The best shells
Discussion
Inspired from the 500 thread and some comments made there. What in the opinions of you in the know where the best mini shells to have your mini based on. Mk1,2,3,4,5?
Primarly i am thinking weight, and rust prone'ness. I was always told the MK3 shells where the best they made, but maybe you can tell me something different...
Also what sort of weight on the road is your mini. 800kg?
Primarly i am thinking weight, and rust prone'ness. I was always told the MK3 shells where the best they made, but maybe you can tell me something different...
Also what sort of weight on the road is your mini. 800kg?
The Mk 1's and 2's have a stronger shell in the area of the apex panel/A-post lower end as the apex is double thickness to take the external hinges. The sub-frame mounting is also better on the early cars as the later ones have the front sub-frame mountings right in the middle of the flat front bulkhead rather then at the floor to bulkhead join which is much stronger. Apart from that the basic struture is virtually identical on all cars except for minor differences.
The early cars should be lighter and Mk 1 & 2 shells don't suffer from scuttle panel/screen rail corrosion like the later cars do so badly. The last cars had door-bars and other things which increased the weight, but the lightest must be the very early Mk 1 850's.
My 1964 Cooper 'S' in full rally trim, with a full gage, all the rallly extras like sump guard, lights, etc, but with perspex windows, weighs in at 715 kg with about 1/3rd full of fuel (i.e. 3.5 gallons). I've not weighed any other Mini.
The early cars should be lighter and Mk 1 & 2 shells don't suffer from scuttle panel/screen rail corrosion like the later cars do so badly. The last cars had door-bars and other things which increased the weight, but the lightest must be the very early Mk 1 850's.
My 1964 Cooper 'S' in full rally trim, with a full gage, all the rallly extras like sump guard, lights, etc, but with perspex windows, weighs in at 715 kg with about 1/3rd full of fuel (i.e. 3.5 gallons). I've not weighed any other Mini.
My Se7en Racer is based off a Mk3. Full weld in cage - bang 648kg all up with driver and 5L of juice. Needs a little bit of lead to hit class minimum (650kg).
Anything Pre Mk5 seems to be better from a steel perspective point of view - the last ones seemed to be made from recycled dog food cans.
...And anything in russet brown. This colour seems to have some anti corrosion properties LOL - My folks one is pristine and is a tender 32 years young.
<ebayrussetbrownstampede>
Anything Pre Mk5 seems to be better from a steel perspective point of view - the last ones seemed to be made from recycled dog food cans.
...And anything in russet brown. This colour seems to have some anti corrosion properties LOL - My folks one is pristine and is a tender 32 years young.
<ebayrussetbrownstampede>
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