What was salvageable from the original shell amounted to a roof, part of the door frames, the rear panel, rear side panels and the seat brace.  At this point, you anoraks can all chime it as to what constitutes a re-shell vs. panel repairs.  But I had a decision to make; punt or go for the first down.

I started tack welding the shell back together in November and it’s now early March. I mightbe half way done. To say it’s been slow going would be an understatement. To restore a shell, you’ll need some metal frameworkto hold the floor pan otherwise you’ll be using wooden 4 x 4’s - which tend to...

My friend and business partner of more than 10 years knows me well. He asked if we could fire it up and drive it right then, since he also knows I would be taking it apart within minutes. I lied and said “Yes, but let me figure out how to charge up the Hydrolastic suspension so it won’t be ridin...

Restoration of a Classic Mini Cooper continues in this Chapter 3 of the story. Earlier this month was Election Day 2012 and it was a nail biter. The day before was historic too but for different reasons. It was the day I tack welded a panel in place on Snarkey’s shell, the first salvo in the direction of reconstruction, rather than de-construction. I could barely sleep last...

Personal story about the restoration of a Classic Mini Cooper

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