This reminds me of a 1966 mini I built in 1977 as a teenager. Mine had blue tinted pearl white paint, a tilting FG front end with moulded in flares and spoiler, full roll cage and full race engine. It was basically a track car I drove on the street. In the 80s I started a shop specializing in them and I owned dozens.
Crazy cool. As a owner of a 1973 Mini 1001 it drives me nuts when other classic owners look down at other classics for not be original or shitting on the new BMW MINI. Drive and build what you love!
William J Sisti i gladly shit on the bmw mini, because it's a cynical, exploitative marketing excercise designed purely to make money for greedy shareholders, and has *nothing* to do with the spirit of the original car. alec issigonis would die again if he could see it. otherwise i'm with you all the way.
I am a Mini guy all the way. The BMW MINI's are actually cool to me, because they're still small sporty cars (by modern standards) and plus, the new countryman is AWD and can be ordered with a 6MT. All of the Mini's can have a MT which is crazy. Now, trying to find a classic mini with only 2 grand in the US is impossible.
I've thought about the idea of a modern "classic" mini; same body, but modern engine, brakes, wheels, performance etc. I'd be so happy with a car like that.
G'day from West Australia for 38yrs trade life building car's I have always told my customers, It's your build I Am just the guy building it properly for you. Using your vision, screw what anyone thinks of it it's your car enjoy it.
I love that you're not an uppity purist. This car is 100% in the spirit of John Cooper, who took the Mini from humble people's car to race winner in the '60s. I guess in that way, John Cooper himself is not a Mini purist :)
Love the car and a great story as well. If I ever get up to Vancouver I’m looking this guy up for coffee and car talk. Seems like a really good / funny guy.
I have a fast-road 1967 Mk1 Mini and whilst your one may not be so old, you have captured 'the look' of an early Mini very well indeed and have built a more practical vehicle for modern roads. I like your approach very much and like you, my car is a reflection of who I am. Just be slightly wary of magnesium wheels - they are not especially strong.
This is such a beautifully built Mini! Hats off to you, Sir!! I built a 1970 mk3 (from a roof & front/ rear bulkheads... used gen Heritage panels to complete the shell) back between 2000- 2002 with a Vauxhall 2.0 XE 16v 250bhp QED .motor & LSD gearbox... it was featured in MiniWorld mag in early 2003, them in Retro Cars mag here in the UK. It was on 6x13s both times. It weighed in at just 600kgs! I then went back to gen 6x10 Minilites... it was much better to drive on them! That got the weight down to 560kgs due to the smaller wheels & KAD brakes! Still a torque steery beast with a 3 second 0-60, but much more handlable. The top speed dropped from 142mph to 136mph, but then again, who wants to do those speeds in a Mini, even with a 16 point roll cage? Total cost came in at £23k, but I sure had a lot of fun!!
That car has soul. I was musing on whether de-seaming it would add or take away from the cool factor. The wheels are too cool for school. Tens used to seem too small. They look perfect on your mini. I guess it makes you smile as it shoots along like a cheeky go kart. I really think it has a lot of soul!
Very nest. And live the statement about building a car that you love and moves you. Minis are one of my favourite cars and thus one is neat. The fender flares and window visors are right on.
I´m absolutely in love. This is the most beautiful car i´ve ever seen. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. Very, very, very, very good job here. If i´m ever getting rich, this is what my car should look like :D
I bought an 05 civic coupe as a commuter while my WRX is parked or more truly, in the garage. I have to say, I have fallen in love with this car and honestly, I’m looking into building this into a k20 Turbo build just from how much fun that I have had. I have also looked into the R53 mini but didn’t purchase due to fear of being stranded from all of the horror stories that I have heard over the years although I love the body style. There’s a gentleman near me that owns a Mclaren 570, 2nd Gen NSX and a classic mini and is just overall a cool guy. His wife drives the NSX and he drives the McLaren and Mini and that was my first true experience next to a classic Mini. Edit: 6’4 is interesting in a classic mini lol
I am running a mini. Love the classic mini . I have had 4 . One a mini van & a mini pickup. I am 45 years old. If I had kept them lol. I have had Ford rs, . Golf mk4 R32 . WRX. But I am back to a mini . But this time gone for a mini 1st gen 2051 . As I think one day they will be a classic. Not all the new bwm minis will . The new 5door is well let’s not go there lol. But I am running nitrous thanks to wizards of nitrous. 300bhp . But still got big ideas for it. Track day car with rollcage . Separate fuel sell, to mix the petrol with meth/ and nitrous. Great work
Felix, great video! I like the Mini and one of my next cars is likely to be a V-tech mini. I am like you I love building a car that gives me pleasure that is fast, cool and reliable. Great job!
I used to have a '79 850cc Mini... slow as fuck but fun as hell. I wish I could drop the 4AGE I have now into the Mini I had then. Love your work, good it up xD
Build what you can afford.. I've lost a lot of money wanting to build a fast car cuz of my big ego and that piece of shit never started and it made me mad af lol Now I just have a car that brings me from a to b 🤷🏼♂️ and I'm happy with it haha Love this Mini!! It's unique for sure.
