Mini Magazine – September 2019

(Chris Devlin) #1

Tech


have been replaced or repaired. Many will have
fallen prey to the ‘Woodman’s Axe’ syndrome -
with so many parts readily interchangeable, it’s
difficult to work out what was part of the Mini
when it originally left the factory, and what has
been replaced in the interim - with either new
or secondhand parts, from the same or a
different model.

LEGAL MATTERS
This is an area which needs careful
consideration, especially when taking into how
much can be replaced before the Mini you’re
restoring ceases to be that car. There are also
legal implications here - to retain the car’s
identity and registration number, enough of
the original car must remain. When it comes to

hefty financial commitment, you still have to
factor in the cost of welding them all together.
To do this properly and to factory spec is no
small undertaking.
When the Mini was just another cheap small
car, many will have been repaired just to get
them through another MoT test, and nothing
more than was absolutely necessary would

The BMH MkI bodyshell is an incredible
work of engineering and innovation.

“The difference between early


and late shells proved to be a


major engineering challenge”


The later type front bulkhead crossmember is used on all new bodyshells.

Tech


have been replaced or repaired. Many will have
fallen prey to the ‘Woodman’s Axe’ syndrome -
with so many parts readily interchangeable, it’s
difficult to work out what was part of the Mini
when it originally left the factory, and what has
been replaced in the interim - with either new
or secondhand parts, from the same or a
different model.

LEGAL MATTERS
This is an area which needs careful
consideration, especially when taking into how
much can be replaced before the Mini you’re
restoring ceases to be that car. There are also
legal implications here - to retain the car’s
identity and registration number, enough of
the original car must remain. When it comes to

hefty financial commitment, you still have to
factor in the cost of welding them all together.
To do this properly and to factory spec is no
small undertaking.
When the Mini was just another cheap small
car, many will have been repaired just to get
them through another MoT test, and nothing
more than was absolutely necessary would


The BMH MkI bodyshell is an incredible
work of engineering and innovation.

“The difference between early


and late shells proved to be a


major engineering challenge”


The later type front bulkhead crossmember is used on all new bodyshells.
Free download pdf