> Exterior
In summer 2005, the car was prepared for the restoration of the bodywork. A new roof had been added in 2003 by Sevenoaks Minis, specialist Mini restorers, and after the strip down and part cataloging, the shell was sent away to be sandblasted and etch-primed, and from there on, bodywork was entrusted to Caburn Classics in Lewes, Sussex, another quality classic Mini restorer, in early 2008. Body panels have been replaced where no restoration was practical.
A new floor, new old stock BMC inner wings, rear and front subframes, 2 Heritage front wings, wheel arch assemblys are just a small selection of the work carried out on completing the bodywork to a concourse standard. Brightwork has been replaced in the form of bumpers, overriders, badge bezels and rear light cluster chrome, but parts which were deemed to add to the 'patina' of the car were left 'as is' including rounded bezel petrol caps, door trims and wheel hubs.
The car, after bodywork, was then sent to Fisk & Dailly of Sevenoaks, Kent, for paint, in BMC WT2.
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Roof, complete with Weathershield Sunroof, removed
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Car seen with roof off prior to fitting of new Heritage panel
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Hand-filing necessary on roof edge prior to fitting of new roof
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New Heritage roof fitted
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Roof interior with sound-proofing panels fitted
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Near Side 6 vent cover sill removed
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Interior stripped, front
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Arc welder anybody? Handbrake nuts are a nightmare.
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Offside - with sill peeling away nicely
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Cake mix holding 'A' panel together
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Near side boot
n/side inner wing with A panel removed
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37 years of dirt
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End of Strip, 16th August 2005
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New Inner Wing BMC NOS item
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New Inner Wing fitted
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Off-side rear panel, un-skimmed at halfway point
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Door-shut alignment in progress - one of the hardest things to achieve well on any mini rebuild
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Completed near side
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New n_side wheel arch and inner boot detail, showing new floor
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Interior build up complete
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Locating holes on upper dash rail for cup holder - two different fixings are evi dent
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New boot floor and rear valance located
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Underside rear at MOT staion
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A panel treated and fitted
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4 Vent sill
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5 x 3.5" wheels prior to powder coating and painting - 2007
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3.5" wheels after restoration
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n/s rounded petrol cap
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Grease nipple shroud - another Mk I item that found it's way onto some Mk II cars
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