Going to be building an R1 powered Mini over the next 12-18 months ( ), have started looking for a suitable vehicle to get started with. Spotted this rolling shell on Ebay and am wondering if it's a good option? I've always liked the look of a deseamed Mini (seen a few in Miniworld UK and the like, looks ace IMHO, done well), but not sure if there are any potential issues with registering a deseamed vehicle? Would it be considered a modification and require an engineers approval (guessing so?). I've contacted the seller and this is what he had to say about the process they used:

"The work was carried out at Tony Carrol's, Panelbeater of Nelson Bay. First the seams were cut away in small sections throughout their length in sections of approx 2.5 to 3 inches in length ( somewhat resembling castelations) so all the various panels remained firmly fixed in their origional position. Then each cut away section was welded together by using a small tacking run technique so as to avoid any possible heat distortion of the panels. When these sections were completed each of the remaining seam section was individually removed in turn, again not working in close together areas, and that section also welded in the previously described manner. All welding was carefully carried out using a varying direction process and with very short application timeing so as to avoid any distortion whatsoever and none resulted. This whole welding process was carried out with a constant and continual check being made of the temperature of each metal panel. The complete seams have been totally welded all along their full lengths and this process took two full days to complete. The vehicle was then filled and faired to act as a mould."

So it sounds like they knew what they were doing and did a good and proper job? There are no front guards with the shell, but I was planning on a Carbon Fibre 2 piece front anyway (to get weight down), so I don't think this will be a big issue? Waddayareckon chaps?


Mini_3 by ten_sim, on Flickr


Mini_1 by ten_sim, on Flickr


Mini_2 by ten_sim, on Flickr


Mini_7 by ten_sim, on Flickr


Mini_4 by ten_sim, on Flickr

It has no boot

How do you get the fuel tank in

How do you get to the battery or is it now somewhere else, where

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1964 998cc Cooper
1971 Mini K x 2
1972 Clubman GT

So it doesn't! I didn't even notice that, . It was used to make a mould for a carbon fibre race shell, so I guess they bogged it over (or something?), I'm guessing (maybe!) that this would be reversible (as long as they haven't welded it??) Another question to ask the seller!

That is a 1977-1978 shell so check carefully for rust

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" A Hundred Years From Now It will not Matter what my Bank Acount Was,
The Sort Of House I Lived in, Or The Kind Of Car I drove ... But The World May Be A Better Place
Because I was Once Important In The Life Of A Child"

Id be very careful. Gotta remember they deseamed that shell for one purpose only - to make a plug for a mould. Who knows what's really under the bog?

I was thinking the same, why go to all that trouble of welding the way they said just to make a mold.

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1964 998cc Cooper
1971 Mini K x 2
1972 Clubman GT

Is it that late a model? I thought it was more a 60's shell, how do you tell the difference?



He was (supposedly) going to do a VTEC conversion on it, apparently... I'm up in North QLD and the car is located on the Central Coast NSW, so I can't inspect just now (though my in-laws are only an 1-2hrs away so my father-in-law could check it out maybe... Only looking at spending $500-$750 on this, not massive money...

I'm a fan of deseamed mini's. Had a few and done a few myself. As a matter of fact I've got one now. Done correctly there should be no strength issues and they are probably stronger that original.

But, I'm not a fan of deguttering the roof. It does something that (to me anyway) seems to ruin the look of the car.

It doesn't have the Rotodip post holes in the firewall and rear seat panel.
I also like (& have one) deseamed minis. Be certain of what's under the filler!

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Too many cars, and too little time.

Is it that late a model? I thought it was more a 60's shell, how do you tell the difference?[quote

On the very late Australian models, they no longer had the hole in the front or rear
for rota dip

_________________
" A Hundred Years From Now It will not Matter what my Bank Acount Was,
The Sort Of House I Lived in, Or The Kind Of Car I drove ... But The World May Be A Better Place
Because I was Once Important In The Life Of A Child"

Ah, I see, good to know! Didn't realise they made Aussie round-noses that late, thought they were all Clubmans in the '70's!

they didn't, they were all square shaped "clubmans" after mid '71. This is one of them, the externally obvious difference once the front has been removed is the tail lights, which of course this doesn't have.

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1964 998cc Cooper
1971 Mini K x 2
1972 Clubman GT

That is a clubman shell, I think he was going to put a round nose on it and
a few people have done this

_________________
" A Hundred Years From Now It will not Matter what my Bank Acount Was,
The Sort Of House I Lived in, Or The Kind Of Car I drove ... But The World May Be A Better Place
Because I was Once Important In The Life Of A Child"

So the bonnet is not correct for this shell? Can you just stick an older roundnose bonnet on a Clubman? Are the subframes the same over the years (thinking about the R1 conversion here...)

Yes the bonnet could be used but only if the rest of the front end used was also roundnose.

The subframes are the same, the changes that were possible were hydro or rubber cone suspension but you could fit either to the shell as long as you had all the associated pipes etc if hydro was wanted

_________________
1964 998cc Cooper
1971 Mini K x 2
1972 Clubman GT