Page 1 of 3

Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2019 8:12 am
by 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!

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2019 8:31 am
by Fanfaniracing
Cool!

Is it made of alloy?

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2019 8:47 am
by Polarsilver
Well Done Minispares 10 out of 10 for trying ..looks to be a proper job, what would we do without them ?

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2019 9:20 am
by mini_surfari
mk1 wrote:
Polarsilver wrote: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 :lol: :lol:
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....

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2019 9:34 am
by 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 :)

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2019 9:39 am
by steve1071
AndyB72 wrote: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...….

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2019 10:23 am
by 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 :lol:

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

Al

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2019 5:51 pm
by Costafortune
This should bring down the prices of shagged originals.

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

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2019 7:03 pm
by AndyPen
Costafortune wrote: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 ;-)

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2019 9:35 pm
by spoon.450
Does everyone want a thick flange though ??
What about repro 163 heads ?

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2019 11:30 am
by Exminiman
Assume there will be an inline version ?

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

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2019 6:11 pm
by Pete
Costafortune wrote: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.

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2019 12:25 pm
by 9330FN
Any idea when they will be ready an on the shelves?

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2019 11:57 am
by jbz23
The rough figure was £2000 plus vat i was quoted for a new block from them .

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2019 12:58 pm
by 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 :o

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2019 10:37 am
by jbz23
Mark

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

Cheers

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2019 12:38 pm
by 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

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2019 12:43 pm
by Exminiman
might be testing the water ? :shock:

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2019 2:30 pm
by 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.

Re: Minispares Cooper S Block's - First pictures

Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2019 5:19 pm
by 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.