ASK THE
EXPERT TechThTechASASASASASASASASASASASASASSKASASKKKK K K K K K KK KKK THTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHEEEEE E EE E E E EEE
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EXPERTcauses a partial vacuum within
the crankcase.
The exhaust manifold on the
Metro is very different to the
Mini, and as the name of the
game here is increasing power
output, it might be a good idea
to fit a decent tubular manifold
and better breathing sports
exhaust system.LIMITED APPEAL
I have recently bought a
Mini. It’s in very poor
condition and will need a lot of
work to bring it back to top
condition. At some point it has
had a full bodykit fitted, but the
guy who sold it to me was quite
clear that the car was originally
a Mini Piccadilly Limited Edition.
Since I’ve owned the car,
everyone who sees it tells me
not to modify it anymore than it
already is as it is a very rare one.
Is this true? It’s going to need
panels replaced and a respray.
I’d also planned to change the
complete interior.
If this really is a rare car I
wouldn’t want to destroy it -
there are plenty of other Minisout there I could modify to my
spec. What do you think?
AndyThe Piccadilly was
launched in 1986, which
followed the Chelsea, which in
turn came after the the Ritz. At
that time, Austin Rover couldn’t
make new editions quick
enough. The formula was
simple - a couple of paint colour
options, some unique decals
and sometimes, a slightly
upmarket interior trim.The Piccadilly was painted in
Cashmere Gold with coach lines
and the Piccadilly motif on rear
quarters, bootlid, chromed
bumpers and door handles.
Like so many of these Limited
Editions, under the glitz it was
the base model City E. The
interior was available in Bitter
Chocolate, Coffee and Claret
‘velvet’, with the Piccadilly motif
stitched into the front recliner-
type seats. It wasn’t even that
limited an edition - some 2,500
were made.True, thirty plus years down
the line, finding one in mint and
original condition would be
something of a find, but it may
only attract a real premium from
someone desperate to own that
particular model. A great many
of these later badge-engineered
models went abroad (Japan,
France, and so on) and so they
are a rare-ish sight here in the
UK. But as you’ve found out,
these metallic painted ‘80s LEs
appear to have been particularly
prone to corrosion. Unless it’s
correct in every detail, we’d say
build the car how you want it. It’s
far better another Mini survives
and is appreciated, rather
spending the next ten years
trying to track down non-
existent trim items.FRAME WORK
I am currently restoring
my Mini Saloon and have
come to the point where I need
to replace the rear subframe.SHELL SHOCK
I recently purchased a
W-reg 2000 Sportspack
Mini as salvage - it’s complete
but the shell is a complete
write off. I plan to transplant
all the good parts into a
replacement shell.
Do I need to buy a brand
new shell, or if I can find one,
could the parts be fitted to a
slightly older shell?
The accident which
destroyed the shell also
cracked the gearbox. Could
the gearbox be rebuilt into a
new casing, or should I look
to put in a complete
reconditioned gearbox?
NeilThis really depends on
what you intend to
build - are you going to
simply recreate the Mini as it
was pre-accident, or is itgoing to transform into
something else...? To fit all of
the Sportspack parts, you’ll
need a twin-point injection
shell. There are a lot of
components that fit differently
when compared to the earlier
cars - for instance, because
the twin points had a front
mounted radiator, the left
hand inner wing is blanked off
with no grille. There are also
many brackets and mounting
holes not found on earlier
models.
It’s also worth noting that if
the Mini is recorded as written
off and needs to be inspected
before it can legally be
returned to the road, changing
too many components may
leave the car in a very grey
legal area when it comes to
completing registration.
If the gearbox has been
damaged in a collision, I’d alsobe very wary of how many
other components have gone
the same way. The front
subframe and all suspension
components will need to be
checked, plus the steering
rack. Have the airbag and
seatbelt pretensioners
deployed? If so, these will also
have to be replaced. It sounds
like this could turn into a veryexpensive proposition.
The gearbox internals
could easily be rebuilt into a
new casing, but it would be
worth handing it over to an
expert to check all is well
here before the rebuild goes
ahead. It may be easier just
going for a reconditioned
unit in the long run. Good
luck with the project.“Unless it’s correct in every detail, we’d say
build the car how you want it ”
Sportspack rebuild will
need a Sportspack shell.Tech
causes a partial vacuum within
the crankcase.
