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Aug 26, 2009 18:18:56 GMT
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I've always thought there was only one sectioned mini, cream and red interior mk1, made for the motor show to demonstrate the interior space in BMC's new compact. I saw it first in the science museum (next to JET 1, when the basement was "hall of transport" about ooh, 30 years ago) Last year, I saw it at Gaydon, and was surprised to see it was a LHD car, but otherwise as I remembered - missing some perspex covers, but still a cream with red trim mk1 mini. This year, I saw it again at Haynes - only really glanced at it but assumed it was the gaydon car "on loan" for the mini special exhibit they were running. Today, veedubman posted some pics from Gaydon, taken the day after I was at haynes, including this one  so I looked through the gathering threads to find this  which, when you look closely is (I think) a mk2 with mk1 interior trim and obviously not the same car. What totally flabbergasted me to the point of starting this thread was some googling. Firstly, everyone refers to "the" sectioned mini like there is only one, and secondly  wikipedia have a picture of the car I saw in the science museum 3 decades ago, and its RHD, like I remembered! It also has the perspex boxing I assumed had been removed from the gaydon mini. So how many of these things did they build? and why? |
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in |
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A Mini mystery....retrowagen1234
@GUEST
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Aug 26, 2009 18:24:32 GMT
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first and second pics are defo not the same car... the box section by the front seat , carpeted in one and not the other, luggage in one , not the other.... one has the cranked back gear lever and the other doesnt.....
must have been loads.... maybe for different shows? or countries?
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Aug 26, 2009 18:31:29 GMT
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Triumph made loads of 'technical college' chassis to show students how cars worked. They show up all the time! Maybe BMC did something similar?
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,515
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Aug 26, 2009 18:33:11 GMT
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Top one is an Austin, might one of the others be a Morris? Not inconceivable that they would have done several during the years of production so that the one on display at the motorshow or whereever was the current spec.
Also, I think this kind of thing was often done by apprentices as various skills would be involved. So doing one every other year or so could have been part of the training at a certain level.
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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Aug 26, 2009 19:07:11 GMT
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That makes some sense, the science museum car is a '59, gaydon's is '65 and the Haynes one looks to be 1969/70 to me (but I can't find any info on it), the LHD section shows the engine off better than the early one too.
I'm still puzzled as to why they bothered making it same colour and trim each time, even to the point of mk1 windows, doorcards and cord pull opening, numberplate etc on a later shell. If it is to show off the new improvements, why not fit all of them?
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in |
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Aug 26, 2009 19:19:43 GMT
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Perhaps these were "Half down, half later" special promo cars?  |
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 Team Blitz Ford Capri parts worldwide: Restoration, Road, or Race. Used, Repro, and NOS, ranging from scabby to perfect. Itching your Capri jones since 1979! Buy, sell, trade. www.teamblitz.com blitz@teamblitz.com |
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Siert
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,104
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Aug 26, 2009 19:25:16 GMT
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There was a sign with it in the Haynes museum. It said that it was build as a standard Mini, then taking off the end of the production line and cut in half for display purposes. There was some mentioning of where it's been as well, if I remember well mostly at a police training academy. I made these pictures:    |
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Siert
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,104
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Aug 26, 2009 19:27:14 GMT
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so I looked through the gathering threads to find this which, when you look closely is (I think) a mk2 with mk1 interior trim and obviously not the same car. As the sign said it was never on the road I thing that's unlikely. |
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Aug 26, 2009 19:33:24 GMT
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whats unlikely? its a mk2 - bigger back lights, floor change. But all the trim and badges are mk1. Did the sign say what year it was made? It's the haynes one that puzzles me most.
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in |
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Siert
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,104
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Aug 26, 2009 19:41:59 GMT
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The sign did say when it was build and what for, but I can't remember. I do remember that it said it came of the production line as a complete and standard mini, and was then converted into this demo thing before ever driving a mile.
I'm no Mini expert so I'd have to believe you if you say that all the trim and badges are Mk1 and the rest is Mk2 but that would mean somebody has been messing with it after it was converted to a demo (which is maybe not that unlikely if it was used for training police staff).
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Aug 26, 2009 19:45:44 GMT
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It seems like it's been made to be the same as the gaydon car, which in turn is a replacement for and in the colours of the science museum car, and the whole thing may just be a big plot to mess with my head, lol.
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in |
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Aug 26, 2009 20:00:20 GMT
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the science museum RHD car looks like the same one that was at the 1959 Earls Court motor show, although without much of the interior (see utube /pathe its right at the beginning of the film)
I'm currently looking for photos / film of the mini at any other euro motor shows in 1959
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Last Edit: Aug 26, 2009 20:01:52 GMT by Autofive
Someone just shot the elephant in the room. |
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Aug 26, 2009 20:05:43 GMT
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It seems like.... the whole thing may just be a big plot to mess with my head, lol. You didn't hear? The entire world got together behind your back and decided The Purpose Of Life was henceforth going to be "farking with Andy" until eternity. I was made manager on the project. |
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Team Blitz Ford Capri parts worldwide: Restoration, Road, or Race. Used, Repro, and NOS, ranging from scabby to perfect. Itching your Capri jones since 1979! Buy, sell, trade. www.teamblitz.com blitz@teamblitz.com |
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Aug 26, 2009 20:06:10 GMT
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Science museum aretefact tag says "Morris Mini-minor 1959 (sectioned) ex BMC" Gaydon's says "Austin Mini mk1 1965 (sectioned) LHD" might be worth a look for the '65 motor show too. Odds are the haynes oddball is a replica built from a training college car  |
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in |
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Aug 26, 2009 20:15:47 GMT
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heres one at 2mins 48 secs is this another one?  need my tinfoil hat on for security |
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Last Edit: Aug 26, 2009 20:17:04 GMT by Autofive
Someone just shot the elephant in the room. |
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Aug 26, 2009 20:22:29 GMT
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eerm, yeah. different dash to the science museum one but RHD, so not the gaydon car! Still white/red though.
Make me one while you're on hat duty Mike!
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in |
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Aug 26, 2009 20:27:55 GMT
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Doesn't help when I google "sectioned mini" and get sponsored links like this  |
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in |
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Aug 26, 2009 20:32:03 GMT
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i made you a hat, but it was stolen last night by space bats
mmm, so thats 4 different ones then?
i assume the 1959 motor show one is the original
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Someone just shot the elephant in the room. |
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Aug 26, 2009 20:46:59 GMT
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It's certainly the earliest, lol even has a floor starter damn those bats. have to make do with half a hat then  |
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in |
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Aug 26, 2009 20:54:20 GMT
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While you two discuss "bats in the belfry", howz my "bells" pile shaping up for a ship-over? Now that we waited for the # to get ridiculous against the dollar, it's prolly time to do it, right? Send me a PM, and continue this mini thread unimpeded by my lame inanity... |
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Team Blitz Ford Capri parts worldwide: Restoration, Road, or Race. Used, Repro, and NOS, ranging from scabby to perfect. Itching your Capri jones since 1979! Buy, sell, trade. www.teamblitz.com blitz@teamblitz.com |
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need my tinfoil hat on for security 
