There are a couple of nuts over in Shropshire that are building a classic Mini, but not exactly in the classic way!
They film it as they go and they're pretty funny, the clips are part Monty Python, part Police Story but there's no questioning the talent and craftsmanship. The 8th episode just aired, but I'll put them in one at a time from #1, so you can get to know the lads.
So, here's how it all began.....
In the first episode of Project Binky, we take a rotten old Austin Mini and strip it down to a bare shell. We then take an angle grinder to it and cut it to pieces. It's only then that the customised rebuilding process starts.
We're trying to create one of the fastest Minis on the planet. We're going to rebuild it with the engine and running gear from a Toyota Celica ST185 GT4. Or at least that's the plan. Whether it comes off or not is another matter. We're filming this as it happens so what you see is only a few weeks behind where we're actually at so we're not sure yet whether we can do it. That's kind of the fun though.
Stick with us through the highs and the lows of the project. Hopefully it'll be worth the agony and cash.
Feel free to share it far and wide!
Thanks for watching.
Episode 2
In the 2nd episode of Project Binky, we start to get down to the nitty gritty of the build. We strip out the front bulkhead, make all new suspension mounting points and drink a lot of tea. We also travel to Goodwood for a cheeky track day. The project to fit all of the running gear from a Toyota Celica ST185 GT-Four into a Mini 1000 without widening or lengthening it, really starts to take shape.
There'll be more by Christmas 2013 we hope, so please subscribe to our channel to get all the updates.
Thanks for watching, we hope you enjoy our escapades.
Feel free to share it far and wide!
Episode 3
Project Binky: A Toyota Celica GT-Four engine, gearbox and running gear is being shoe-horned into a 1980 Mini 1000. In episode 3, the turbo-charged 3SGTE engine gets put aside as we concentrate on getting the rear suspension and sub-frame mounted in the back of the Mini. Silliness abounds in this monster project.
We very much hope you enjoy watching. Please subscribe to our channel to receive regular updates!
Thanks for watching!
Episode 4
Project Binky: A Toyota Celica GT-Four engine, gearbox and running gear is being shoe-horned into a 1980 Mini 1000. In episode 4, the Mini finally gets an engine. All the running gear gets installed and there's a miracle prop-shaft situation.
It finally dawns on us that it just might be possible to get the 3SGTE engine in the car and the project might just work!
Please share far and wide. Thanks for watching!
Episode 5
In episode 5 of Project Binky, we finally manage to get the front bulkhead finished and make a start on making good the rear end. The quest to build one of the world's fastest Austin Minis continues.
Episode 6
Bad Obsession Motorsport's mental project to shoehorn the entire running gear from a Toyota Celica GT-Four into a Mini without lengthening or widening it continues in episode 6. The shell fabrication is nearly complete.
Episode 7
In episode 7 of Project Binky, the Mini gets most of the chassis fabrication completed, the radiator gets sorted and the car gets electric windows and central locking. Oh, and Nik has a birthday party. The quest to build one of the world's fastest Mini's continues....
Episode 8
The quest to build one of the world's fastest Mini's continues....
In Episode 8, we get a pair of nice doors, Nik gets annoyed with the boot lid and we both flip out over the front end panel work. Really hope you enjoy it. Please share! Thanks for watching.The project episodes first aired in August 2013 and Episode 8 aired on Christmas 2014 - this is a weekends only, when they have a spare moment kind of project, but I'm hoping it's all done by August this year - a 2 year build. I think in the next episode it will be painted, and the final engine fabrication work will get started. I'm looking forward to the next episode, hopefully sometime in Feb or early March.
Fun way to spend an afternoon watching videos huh. I have been keeping up with it on-going. Great workmanship and skills.
I figured some people would be watching it already, but since there was no thread I thought I'd put them all up here for everyone to see.....
Yeah. I get updates with every new episode. Love the work on that car. I'd love to have the time/money/ability to do that.
Quote from: MiniDave on January 12, 2015, 02:36:22 PM
I figured some people would be watching it already, but since there was no thread I thought I'd put them all up here for everyone to see.....
I put it up awhile ago in 'The Lounge' since it wasn't one of our restoration projects...
http://www.restorationmini.com/forum/index.php?topic=543.msg5802#msg5802 (http://www.restorationmini.com/forum/index.php?topic=543.msg5802#msg5802)
But this is a great break out of the episodes - think I'm only up to 6; not sure what the hell I've been doing with myself lately. ;D
Oops, sorry.....I tired a search but nothing came up.
Episode 9 has finally launched! It was Christmas when the last one came out....
Published on Apr 17, 2015
Yes it's taken a long time, but episode 9 is finally here. The shell is complete along with a few extra flourishes. We start on the interior and the BOM family grows by two. Oh, and Nik gets a haircut.
Follow the madness of the project trying to build one of the world's fastest Mini's.
Episode 10 came out a bit ago, I'm hoping 11 will show any day now.
Published on Jul 31, 2015
The quest to build one of the world's fastest Mini's continues...
In episode 10 of Project Binky, we mainly concentrate on getting the controls sorted. There's pedal box and steering action along with a fight with some major bump steer
I'm woefully behind on these episodes now. I think I like always having new ones to watch more than watching them...so if I never watch any I'll always be able to have new ones available. To not watch. 8.gif
On Bad Obsession's Facebook page they say they're pretty close to releasing Chapter 11 now......it's about damn time! ;D
Episode 11 is out at last!
Caution, they use.................gasp...........MATH in this one!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob-FUF0Sh_E&feature=youtu.be
Quote from: MiniDave on December 04, 2015, 04:33:44 PM
Episode 11 is out at last!
Caution, they use.................gasp...........MATH in this one!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob-FUF0Sh_E&feature=youtu.be
That was enjoyable. Thanks.
Good discussions about bump steer and ackerman, both concepts difficult to get across in my Steering and Suspension classes.....
Interesting comment he made about how far the wheels stick out from under the body work - they said it's not as bad as it looks???????
The lads keep putting up teasers on their Facebook page about the upcoming episode 12, I think it could be any day now!
They still have such a long ways to go, they haven't done any of the engineering for the engine, building a turbo mount and so on. I also wonder about using a radiator for an intercooler - doesn't seem to me that it would have enough volume flow, but I could be wrong.
I think the lads are pressing on tho, I saw this today on their webpage.....
It is with much excitement that we can announce that the public unveiling of Project Binky will be at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed. From 23rd to 26th June, we'll be at the famous Goodwood circuit in West Sussex.
As part of the Link Engine Management stand, we'll be there showing off the car -whether it's finished or not – drinking tea and generally hanging out watching some of the world's greatest vehicles and drivers hooning up a hill.
The Link Engine Management stand is no.77 so if you're going to this amazing event, please come along and say hi.
We simply cannot tell you how excited we are about this opportunity and we have to express our deep thanks to all at Link ECU for making this happen, especially to Philip Royds who came up with the idea in the first place.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Episode 16 is now live!
I did not pick up on who they had for a tea-boy till the end!
These guys are crazy. Love it. Can't believe we've been watching them for 3 years.
I know.....and they still have a LOOOONNNNNNGGGGGGG way to go!
I can't believe the time it took to make that p/s bracket. That explains quite a lot, but the bracket was very well made.
I guessed who the floor sweeper/tea guy was at the beginning - but I wouldn't have paid attention if you had not mentioned it above.
That was fun. Even Edd enjoyed it.
oh no, they added a bracket for the cloaking device!
The first episode of Project Binky just popped up on my YouTube feed with the notation underneath that it was uploaded 7 years ago. Holy crap! Has it been that long?
Yep, and it STILL isn't done yet, although I bet it's more done that we realize since the last episode was how many months ago?
So....this weekend, for all the special people like Bruce, they will be showing binky - in COLOR!
That's right, Binky is back from the paint shop, although I think the trimmers are still busy with the interior.
So, unless they were just showing an "interesting" color of primer it will be.......well, I won't give it away. I'll let Bruce do that since he's patreon. 77.gif
Edit: can't believe the twins will be 6 in a few months!
Actually, I'm no longer special. The key word here is "longer". As in "longer time" than anyone could have anticipated. I signed on as a paying sponsor for Project Blinky back in 2014 or so, thinking it would all be completed in relatively short order. Sometime about 6 years later (!) I decided to pull the plug on my small financial contributions.
So will have to wait just as long as the rest of the peanut gallery to see the new video.
Oh, so it was a yearly thing? Didn't know that....
Well, we'll all see it I think Sat night.
Unless I'm mistaken, the color they went with is a lime green metallic....looks kinda like the color of aircraft aluminum primer.....not far off of the color of my avatar. :-\
I mean, I can understand wanting it to be easily seen.....
That bright green is so they can find their way back to it to complete the 3 years of assembly lol.
No, the contribution was per video, not annually.
I saw your name on the Patreon list well into the double digit videos, when the list got so long I quit watching it.
Wonder how long before they put up the first of the re-assembly videos? Since they announced they're changing ECU's, I wonder if that means more wiring? And a different bracket?
They're still running short part episodes on FB to generate buzz on the project again. I think they did the paint one in like 12 short vids! Now they're back on like episode 12 or 13 again......
Nice to see they honored the original color scheme - with a BOM twist that is!
Quote from: MiniDave on February 13, 2021, 06:46:25 PM
And a different bracket?
Never ever doubt the desire to design and build a new bracket!!!