The exhaust manifold on the
Metro is very different to the
Mini, and as the name of the
game here is increasing power
output, it might be a good idea
to fit a decent tubular manifold
and better breathing sports
exhaust system.
LIMITED APPEAL
I have recently bought a
Mini. It’s in very poor
condition and will need a lot of
work to bring it back to top
condition. At some point it has
had a full bodykit fitted, but the
guy who sold it to me was quite
clear that the car was originally
a Mini Piccadilly Limited Edition.
Since I’ve owned the car,
everyone who sees it tells me
not to modify it anymore than it
already is as it is a very rare one.
Is this true? It’s going to need
panels replaced and a respray.
I’d also planned to change the
complete interior.
If this really is a rare car I
wouldn’t want to destroy it -
there are plenty of other Minis
out there I could modify to my
spec. What do you think?
AndyThe Piccadilly was
launched in 1986, which
followed the Chelsea, which in
turn came after the the Ritz. At
that time, Austin Rover couldn’t
make new editions quick
enough. The formula was
simple - a couple of paint colour
options, some unique decals
and sometimes, a slightly
upmarket interior trim.The Piccadilly was painted in
Cashmere Gold with coach lines
and the Piccadilly motif on rear
quarters, bootlid, chromed
bumpers and door handles.
Like so many of these Limited
Editions, under the glitz it was
the base model City E. The
interior was available in Bitter
Chocolate, Coffee and Claret
‘velvet’, with the Piccadilly motif
stitched into the front recliner-
type seats. It wasn’t even that
limited an edition - some 2,500
were made.True, thirty plus years down
the line, finding one in mint and
original condition would be
something of a find, but it may
only attract a real premium from
someone desperate to own that
particular model. A great many
of these later badge-engineered
models went abroad (Japan,
France, and so on) and so they
are a rare-ish sight here in the
UK. But as you’ve found out,
these metallic painted ‘80s LEs
appear to have been particularly
prone to corrosion. Unless it’s
correct in every detail, we’d say
build the car how you want it. It’s
far better another Mini survives
and is appreciated, rather
spending the next ten years
trying to track down non-
existent trim items.FRAME WORK
I am currently restoring
my Mini Saloon and have
come to the point where I need
to replace the rear subframe.SHELL SHOCK
I recently purchased a
W-reg 2000 Sportspack
Mini as salvage - it’s complete
but the shell is a complete
write off. I plan to transplant
all the good parts into a
replacement shell.
Do I need to buy a brand
new shell, or if I can find one,
could the parts be fitted to a
slightly older shell?
The accident which
destroyed the shell also
cracked the gearbox. Could
the gearbox be rebuilt into a
new casing, or should I look
to put in a complete
reconditioned gearbox?
NeilThis really depends on
what you intend to
build - are you going to
simply recreate the Mini as it
was pre-accident, or is itgoing to transform into
something else...? To fit all of
the Sportspack parts, you’ll
need a twin-point injection
shell. There are a lot of
components that fit differently
when compared to the earlier
cars - for instance, because
the twin points had a front
mounted radiator, the left
hand inner wing is blanked off
with no grille. There are also
many brackets and mounting
holes not found on earlier
models.
It’s also worth noting that if
the Mini is recorded as written
off and needs to be inspected
before it can legally be
returned to the road, changing
too many components may
leave the car in a very grey
legal area when it comes to
completing registration.
If the gearbox has been
damaged in a collision, I’d alsobe very wary of how many
other components have gone
the same way. The front
subframe and all suspension
components will need to be
checked, plus the steering
rack. Have the airbag and
seatbelt pretensioners
deployed? If so, these will also
have to be replaced. It sounds
like this could turn into a veryexpensive proposition.
The gearbox internals
could easily be rebuilt into a
new casing, but it would be
worth handing it over to an
expert to check all is well
here before the rebuild goes
ahead. It may be easier just
going for a reconditioned
unit in the long run. Good
luck with the project.“Unless it’s correct in every detail, we’d say
build the car how you want it ”
Sportspack rebuild will
need a Sportspack shell.