New Mini Bodyshells
Clubman shells now available from British Motor Heritage
Restorers trying to reassemble Mini Clubmans have a new tool in their armoury - new bodyshells.
British Motor Heritage Limited - the only company in the world that produces original factory-standard bodyshells for classic cars - has added the Mini Clubman saloon bodyshell to its range. This new shell is suitable for rebuilding any Mini Clubman saloon or Mini 1275 GT from 1972 to 1980.
Heritage managing director, David Bishop said of the latest major launch : "The main demand for Mini bodyshells is obviously for the original-shape saloon, but we also identified a significant call for bodyshells to repair or rebuild Clubman and 1275GT models. We are now delighted to be able to satisfy another important group of customers in the UK and other markets."
While the production tooling for the original Mini body came largely intact from Longbridge after the car finished its phenomenal 41 year run in 2000, the press tools and assembly jigs for the Clubman-style front end hadn’t been used since 1980. Heritage therefore had to finance and instigate a considerable amount of assembly jig commissioning and press tool refurbishment in order to be able to produce the latest bodyshell.
The Clubman body can be purchased either as a complete shell fitted with doors, bonnet and boot lid, with a recommended VAT inclusive price of £2750, or as a bare shell for £2125. It is built to comply with all original-equipment design and engineering standards, but uses current-technology cathodic electrophoretic coating, seam sealing and oven sealed water-based primer, offering better corrosion resistance than was available in the 1970s.
For Mini Clubman and 1275GT owners who only require individual panels for repair and restoration, Heritage is now also offering the full range of panels that are unique to the Clubman. These join the range of Mini body panels in the Heritage range, making it possible to replace the most commonly-required sections of a reasonably sound body. As with the complete bodyshell, the panels are supplied in modern factory-standard electrophoretic primer.
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plotloss said:
Isn't there some sort of legality issue with the external hinges on the MK1 and 2 cars?
Can't see how there would be, it's not "illegal" to drive a MK1/2 mini on the road. When you are "rebuilding" a car you don't have to apply current safety regulations unless you intend to register it as new, and even then there are some dispensations (SVA and all that......)
Sorry Peter, you'll have to continue to restore your MK1/2 shells with the help of the excellent MiniMachine repo panels !!
I was asking about van shells, which will never be done
because they are missing too much tooling and it would be a major investment to reproduce, but pick up shells will be coming, as they apparently have the tooling.
Ian
It was a fantastic car and surprised many people but I just cant handle the driving position anymore.
Always good to see more options available for the people willing to go the whole way and restore them. Definately not worth it here, a mint one is only worth about the equivalent of 1,500 pounds.
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