It's addicting. George warned me about it.  It crossed my mind about doing a tribute to the 33EJB or another famous champ car but with the current additions I already have (plus this funny bright red color paint I have), it won't look right and I know I'm just gonna attract bad critiques and haters for sure so I'm just going to gather some nice resources and do what I can. I still love this car no matter what imperfections it has. It's all about the fun for me really.

im still interested in your authentic Monte Carlo plate Norm. I'm thinking of saving up and grabbing that from you If you're still interested in selling. Or maybe a trade for something else like a service for website or something.

Army, there is a company which specializes in manufacturing Monte replica parts, FSR Legia which you might like to look into.

//www.fsrlegiamotorsport.com

They are on my short list, in case I ever go down your path (which, the more you do, is VERY tempting to me too!).

Norm

Had to postpone the arch purchase because of unforseen repairs but still managed to have some additions to the mini. Slowly drifting away from the 1969 italian job to the works mini concept. The full width flat black bonnet paint is plastidip. Could be peeled off if not wanted. It's great because it hides rock chips and protects it from future road debris scratches. The door vinyl looks so white. I'm gonna do some research how to make it lool like patina white to match the age of the car. Not a perfect replica but still looks pretty in my eyes. Currently looking for some works mini racecars to maybe replicate some decal placements for inspiration. I'll make the decals from dye sublimation vinyl wraps and produce it through vector images so if you guys have some pics please feel free to post it here since I have limited photo and history knowledge resources. 

Looking for works headlights cover with straps, Lucas reverse lamp, grill sump guard and some heater glass strips for front and back glass.

 

 

 

Those look good too. The (rear) regular works group 2 arches look small I noticed from the pictures on the online stores but yours look perfect since mine stick out too much. i really don't wanna buy both wide group 2 and regular group 2 just to have both :(

this is what I'm about to get (test fit)

I've got Group 2 Wide arches on the rear of my car and Group 5 Works on the front.  I like the slightly 'oversized' arches; the wheels are well within the wheel arches which helps keep the body clean. 

It's been this way since May 2011 - either I simply haven't gotten around to installing the Group 2's on the front or am too lazy to start plugging holes, sanding, priming, painting and polishing.  Too many rattlecans of paint to deal with...

I agree Dan. I'm talking to Greg now on his group 2 arches (parts for sale ad here on MM). For sure it's gonna be the works style (glossy black with chrome trim) it will look good with the theme. I'm just undecided if I'm getting the wide or just regular because the rear wheels stick out a lot. Wider group 2 works style looks too much for my taste.

I'd go for the works style flares (in black) and chrome trim. As a daily driver, the car is going to experience road grit and dirty water that will be fied up on its nuice shiny flanks. Just the spray onto the windhield would be annoying. ( I know.. I know... multi-year drought and all that.)

Leave it alone if it's not sticking out too much. At least your mini got some character unlike most minis I see out here. I'm guessing this is a daily driver too? More points for ya if it is..

Oh It does. But would like to have better brakes later.

Is the mini not stoping? 

Not right now. Maybe after a 7.5 disc brake upgrade. But until then, It'll do for now. I don't know. What do you think? Here's a few new pics with the view of tires sticking out.

 

 

 

Looks really good surprisingly. Installing arches soon?

I actually tried doing it myself on the lower part of the hood. I messed it up lol never doing that again haha!

You could get the roof vinyl wrapped in gloss black and see how you like it. Then paint it at a later date if you want to keep it. 

Mmmmmmm..... tasty!

 

The wheels have slight blemishes and appeared to be powder coated gold. it does look very nice. It came with decent tires too. Theres very tiny dry rot area on the two wheels but it hasn't reached 10 year birthdate yet (but I'm not gonna wait a few more years til that time comes ). But I will be replacing these tires very soon. I'm glad the owner left the tires so I can test it for a few days to see what kind of flares I'd need. but for sure it will be the Works style with the chrome lip. If I go this route it's either I strip the whole chrome trim or very carefully cut and leave the middle part and install new chrome trim on just the flares. I'm really good at little details and confident I can make it seamless using a dremel.

I'm also tempted to have my roof painted glossy black with the flares too. I do still have the old 7" disc brakes btw. My car is probably one of the slowest and I managed to learn and adapt how to drive it with these smaller brakes. I might hold on to these until I finally get the budget for cooper S brakes. Apparently I always stumble into unexpected repair expenses that's why I haven't touched the interior. I guess that happens when you drive it almost everyday.

I know it's not nearly a replica classic mini race car. I'm not trying to turn it into one either but I'd like for it to have a unique character. It will probably drive you nuts when you hear the sound system I'm building.

This is probably the scariest experience I have with this car lol

 

Patina Mamba's would have looked better.... Trade? Those gold ones look GOOD! Maybe I can rattle can mine gold

Dennis those wheels are the S**t!!!  Can't remember if you did your S brakes yet because those will push you out enough to make arches neccessary as you know.

I'm especially jazzed about your car because you're one of the very few doing a tasteful rally tribute which is of course the highest level of taste and sophistication.  Besides white mokes.

And your foglight mounting bracket method will actually be stronger and less shaky drilled thru the bumper this way.  I drilled my doors wrong when I did the Swiftune mirror brackets and had to glue little black plastic covers on the holes, and when I drilled the bonnet for the straps I forgot that the X brace inside would prevent access to the nuts, so had to do one of those over as well.

I've gone through all kinds of acrobatics to get my oscars to hold still and ended up running an older rally setup with traditional turnbuckle adjusters.  They run from the top of the lamps back under the moustache.  Notice how beat to hell the grille is after I was backed into by a parallel parker.  Those lights were the beautiful smaller marchal ambers as pologround posted on the first page that made a neat imprint in the aluminum grille slats while they were flattened.  Of course the idiot just drove away, this being NorCal with a totally opposite notion of driving competence than the south.

 

 

Wheels came in today. The GB minilite gold 10X6 wheels arent bad looking at all. Really dont want to install arches but these do poke out a bit. 

Thanks Mal! I'm making a rudder type bracket (like a small spoiler) that will redirect ram air underneath to flow in between. I like it being outside since it's a lot cooler than in the bay.