Discussion
This is my first post on here, had an issue logging in after i registered a few months back and forgot about Pistonheads, but obviously all working now.
This is my R56 Mini One, with a 60's - 70's retro look. I bought it standard 5 years ago as a daily driver, after the wife suggested getting one. Wasn’t really into the newer Minis then, but fancied doing a few bits to make it my own, so bought the most basic one i could find. I wasn't particularly after a One, but after looking at some proper crap, i found the Ones seemed better condition.
So it has no packs on it, came with the steelies and no wheel trims, though someone specced it with a pano roof. Since then I really got into the Mini scene, fell in love with the car and after 2 years, bought a Pug 308 to replace it as my daily, and started modding, but not the usual Mini route.
Fast forward to now, its currently in my garage in bits, having all the underside painted, as I got bitten by the show and shine bug last year, usually just show it with my local group but entered 2 show and shines and won 2 trophies.
Not to everyones taste but its different to the usual big alloys, modern look. Lots of positive comments from people of all ages, best of all was an old boy that said he hates the new Mini but really likes mine.
Mini Magazine did a 7 page feature in Sept 2023, and its been to many shows since then, looking forward to next show season after its refresh.
Everything on the car I have done myself, apart from banding the steelies, those went to Steve Fethers.
Current mods are:
BMC British Standard bronze green accents
BL wing badges
Cooper S fuel filler
One off bonnet & boot badges
1275 GT style side stripes
Genuine spotlamps
Standard bumper modified to accept centre exit Cooper S exhaust
70's AA grille badge
Standard Mini 15" steels, banded 40mm, 195 50 15 Toyo TR1 tyres
Rear wiper delete
Coilovers with short ARB links
Adjustable top mounts
M-Tech brakes
Front & rear strut braces
70's Astrali 3 spoke steering wheel modified to fit
70's style gear knob
MGB gear lever gaiter
Custom Smiths style gauge faces
Rear seat delete
Corbeau GT8 buckets
Painted dash trims
Stage 1 remap
4 branch manifold with sports cat
One off induction kit
Stainless Cooper S full centre exit exhaust modded with outward rolled tail pipes
Probably missed some bits!
More pics on Insta @g3_uav
Ben
This is my R56 Mini One, with a 60's - 70's retro look. I bought it standard 5 years ago as a daily driver, after the wife suggested getting one. Wasn’t really into the newer Minis then, but fancied doing a few bits to make it my own, so bought the most basic one i could find. I wasn't particularly after a One, but after looking at some proper crap, i found the Ones seemed better condition.
So it has no packs on it, came with the steelies and no wheel trims, though someone specced it with a pano roof. Since then I really got into the Mini scene, fell in love with the car and after 2 years, bought a Pug 308 to replace it as my daily, and started modding, but not the usual Mini route.
Fast forward to now, its currently in my garage in bits, having all the underside painted, as I got bitten by the show and shine bug last year, usually just show it with my local group but entered 2 show and shines and won 2 trophies.
Not to everyones taste but its different to the usual big alloys, modern look. Lots of positive comments from people of all ages, best of all was an old boy that said he hates the new Mini but really likes mine.
Mini Magazine did a 7 page feature in Sept 2023, and its been to many shows since then, looking forward to next show season after its refresh.
Everything on the car I have done myself, apart from banding the steelies, those went to Steve Fethers.
Current mods are:
BMC British Standard bronze green accents
BL wing badges
Cooper S fuel filler
One off bonnet & boot badges
1275 GT style side stripes
Genuine spotlamps
Standard bumper modified to accept centre exit Cooper S exhaust
70's AA grille badge
Standard Mini 15" steels, banded 40mm, 195 50 15 Toyo TR1 tyres
Rear wiper delete
Coilovers with short ARB links
Adjustable top mounts
M-Tech brakes
Front & rear strut braces
70's Astrali 3 spoke steering wheel modified to fit
70's style gear knob
MGB gear lever gaiter
Custom Smiths style gauge faces
Rear seat delete
Corbeau GT8 buckets
Painted dash trims
Stage 1 remap
4 branch manifold with sports cat
One off induction kit
Stainless Cooper S full centre exit exhaust modded with outward rolled tail pipes
Probably missed some bits!
More pics on Insta @g3_uav
Ben
Edited by g3_uav on Thursday 12th December 19:03
Edited by g3_uav on Thursday 12th December 19:06
Edited by g3_uav on Thursday 12th December 19:07
Edited by g3_uav on Friday 13th December 07:47
Looks really smart for a R56. Looking forward to some more updates on this.
