Making your own brand new mini

[Iggle Piggle]

Hi all,

idle thinking and beers have given me the idea/dream of building a new mini from scratch.

It may not sound so crazy as its possible to get a brand new shell and all the parts, I am sure it could prove rather costly but imagining budget is not an issue what else could prove an issue if building one from scratch with a brand new shell?

Thanks

[Cooperman]

You can't get a brand new engine! That's a stopper if ever there was one.

[New POD]

Cooperman said:

You can't get a brand new engine! That's a stopper if ever there was one.

Someone must have an unused Gold seal sitting in a lock up somewhere ?

Apart from the block, and gearbox castings, I'm assuming that all the moving parts are available new

[Iggle Piggle]

I would consider using a Micra block as they were based on the A series up until approx 2007.

[Fatboy]

Cooperman said:

You can't get a brand new engine! That's a stopper if ever there was one.

If money was no object, I'm sure you could get one cast, or perhaps even machined from billet?

[Iggle Piggle]

Ok ignoring the engine question for a moment, what could legally/SVA type stand in the way?

[Butter Face]

Iggle Piggle said:

Ok ignoring the engine question for a moment, what could legally/SVA type stand in the way?

As long as it is built from all Brand New parts (bolts etc, everything IIRC) then it's a new car.

I personally would be fitting a more modern engine, something available in production that could be sourced a bit more easily.

[Iggle Piggle]

As said, if I was going to do this and I think at some point I will, then I will probably use the Micra 16v engine as it is essentially an A-Series, so it will keep it to the same lineage.

[Butter Face]

Iggle Piggle said:

As said, if I was going to do this and I think at some point I will, then I will probably use the Micra 16v engine as it is essentially an A-Series, so it will keep it to the same lineage.

Can you get the engine brand new though?

[Iggle Piggle]

Butter Face said:

Can you get the engine brand new though?

Doesn't have to be a brand new engine, I am more thinking about the body than the engine that would eventually go into it.

[Butter Face]

Iggle Piggle said:

Butter Face said:

Can you get the engine brand new though?

Doesn't have to be a brand new engine, I am more thinking about the body than the engine that would eventually go into it.

I was under the impression that everything had to be new to make it viable as building a brand new car.

[Iggle Piggle]

Sorry for that, I mean as new bodywise. Engine wise I can understand putting in something new but would rather keep it body/chassis new then the engine could be a rebuilt A series or similar. Using a Micra engine means little work with regards to the subframe

[ginettajoe]

Iggle Piggle said:

As said, if I was going to do this and I think at some point I will, then I will probably use the Micra 16v engine as it is essentially an A-Series, so it will keep it to the same lineage.

I'm intrigued! What gearbox does the Micra use, what capacity is the engine, ... 998, 1275 or what?? Do you know power figures for a standard 16v engine?? Howard

[Iggle Piggle]

The 1ltr and 1.3 are both the excat same cc as the mini as they were both the same block just further developed. Gearbox the lot can go in nicely

[Furyblade_Lee]

I never knew that!! And I don't quite believe it either... :-)

Edited by Furyblade_Lee on Sunday 26th February 22:15

[Iggle Piggle]

Furyblade_Lee said:

I never knew that!! And I don't quite believe it either... :-)

Edited by Furyblade_Lee on Sunday 26th February 22:15

There is a reason its the same specific cc, Datsun bought the right to license the engine.

[ginettajoe]

Iggle Piggle said:

The 1ltr and 1.3 are both the excat same cc as the mini as they were both the same block just further developed. Gearbox the lot can go in nicely

Thanks for that, very interesting, Howard

[guru_1071]

Cooperman said:

You can't get a brand new engine! That's a stopper if ever there was one.

oh really.......


not cheap, but they can be got.

[Furyblade_Lee]

The problem arises with IVA as you will need a certificate of "newness" from the engine supplier. Easily done, and often done, but if you want to badge the car as a Rover or whatever you might have to have an official "Rover" certificate. The best thing to do is pop over to the PH kitcar forum, there are some very knowdgeble people there regarding IVA and I am sure they can give you some definitive answers regarding building and registering a new "mini". Off the top of my head I would guess you could build a mini shaped car with full mini running gear and register it on a 61 plate or whatever, but you would not be able to call it a mini.

[Furyblade_Lee]

And I still don't believe that the Nissan Micra engine has anything similar to an A-Series apart from the exact CCs! I found no real info on the web regarding it.
As a side, Dataun also bought the rights to a 60's Alfa Romeo twincam, and built them Japanese style.. Eventually that 60's twink morphed into the 200SX turbo 2-litre. A friend has recently swapped the Alfa lump from his 1967 Giulia Sprint GT for said 200SX turbo engine, going from 130 to 300bhp in one stroke. The engine blocks were still so similar, even the engine mount bolts lined up... So I suppose if anyone could re-engineer the a-series, Dutsun could?