Mini Spares Project Min

With so many new products being developed at Mini Spares, we decided - well actually, Keith Dodd decided - that instead of using staff cars, we should get ourselves a proper donor car for testing parts. Never ones to do things by halves, we persuaded our friendly neighbourhood Rover dealer to accept a large wad of wonga in return for one spanking new K-reg Mini.

The idea is that by using Mini Spares' products, we transform this boggo standard Mini into a smooth, fast, yet drivable road car, to show the world what can really be done! Final specification hasn't been totally agreed yet, but items which are almost certain to be included are:-

• Our alloy wheels with Dunlop 165 x 12 or 10 Alloy discs
• Lowered suspension with neg arm and rear camber units
• Chrome door mouldings and Mini special extra wide arches
• Right hand tank
• 8-port cylinder head with fuel Injection and new cam profiles
• 5-speed gearbox
• RC40 exhaust system, leaving catalyst and latest emission controls intact, (for straight replacement if required)
• All our special rubber products for engine and suspension
• Drop gear left standard, but possibly using a modified Timken idler.

There are dozens of other items for possible inclusion ...

Our goal, as we said, is to produce a very smooth and fast road car with all power usable, and lots of available torque. Keith Calver will be producing flow and power figures in due course, and the car will be photographed and videoed during the course of the build.

Mini Spares project Min is underway!

Graham Austin