Mini Show

[BruceK]

I attended a Mini Show today.   Tons of classic Minis with new MINIs mixed in too (I thought they were mortal enemies here in the UK, but apparently a truce has been negotiated)

There were some pristine Minis here, as well as daily drivers and scruffy cars too.  Very few Mk I and Mk I cars - to be expected since those are the oldest and the Brits just junked them back in the day. 

Lots of vendors too. Brand new stuff as well as tons of used parts. 

[BruceK]

Mucho spares

[BruceK]

Some of the cars

Love the Bridger & Croker dealer sticker.

[BruceK]

A very rare Moke prototype from 1959 - some 5 years before the Moke began production.  Very different body - no side pods.  Bench seats.   Fuel tank and battery are behind the rear seat.   Front and rear panels are different too.

[BruceK]

More of the prototype

[BruceK]

I'm having issues posting photos.  I'll try again later on.

[BruceK]

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[BruceK]

Waiting for a comment on this one.  ;D

[BruceK]

Some of the cars were for sale.   Prices ranged from a very optimistic £14,000 for a Clubman 1275GT to a more reasonable £2,500 for a running but tatty Mini.   An eye-opener was a very rusty but original Mk I 850 for a crazy £5,660

[BruceK]

Early window latches.  Yours for just £300 !

[BruceK]

More

[BruceK]

Very early car.  One of the first 2,000 built.

[BruceK]

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[BruceK]

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[BruceK]

Great story about a couple who bought a Mini new, later sold it and regretted it. 

Then they began a search to find it 18 years later.  And they did!

See before/after photos.

[BruceK]

Last 2 are of a CKD (complete knockdown kit) early Mini built in South Africa.   

[ADRay]

great reporting, never heard of Vetechbusa before...

also, on the subject of the General Lee motif... it's time to collectively decide that this has been done to death and is no longer cool, funny or interesting for any vehicle.

[BruceK]

great reporting, never heard of Vetechbusa before...

I only spoke to the people at the stand for a minute or so but what I learned was that this is a new company and they've developed some bespoke items to allow the engine conversion (including driveshafts, LSD, and reverse gearing).  The stock engine puts out 190 hp (!) and screams to 11,000 rpm  and is said to have good torque characteristics too. Unlike a Honda car engine, this conversion uses a regular old Mini subframe (which only needs a bit of trimming on the front cross member for clearance) and no bodyshell mods at all.   They suggest dropping your existing A-series engine and subframe out of your Mini, putting it aside, and building the Hayabusa engine up on a new subframe so you can revert the car back easily to the A-series and move the Hayabusa engine from car to car if wanted. 

I have no idea on cost - I wonder if it would be cheaper than a Honda conversion?    The other thing I wonder about is the robustness of the six speed sequential motorcycle gearbox since it has to deal with the additional mass of a car.

Still, it's  an interesting idea and it's good to see other engines besides Hondas being considered.

[joakwin]

I miss going to the UK mini shows, they are so awesome and parts are so cheap