Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

[mk1]

Now they have posted some pictures on FB, I guess it's OK to post them here.

Minispares, prototype Cooper S block. This is how far down the road this particular project is!

[Fanfaniracing]

Cool!

Is it made of alloy?

[Polarsilver]

Well Done Minispares 10 out of 10 for trying ..looks to be a proper job, what would we do without them ?

[mini_surfari]

Well Done Minispares 10 out of 10 for trying ..looks to be a proper job, what would we do without them ?

No doubt some folks will find "lots" wrong with it & tell everyone how they could have done better

Undoubtedly!

I hope they are priced well enough to make them viable.. and by that I mean considering the price of buying a used 1275 engine, plus all the standard machining work to allow it to go again, plus abit more on top, would make them sell to the normal man.

Or will the price be aimed at the high end restorer/ appendix k racers....

[AndyB72]

Some serious amount of time and effort gone into that, hats off.
Now should I sell the two standard bore 1275GT blocks I've got sharpish before the value drops like a stone

[steve1071]

Some serious amount of time and effort gone into that, hats off.
Now should I sell the two standard bore 1275GT blocks I've got sharpish before the value drops like a stone

I've noticed there's been a few on ebay recently...….

[Pandora]

I might need a replacement 1300GT block for the van, so when (by that I mean AFTER) values plummet, do let me know chaps

Fair play to Minispares though, that's a mammoth project! We really don't know how lucky we are.

Al

[Costafortune]

This should bring down the prices of shagged originals.

The alloy block looks superb. A coat of etch primer and green paint...........

[AndyPen]

This should bring down the prices of shagged originals.

The alloy block looks superb. A coat of etch primer and green paint...........

Not too much or it won't look original

[spoon.450]

Does everyone want a thick flange though ??
What about repro 163 heads ?

[Exminiman]

Assume there will be an inline version ?

Maybe even, ditching the scroll oil seal for a 21st century solution ?

[Pete]

This should bring down the prices of shagged originals.

The alloy block looks superb. A coat of etch primer and green paint...........

Not necessarily, you could possibly buy and machine an original one for less than purchase cost? Won't know til we see a price I suppose.

[9330FN]

Any idea when they will be ready an on the shelves?

[jbz23]

The rough figure was £2000 plus vat i was quoted for a new block from them .

[Polarsilver]

£2k +vat .. Bargain Price given what is comes with .. quick its time to sell of the stash of old 1275 Engine Blocks & buy a new one from MS

[jbz23]

Mark

I asked the gentleman working for minispares that day and that’s what he told me

Cheers

[swifty]

I've been told more like £1500 including vat ! .... At the end of the day it's a buisiness and they need them to sell , not sit on the shelf ... ken

[Exminiman]

might be testing the water ?

[Alex]

Even more interesting is the discussion I had regarding testing the aluminium casting - it'll need liners, and my money is on it not working due to vibration & flex, but apparently it's going to happen.

[Alex]

I'm not at liberty to reveal sources (as they print in the papers) but the guy I was chatting to, and have known for 20+ years, was adamant that they will be testing an aluminium block, primarily aimed at racers who compete in series that will allow such a thing.
I was sceptical, and am convinced that it won't work (having spoken to people in the past who had some of the factory aluminium castings) for a multitude of reasons if they do try it - but Mr ****** stood his ground in the company of some of the big US 'names' present and reiterated the intention of testing it.