WTH??!?! Have you seen this item on ebay.

[evosal]

Given who the seller is I'm not sure I'd want to take the chance.

Don't bid then......simple

[UHR850]

[Lakeland997]

Given who the seller is I'm not sure I'd want to take the chance.

If it helps, I've bought two cars from him and they've both been as described.
He does seem to have a knack of rooting out some interesting stuff.

[GraemeC]

I've also bought from him and had no issue. I may have paid a little over the odds it I didn't feel stuffed. It was a pleasant experience and he let me nose around the other stuff he had, invited me into his home etc.
OK some of his descriptions may be 'carefully worded' but I'm not sure he deserves the level of bad press he gets from people who have probably never even spoken to him, never mind dealt with him!

[mab01uk]

Austin Mini 1990 - Rare Hatchback prototype
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-Mini-1 ... 3cefbca070

I have my doubts about that being a real prototype...

However interesting to note the Minki sketches below from 1992 and the one with the rear lights lifting along with the tailgate..........

The information below, along with a brochure and slide show were used to make a presentation to Rover senior management in October 1992.

1) Improve the powerunit, by installing the ‘K’ series engine with a 5-speed gearbox

2) Improve the suspension, by installing hydragas suspension.

3) Improve the driving position, by installing better seats, altering the rack of the steering column, and along with the fascia / controls

4) Improve its overall luggage capacity, by making it into a hatchback and altering the rear end package.



"The thinking behind the replacement for the Mini started back in about 1992, while under the ownership of British Aerospace and called at that time The Rover Group.
So how was the name MINKI arrived at, simple, put a ‘K’ series engine into a Mini and you have MINKI."

Minki-I
was built by Rover when under BAe ownership and later scrapped.

Minki-II
1995 arrived, and so did BMW! They were surprised that Rover had such a strong brand of Mini, but no plans to do anything with it. Plans for a new Mini were required, and a ‘competition’ was set up, for later on in 1995, to decide on the route forward.
It was decided that a part of that event should be a vehicle that represented what current Mini could have become if investment and development had been put into the Mini over many years. This vehicle would then act as a better benchmark than a standard current Mini for judging what the new Mini needed to beat.
Fortunately, all of the old Minki-I stuff had just been scrapped off, so a Minki-II was hastily required! I say fortunately, because in comparison, the Minki-II project was a very grand affair! By this time, our senior management had seen BMW in operation, and were impressed by the way that they did everything properly, with very high quality prototype vehicles, excellent engineering, etc. Minki-II had to live up to this standard. Great! It was a proper project, with designers and even a few bought-out parts!
The Full Minki Story here:
http://www.austinmemories.com/page46/page46.html





Quote from Ebay Ad.
"This is an unusual Austin Mini. It was used as a prototype to prove that the Mini could be converted to a hatch back. The conversion was carried out by a company in Reddith which specialised in repairs for the Austin Rover Group. Having proved it worked, a further conversion was carried out on a brand new shell from Austin Rover for a special customer."

[surfblue63]

BMC knew how to build a Hatchback in 1964 when it made the car that Ernest Marple owned and used.

http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/facts-a ... -a-decade/

There’s still some debate over who actually produced the first hatchback Mini. Both Hooper and Radford are said to have produced three-door versions before BMC got into the act in 1964 although it was Longbridge-based Engineer Dick Gallimore’s version that certainly ticks the box and proved an inspiration to rival manufacturers thanks to the car’s high-profile owner, UK transport Minister, Ernest Marples. The car’s full-depth tailgate was added to Marples’ Mini at the factory and looked like a very neat conversion.

This car came up for sale about 5 years ago and went to Italy at that time.

This is a shot of the Minki project

page46_6.jpg

http://www.austinmemories.com/page46/page46.html

The Minki-I exhibits were eventually scrapped.

It appears that the wording of that ad needs to be taken with a large pinch of salt.

[surfblue63]

Needs some work

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C572145

[rich@minispares.com]

Needs some work

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C572145

its been overchopped, I think the headlamp rings are going to touch the indicators and the mustache.....

[nick@dunsdale]

Can't be many of these left in this condition.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1973-MINI-CLU ... 1631443882

[mini63]

a couple of rarities here in Oz...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/deta ... =6&sdmvc=1

I'm pretty sure that original doesnt mean modified but its rare....
http://www.carsales.com.au/private/deta ... =8&sdmvc=1

[Old English White]

The '63 countryman looks very nice - and has a "Super" grille fitted which somebody would be very keen to acquire no doubt!

[mk1]

I really like both those Aussie offerings.

[madaboutcherry]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291345782779? ... EBIDX%3AIT

[rich@minispares.com]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291345782779? ... EBIDX%3AIT

what a turd


even with my epic level of bad taste and love of hideous mini based kit cars, stuff like this doesn't even excite me.

it looks as if it belongs on a child's fairground ride

[foxy52]

Worse that a turd !!.. looks like a cut and chop Bond Equipe.. hid !!!.. still each to his own.. foxy52

[evonaut]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121537092252? ... EBIDX%3AIT

sitting on a gold mine!

[Tim]

Both very nice, but the ute would be so much better if it was original.

Tim

[mab01uk]

1959 Morris Mini chassisnumber below 2000!!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1959-Morris-M ... 43d589853e

[MiniMark1]

Thought this would be of interest:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1969-MORRIS-M ... 2348a632b3

Australian Spec?

Looks rather nice!

[Tupers]

This one's quite tidy although it's a shame it a reshell. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1972-BL-Mini- ... 1392986061

The Allegro engine steadies are an interesting addition.