Longbridge Tunnel Mini Clubman is Out!

[mab01uk]

Some may remember this previous report and photos of the Mini Clubman/1275GT abandoned in the tunnels beneath Longbridge:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4550&start=10#p31693

Update....its out!
Latest photo and a report on the 'tunnel' Mini Clubman rescue is now on AROnline
News : The final Mini leaves Longbridge
http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/news/ne ... ongbridge/

[mk1]

I'm glad that someone has rescued it, but do wonder about the "sense" of getting it restored.

Surely it stands as a fitting testament to all the people who managed to ruin a great company as it is.

[mab01uk]

Mini is salvaged after lying hidden at factory for 30 years
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ne ... z2EhHZeNO6

[mk1]

“I’ve already been offered £20,000 for it — but I’d never sell it.”

Yeh, right!

[999 ORX]

Even more shocking he actually thinks he's going to do it justice with a budget of £10,000.. He should have left it mangled. He will sell it, he's talking out of his bottom..

[Pete]

I must admit I also don't think £10K will go very far ?? It is a great story but sadly doubt much of that car could be described as the last Mini to leave Longbridge when it's finished (typical car resto then??) , maybe the last floor pan and bulkheads to leave Longbridge ?? Good for him anyway for sticking with it.

[Pete]

The roof's up already.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEeT0aXKT5k

[mk1]

NICE WORKSHOP!

[contour51]

NICE WORKSHOP!

It's orgasmic and I guess the reason you can't see any tools is,because he's using this method on the bodywork
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTARm_Wze3M.
Cheers Gareth

[814CWE]

[mk1]

Can't wait until I get a small dent so I can give this a try

[contour51]

Hey Mark,
why wait ,then you can also try this method .
Cheers Gareth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CgigL1610Y

[Andrew1967]

Its really fantastic that this car has been rescued as I always thought what a shame for it to be left abandoned in the tunnel.

However, I do have to wonder whether it's uniqueness and fascination is because of its story. All of that will be lost when it's restored and made roadworthy in a similar way as No8 will after restoration.

What will happen on registration? I presume it was never registered for the road and so how will the DVLA treat it ? My guess is a Q plate

In any situation, congratulations to the rescuer.

[814CWE]

probably be treated as a kit car

[36inter]

I would have thought it would be issued an age related plate.

Pete

[mk1]

When I got my blue 850 that had a series of massive dents in the roof. I have one of those paintless dent removal people do it & was staggered by the results. Every bit as good as the youtube clip above.

He did have a good moan about the surprising thickness of the MK1 tin work though

[In the shed]

Mark, I am interested in your dents. Can you talk some more about them. My mini has been unburied from it's blankets in the shed and a big pile of paper had fallen on the back of the roof. It's pointless trying to photograph it, because you can barely see it. But the roof has sort of flattened a bit at the rear on both sides. This is something you can run your hand on and there is a sort of ridge (you probably know exactly what I am talking about). It is something I'd be quite keen on sorting. It spoils it.

[In the shed]

Mark, I am interested in your dents. Can you talk some more about them. My mini has been unburied from it's blankets in the shed and a big pile of paper had fallen on the back of the roof. It's pointless trying to photograph it, because you can barely see it. But the roof has sort of flattened a bit at the rear on both sides. This is something you can run your hand on and there is a sort of ridge (you probably know exactly what I am talking about). It is something I'd be quite keen on sorting. It spoils it.

If you were to climb on the back of your mini as a sort of stepladder and the roof suddenly bent downwards (like it would) you would get this effect. It's gone back up again, but is sort of flattened above the apex of the curve. I really do not want to go re-roofing it.

[Tim]

Dents in Mini roofs are really common here. Every Mini I've owned has had them. In most cases they are caused by footprints. Its just too easy to step onto the front guard then onto the roof. Although they are often very minor the gently curve of the roof and the fact that its at eye level makes them really noticeable. It can take ages to sort them out.

Tim

[mk1]

The dents I had were a MASSIVE series of fist marks right on the tight part of the radius immediately above the drivers door. They extended about 18" - 2', were about 6" wide & were really bad!

The guy got every part of them out without any sign of him having done anything at all apart from a tiny area where the paint had cracked due to the original damage. I am absolutely certain that a similar bloke could rectify your problem with no damage whatsoever to a standard that would not be visible to the human eye.

When I had mine done, I could not believe the quality of the result.