My partner has a 56 cooper which i have to keep it alive on life support. Utterly infuriating design engineering on these things. From the ridiculous oil filter gasket location, to why the oil drain plug is on the bottom of the pan meaning you get oil in your arm pits to the constant rattling of interior panels regardless of how much felt tape i use. It's the utter bane of my life. However, does have some charm about it.
My partner has a 56 cooper which i have to keep it alive on life support. Utterly infuriating design engineering on these things. From the ridiculous oil filter gasket location, to why the oil drain plug is on the bottom of the pan meaning you get oil in your arm pits to the constant rattling of interior panels regardless of how much felt tape i use. It's the utter bane of my life. However, does have some charm about it.
Scoobydrew95 said:
Looks really smart for a R56. Looking forward to some more updates on this.
My partner has a 56 cooper which i have to keep it alive on life support. Utterly infuriating design engineering on these things. From the ridiculous oil filter gasket location, to why the oil drain plug is on the bottom of the pan meaning you get oil in your arm pits to the constant rattling of interior panels regardless of how much felt tape i use. It's the utter bane of my life. However, does have some charm about it.
Just uploaded a few more pictures and spec, got fed up earlier trying to do it on my phone, much easier on the laptop!My partner has a 56 cooper which i have to keep it alive on life support. Utterly infuriating design engineering on these things. From the ridiculous oil filter gasket location, to why the oil drain plug is on the bottom of the pan meaning you get oil in your arm pits to the constant rattling of interior panels regardless of how much felt tape i use. It's the utter bane of my life. However, does have some charm about it.
Ben
I'm sure you have lots of fun with it vikingaero said:
I like that. The Ones were the pick of the range in R50/R53/R56 variants because of the overall day to day usefulness and decent ride.
What I do "really" like about it is the amount of work that has gone into it.
Exactly the opposite of what it is now lol, impractical and uncomfortable, but much funWhat I do "really" like about it is the amount of work that has gone into it.
Arnold Cunningham said:
My first car was an original 1098cc Clubman and I always lusted after the 1275GT - more so than the Cooper.
Did you have the graphics & badges with 1598GT custom made, or does someone stock them?
I really like the valve cover, great attention to detail that mostly only you'll see
The badges are from Mini spares, but really poor quality. The printed part would fade after 3 months, the rear was originally a Mini Special badge. In the end I designed the centres myself and used my vinyl cutter to make them, so they are a one off. Getting an OG Mini bonnet badge to fit a new Mini is a ball ache too!Did you have the graphics & badges with 1598GT custom made, or does someone stock them?
I really like the valve cover, great attention to detail that mostly only you'll see
The graphics I found on ebay, and probably are what gave me the idea to go the route I have, everything else followed on from there.
Ben
What a fantastic looking wee Mini that is.. you've made a great job of it, with all your little touches.
The R56 are great looking little cars and with hindsight I sold my R56 MCS too quickly and really miss it. They are still semi-small in comparison to the newer Minis which have started to get quite big.. and the styling of the latest model has also been taken in the wrong direction as well, IMO.
The R56 are great looking little cars and with hindsight I sold my R56 MCS too quickly and really miss it. They are still semi-small in comparison to the newer Minis which have started to get quite big.. and the styling of the latest model has also been taken in the wrong direction as well, IMO.
RS Grant said:
What a fantastic looking wee Mini that is.. you've made a great job of it, with all your little touches.
The R56 are great looking little cars and with hindsight I sold my R56 MCS too quickly and really miss it. They are still semi-small in comparison to the newer Minis which have started to get quite big.. and the styling of the latest model has also been taken in the wrong direction as well, IMO.
Yeah not a fan of anything after the R series of cars tbh, they got a bit too BMW for me. I think the R56 was a good update of the R50-53, after that it all went a bit lardy.The R56 are great looking little cars and with hindsight I sold my R56 MCS too quickly and really miss it. They are still semi-small in comparison to the newer Minis which have started to get quite big.. and the styling of the latest model has also been taken in the wrong direction as well, IMO.
Love that- an R50 One was my first car so I'll always have a soft spot for these MINIs, the retro touches on yours look fantastic and it amazes me more people haven't had the same idea!
I'm glad the whole stigma of 'not a real MINI' seems to be gradually disappearing as they're really good cars in their own right and the R50/R53/R56 did about as good a job I think they could've done of recreating the character of the original in a modern car.
I'm glad the whole stigma of 'not a real MINI' seems to be gradually disappearing as they're really good cars in their own right and the R50/R53/R56 did about as good a job I think they could've done of recreating the character of the original in a modern car.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff