long been a fan of the classic, centre
binnacle. However, that doesn't mean
that the one in his car is quite the same as
it was when it left the factory, and to be
completely honest no Smiths clocks were
ever going to look at home in a Mini as
wild as this....
"There's a Honda S2000 speedo, but
it's been converted from analogue to
digital using parts from Healtech
Electronics," Rhys impresses. "The
brilliant thing about it, is that I can
calibrate it using an app on my mobile
phone. I recently changed from 6x12 inch
to 7x13 inch wheels so had to recalibratethe speedo. It was so easy using the app.”
"Then, because the original stalks were
damaged, I removed the ignition lock,
barrel, and cowling and made a race-look
panel that fits behind the 10 inch
Mountney wheel. The panel has 'blink
stop' for the indicators, and operates the
horn, washers, wipers etc. There's a
Wired by Wilson switch panel too. Plus,
if the car's in neutral, and the
handbrake's on, I can start the engine via
an app on my mobile phone. It's a bit of a
party trick!”INSIDE JOB
"I've also custom-welded Vauxhall Corsa
electric steering onto the original Mini
steering column. It's a variable system, so
I can dial up the assistance for parking,
and reduce it for the open road.”
"The seats are from an Alfa GTV,
although I had to fabricate the custom
mounting frames. Because the doors
have been modified, I bought cards from
Autostitch. The original glass was badly
marked, so I've fitted new throughout,and the rollcage is purely for show."
"I'm really pleased at how the car has
turned out, although I would suggest that
anyone who's planning to undertake such
a project, buys a Civic donor car," admits
Rhys. "If I'd done this, it would have
made things easier and saved a lot of
money too.”
"I've tried to future proof the build
though. However, I just can't leave things
alone and barely a week goes past
without me having done some
modification or another. I just love
working on it, fabricating parts, making
changes. Mind you, I recently bought a
Clubman, so that will soon be occupying
much of my time. This one's going to be a
sleeper though!"Smoothed out doors are opened
electrically, and are operated
by Ford Focus motors.THANKS TO:
Mini Freakz of Sussex and Shoreham
Airport for the photo location.
You can find Rhys’ car on instagram:
vtec_eko Wheels are powder coated Starmags.long been a fan of the classic, centre
binnacle. However, that doesn't mean
that the one in his car is quite the same as
it was when it left the factory, and to be
completely honest no Smiths clocks were
ever going to look at home in a Mini as
wild as this....
"There's a Honda S2000 speedo, but
it's been converted from analogue to
digital using parts from Healtech
Electronics," Rhys impresses. "The
brilliant thing about it, is that I can
calibrate it using an app on my mobile
phone. I recently changed from 6x12 inch
to 7x13 inch wheels so had to recalibrate
thespeedo.It wassoeasyusingtheapp.”
"Then,becausetheoriginalstalkswere
damaged,I removedtheignitionlock,
barrel,andcowlingandmadea race-look
panelthatfitsbehindthe 10 inch
Mountneywheel.Thepanelhas'blink
stop'fortheindicators,andoperatesthe
horn,washers,wipersetc.There'sa
WiredbyWilsonswitchpaneltoo.Plus,
if thecar'sinneutral,andthe
handbrake'son,I canstarttheenginevia
anapponmymobilephone.It'sa bitofa
partytrick!”INSIDEJOB
"I'vealsocustom-weldedVauxhallCorsa
electricsteeringontotheoriginalMini
steeringcolumn.It'sa variablesystem,so
I candialuptheassistanceforparking,
andreduceit fortheopenroad.”
"TheseatsarefromanAlfaGTV,
althoughI hadtofabricatethecustom
mountingframes.Becausethedoors
havebeenmodified,I boughtcardsfrom
Autostitch.Theoriginalglasswasbadly
marked,soI'vefittednewthroughout,andtherollcageis purelyforshow."
"I'mreallypleasedathowthecarhas
turnedout,althoughI wouldsuggestthat
anyonewho'splanningtoundertakesuch
a project,buysa Civicdonorcar,"admits
Rhys."IfI'ddonethis,it wouldhave
madethingseasierandsaveda lotof
moneytoo.”
"I'vetriedtofutureproofthebuild
though.However,I justcan'tleavethings
aloneandbarelya weekgoespast
withoutmehavingdonesome
modificationoranother.I justlove
workingonit,fabricatingparts,making
changes.Mindyou,I recentlyboughta
Clubman,sothatwillsoonbeoccupying
muchofmytime.Thisone'sgoingtobe a
sleeperthough!"Smoothed out doors are opened
electrically, and are operated
by Ford Focus motors.THANKS TO:
Mini Freakz of Sussex and Shoreham
Airport for the photo location.
You can find Rhys’ car on instagram:
vtec_eko Wheels are powder coated Starmags.