Thoroughly Modern Minor
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Thoroughly Modern Minor
In late October 2012 I purchased a morris minor and a 2003 Mazda mx5 and then decided to take a plasma cutter to both vehicles. I removed all the external panels off the mx5 and then started trying to fit the body off the minor on to the floor pan of the mx5. With the aid of a good fabrication engineer, plenty of blood sweat and a few tears I have been able to get a car that looks just like a morris minor convertible but drives like a very modern car.
Some of the main specs
*power steering
*ABS
*electric windows
*heated front screen
*modern washers & wipers
*modern lights
And the list goes on.
To put it simply all I have done is re-panelled a Mazda mx5. Trust me it was not that easy, and I own a garage!!
Here's some pictures, hope you like them.
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Some of the main specs
*power steering
*ABS
*electric windows
*heated front screen
*modern washers & wipers
*modern lights
And the list goes on.
To put it simply all I have done is re-panelled a Mazda mx5. Trust me it was not that easy, and I own a garage!!
Here's some pictures, hope you like them.
[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]
Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
Superb! I hate to think how many hours went into that..... Did you have it tested by VOSA ? Any issues with that??
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- Minor Legend
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Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
Brilliant! Only thing I am personnally not keen on is the dash but well done. Wish I had just some of your skills.
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- Minor Legend
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Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
Very neat work, it must have taken ages to make it all fit! Ive just send a link of this to a guy I know who edits the MX5 club magazine in Northern Ireland and also drives a white minor convertible.
Too many Minors so little time.....
Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
Nice work. What are the wheels? They appear to be standard Minor rims but have more of an offset, almost like front wheel drive car rims.
Maurice, E. Kent
(1970 Traveller)
(1970 Traveller)
Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
Fantastic!Can I order one :- ).
Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
Awesome project! I love how you fit it with stock looking wheels.
Gabriel
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Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
I'm sure I saw you in that yesterday! Were you on a road called Greave around lunchtime?
And is Mitsiland the same place I nearly took my Toyota recently?
Really nice work. Impressed.
And is Mitsiland the same place I nearly took my Toyota recently?
Really nice work. Impressed.
Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
when is dealing with red tape easy!bmcecosse wrote:Superb! I hate to think how many hours went into that..... Did you have it tested by VOSA ? Any issues with that??
Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
the wheels had to be custom made to help the tyres fit under the wheel arches.Chipper wrote:Nice work. What are the wheels? They appear to be standard Minor rims but have more of an offset, almost like front wheel drive car rims.
- twincamman
- Minor Fan
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Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
Any chance of a build thread?
Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
Yes that was me, my nephew is 11 and i took him for a drive, he loves cars. Yes i own mitsiland, i took me six months to get the car roadworthy, but trimming & sorting out other issues took twelve months. hope to see you around.warb21 wrote:I'm sure I saw you in that yesterday! Were you on a road called Greave around lunchtime?
And is Mitsiland the same place I nearly took my Toyota recently?
Really nice work. Impressed.
Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
I'm struggling with free time at the moment, but if I get some free time if the weathers bad I may do a build thread. I hope we have a good summer so I can get out and take my mog out on nice sunny days.twincamman wrote:Any chance of a build thread?
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- Minor Legend
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Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
don't fancy doing another one? got one that will so need all its floor and chassis redoing anyway! mechanical its knackered as well!
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- Minor Legend
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Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
A lovely job. This mod is getting quite popular now - a few on the other side with different approaches to the job:
http://morrisminorowners.co.uk/index.php
Pete
http://morrisminorowners.co.uk/index.php
Pete
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/sinky_aps/4e634210.jpg[/img] [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/sinky_aps/MorrisRain4.jpg[/img]
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- Minor Friendly
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Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
That is absolutely inspired! Truly sublime. What an achievement. I'm staggered!
Cheers,
Michael
1967 - Minor 1000. Trafalgar 2-door. Barn-find rotter. Undergoing nut & bolt restoration.
1972 - Rover 2000 TC. Rescued from the brink. Now daily driver. Brigade Red. Subtle performance upgrades.
Michael
1967 - Minor 1000. Trafalgar 2-door. Barn-find rotter. Undergoing nut & bolt restoration.
1972 - Rover 2000 TC. Rescued from the brink. Now daily driver. Brigade Red. Subtle performance upgrades.
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Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
Hi there mitsiland,
How did you get round the issue of the track width being too wide for the standard minor wheel arches.
I see in one of your photos the rear tyres sticking out , then in the finished item, they are flush.
Texas mongrel had the arches extended on his to cover the rubber.
I like this conversion, but really like the standard look..
How did you get round the issue of the track width being too wide for the standard minor wheel arches.
I see in one of your photos the rear tyres sticking out , then in the finished item, they are flush.
Texas mongrel had the arches extended on his to cover the rubber.
I like this conversion, but really like the standard look..
Re: Thoroughly Modern Minor
We'll spotted, yes the wheel base is 50 mm longer on the mx5 and also 60mm wide at the rear. I had to extend the wheel arches on the front wings (see picture) & Extend the front bumper to make it look right. Custom made wheels allowed the width to be reduced and then I had to cut the suspension arms & driveshafts down 30mm each side. Finally reinforcing the suspension arms, collars on the driveshafts & fitting Polly bushes all round. I have seen loads of modified cars but I was trying to keep to the original external shape, but on modern running gear. Thanks for looking. Rob[frame][/frame]