mini. the story up to the present date is as follows:



This is how the car was on day 1 of the project.



The welding marathon begun, it had: sills (inner and outer), boot floor, valance, back panel, rear quarter bottoms and a front end

[mini-van-josh]

a trip to the body shop for a fresh coat of tartan red, and jet black.



Home and freshly painted ready to finish building it up.




i built up (for now) a fast road 1275 complete with rather noisy straight cut drops.


a nice little before and after picture.

[mk1]

Looks like you have done some great work! Keep it up.

[mini-van-josh]

The finished (for the time being) article, which is still on the road at this present moment.




at long last my dream of doing track days came true last year, doing a track day at donington park, and also running the santa pod strip at mitp turning in a 16.7 sec quarter mile.




last winter came around 2016/2017 and the usual list of jobs started, a cream crackle elf head lining, red and grey rear seat back and a genuine (restored) silver brocade parcel shelf.



the final thing that happened (to bring it up to how it is now as we speak) was the introduction of a private reg plate to make it look more 60s. This came in the guise of a reg similar to that of an abingdon works car.

This is how the car currently stands and is still currently on the road, its been on the road for 3 years since it was first completed and was painted 5 years ago. At imm me and a good friend Liam were having a natter about the car, and that sparked off the next (and hopefully interesting) stage of the car comes in. The plan is to leave the car as a 1991 mini with its private reg on (not wanting a logbook ringer as its never going to be an official mk1), but here omes the difference we are going to convert the shell to full mk1 spec, external door hinges and mk1 doors, small back window, ectra drip rails, rear seat, and a few other bits and bobs. For good measure we are also going to put a fuel injected, blow through supercharged 1275 engine, (that will come after completion of the shell). i have started to collect a few bits as i am going to worm away doing odds and ends such as the fuel system before we start the (planned 18 months) renovation/conversion.



and thats where the car stands now, all comments (good or bad) all i will say is watch this space.

Josh

[mini-van-josh]

Looks like you have done some great work! Keep it up.

thanks, plenty more to come over the next 18mnths-2yrs and some head scratching across the way to.

[liam-ds]

I'll dig the tops of the side panels out and pop them in the van for you, got a feeling some head scratching is coming along soon

Liam

[InimiaD]

Thought I recognised your car Josh.
Was camped opposite you at the IMM..
We can call ourselves the flat battery brigade.

[Lakeland997]

Hi Josh, would you be intending to use that Facet fuel pump with the injection system you're planning? I think they are designed for carburettor fed engines.

Andy

[mini-van-josh]

Yes the dead battery gang that's us, hope you had a safe trip home from Ireland. No it's intended for being used with a Webber just until I get around to the engine, the shell work is the first job and the engine last.

Josh

[java gt]

As one of the organisers of IMM 2017 I spotted your Mini in Westport,hope you had a good time and you enjoyed yourself.I am just getting over it

[mini-van-josh]

imm was a great one this year, and coupled with the nice drive, good entertainment and welcoming people it all made for a great week.