Mini Cooper 1275S Rally with a big difference

Couldn't wait to start this project and I don't know wether it has been done before.

Taking the Mini Cooper 1275S Rally Car as below and turning it into:naughty: .........................................
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1143387223.jpg

........................A coupe with some meaty arches stolen from a kids toy mini I found:iceslolan .
Started by removing the unwanted window frames/sides, de-seamed the body and removed the door hinges for a smoother look.
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-102-1138047161.jpg

The toy mini was virtually the same scale as the model but the side skirts till need to lenghtened.
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1143387541.jpg

Will use the roof to form the coupe part and will be a two seater if everthing goes to plan.
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-102-1138047311.jpg

A long way to go yet can't wait to see how it comes out.

Oh, I am DEFINITELY following this one!!!!
Great idea. :bigthumb:

At first I was outraged that you wanted to defiule my beloved Miini (j/k) ;)
The i reminded myself that the Mini (with the proabable exception of the VW Beetle) is probably most "defiled" car in the world.

My all-time favourite Mini defilement is seeing it turned into a hot dog shop on wheels :biggrin: Honestly seen one in Brighton in the UK!

The decapitation came out good. Have fun with this.

Great idea - it's been done with real ones but I've never seen a model.
Keep us posted

Good luck with it.

Why I never thought about that... Nice project.

It's gonna be pretty cold in the French Alps in January without the roof.

Chopped the roof and fitted it to the back end, roof fitted well at the rear but a couple of milimeters short at the front but you will never know when its finished

http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1143387792.jpg

Added the bumpers minus the spotlights to mold into the arches and as you can see well into the puttying stage.
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1143387825.jpg

Stole some seats from another kit to give the interior a sporty feel, as fully on display.
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1143387844.jpg

Havn't decided yet whether to put some form of tubing behind head rests for the roll over bars yet, but being so wide it would take some rolling over :naughty:

Do the tubing IMO.
Sod the rationale behind it, it'll look great if it's not too OTT :biggrin:

I fear I might have to copy you one day with this project ;)

great looking project... it looks like the roof came off cleanly! keep up the nice work... although i did think the "big difference" might have been a small block V8 hehehe :thumbsup:

it looks awesome so far!

great looking project... it looks like the roof came off cleanly! keep up the nice work... although i did think the "big difference" might have been a small block V8 hehehe :thumbsup:

If I could squeeze one in it would an interesting idea:evillol:

Nice work!! How about a Mazda rotary engine in it? :smokin:

Wow, great idea. Looking good so far and I too think you should fit some bars behind the seats. Would look awesome!
/Joel

If I could squeeze one in it would an interesting idea:evillol:
How about this spike? :evillol:

Mid-mounting an 8 cylinder engine (no rear seats anyway) and converting to rear wheel drive? I'd love to try something like that if I had the skill (not to mention mechanical knowledge) to tackle it. Might be an interesing project though if it's technically feasible.

I've always had this idea that one day I'd like to try a big conversion project like yours and make a "klutzmobile" to go with my avatar - would need to be something outragous though - maybe a V12 powered mini with GT wing would qualify? :rofl:

How about this spike? :evillol:

Mid-mounting an 8 cylinder engine (no rear seats anyway) and converting to rear wheel drive? I'd love to try something like that if I had the skill (not to mention mechanical knowledge) to tackle it. Might be an interesing project though if it's technically feasible.

I've always had this idea that one day I'd like to try a big conversion project like yours and make a "klutzmobile" to go with my avatar - would need to be something outragous though - maybe a V12 powered mini with GT wing would qualify? :rofl:


If I could find a model of a Mini pickup then I would and replicate a Mini I saw once with a Ford V8 in the back which was seriously quick but not very good round bends.

Its been along time since I posted progress on the Mini but finally got round round to doing abit more:

Painted the Chassis which will be the overall colour of the car and carpeted the floor. And as I'm going all out on this Mini I have butchered the dashboard out of a Honda and inplanted it onto the Mini's bulkhead, abit of work to do on it yet but its getting there:
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1147721994.jpg

Also got most of the engine finished, painted in a contrasting blue with orange leads and orange filter. Custom made the coil from brass rod and photo-etch sprue, moving it from the on top of the alternator as per the kit a series 1 Mini to the later series 3 position:
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1147722157.jpg
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1147722189.jpg

And here's the latest on the bodyshell, had a coat of primer which is showing area's that still need a little work and not quite happy with the overall shape yet so further work might be involved:shakehead
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1147722321.jpg
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1147722349.jpg
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1147722369.jpg

I will try and get more done abit quicker from now on.

nice body work you did there. engine looks really good against the red. this will be one sweet car when it's done.

Good work on the speedster looking cover!

About time, too! ;)

I hope you are having as much fun building this as I am following it :D

Body changes are working really well and the dash also :thumbsup:

Love the idea, looks like everyone is going topless these days!

Thanks for all the comments and here's the latest:

The engine is pretty much complete and attached to the chassis, the handbrake lever and pedals are in place. Not very clear in the picture but have added a photo-etch foot to the accelerator pedal which is the same as I used to have in my Mini many years ago!. Also finished the seats and although not pictured the dashboard is nearing completion.

http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1150555917.jpg
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1150555938.jpg
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1150555955.jpg

And here's the bodyshell, rounded the whole back end off(which included removing the external hinges from the boot lid and also the hole for the boot handle) which I think looks alot better and its been primed and had a base cost of TS17 aluminium. A couple of areas need a slight bit of sanding but apart from that I happy how's it come out :grinyes: :

http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1150556145.jpg
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1150556164.jpg
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1150556183.jpg

Currently working on the bonnet removeing the ridge down the middle and also the inner door sections which are getting speakers added to them plus a sub woofer going behind the seats.

I tryed to do it some time ago but I failed....
http://www.duncancumming.co.uk/photos/redBullMini.jpg

You know I love this build :D

Just wondering why you didn't "adios" the door lock/handles as well while you were at it?

Also, are your door panel lines OK? Maybe it's just the photo and reflections etc. but it kind of looks as if there may be some mess in there...

Keep it coming please! :thumbsup:

You know I love this build :D

Just wondering why you didn't "adios" the door lock/handles as well while you were at it?

Also, are your door panel lines OK? Maybe it's just the photo and reflections etc. but it kind of looks as if there may be some mess in there...

Keep it coming please! :thumbsup:

The panel lines don't look as bad in real life but your right they do need cleaning up a bit and I must admit I had thought of removing the door handles as well and now you have mentioned it I think I will.:iceslolan

Very sweet custom Mini!:grinyes:

You know I love this build :D

Just wondering why you didn't "adios" the door lock/handles as well while you were at it?

Also, are your door panel lines OK? Maybe it's just the photo and reflections etc. but it kind of looks as if there may be some mess in there...

Keep it coming please! :thumbsup:


Finally after quite a few weeks I have made progress on the Mini, accidentally dropping the shell on to a concrete floor didn't help :banghead: :crying: making quite a mess cracking all the arches but with plenty of superglue and putty brought her back together.

And whilst I was repairing I decided to go take klutz_100 advice and completely smooth off the door handle mountings and also wiper mountings and here's the body after painting but requiring a good polish :grinyes: :

http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1154030851.jpg
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1154030874.jpg
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1154030893.jpg
http://www.european-forums.com/forums/uploads/post-179-1154030914.jpg

S-W-E-E-T ! :grinyes:
Some bad-a*s rims on that Mini would be the "extra mile".:naughty:


Congrats man!
Lusitano

that rear end looks like it came from the factory like that exellent. i love that paint:2cents:

I love the reflection in the last picture :-)