Discussion
I have been browsing a couple of kit car websites and came across a Minari in the Which Kit? Classifieds.
It looks nice, has a 1.7 engine, cream leather interior, hardtop as well but doesn't have many details on it. The Minari website also doesn't seem to be working for some reason. Has anyone had experience of these cars or know what they are like to drive?
It looks nice, has a 1.7 engine, cream leather interior, hardtop as well but doesn't have many details on it. The Minari website also doesn't seem to be working for some reason. Has anyone had experience of these cars or know what they are like to drive?
I had one with a 1.5 Green Cloverleaf engine - all the mechanicals are Alfasud/Alfa 33/Sprint so the most powerful standard engines are the late 1.7-litre 8-valve and 16-valve units. I think the 16-valve is about 140bhp. Glassfibre monocoque with a steel tube engine subframe.
Good engines, good suspension, drive well and make a great noise. But, like a Sud, they're front-wheel drive which might put some people off.
Good engines, good suspension, drive well and make a great noise. But, like a Sud, they're front-wheel drive which might put some people off.
I built a Minari over a 9 month period between 1994 and early 95. It turned out to be the first 1.7 16V cloverleaf on the road (beating the guys at Minari in Stafford!) after I managed to get my hands on a J-reg Alfa 33 donor that had an argument with a tree. Needless to say the tree came off better than the rear axle which needed to be replaced.
Car was great fun to drive with ~190 bhp/ton and handled pretty well on the Momo / Yokohama A510's... in the dry at least ;-)
Posting yourself in across the wide sills and through the narrow door aperture (especially with hard top in place) was let's say, challenging... best not to be done outside a 5-star hotel - but at least it was a more funky looking car than the typical MX5 / Z3 brigade... almost like a mini TVR.
Insurance was cheap as chips - especially on a limited mileage policy. Pretty easy to build and fix - but probably worth getting an expert to cast their eye over it before you buy - just to make sure the suspension is properly aligned and no stupid mistakes were made during the build.
Car was great fun to drive with ~190 bhp/ton and handled pretty well on the Momo / Yokohama A510's... in the dry at least ;-)
Posting yourself in across the wide sills and through the narrow door aperture (especially with hard top in place) was let's say, challenging... best not to be done outside a 5-star hotel - but at least it was a more funky looking car than the typical MX5 / Z3 brigade... almost like a mini TVR.
Insurance was cheap as chips - especially on a limited mileage policy. Pretty easy to build and fix - but probably worth getting an expert to cast their eye over it before you buy - just to make sure the suspension is properly aligned and no stupid mistakes were made during the build.
Old thread I know, but one has come up for sale for £1500:
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/64593929...
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/64593929...
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