Irish Mini Owners Club

Hi, just a quick question, I have a mate that recently must drive an automatic car, he doesn’t want to sell his mini, is it a job to convert a mini to an automatic?

Thanks

Unfortunately it's not just a straight gearbox swap. You have to change the complete engine/gearbox unit. I'm not positive but I think it's a different front subframe for the automatic.

I think TMG has a spare auto engine/gearbox.

The other option is to sell the existing Mini and buy an automatic Mini, which may be cheaper than the manual.

Hope it helps,

Billy

The sub-frames are different as are the engine mounts and pedal box.

Not many do the manual to Auto conversion, but I would think it would be easier then the auto to manual conversion.

My Drop Nose Clubman Estate has an automatic which I will be converting to manual this winter, some of the purists, Milton especially, may think that such a conversion would be sacrilege, but I reckon having a manual Drop Nose Clubman Estate would be even rarer than an automatic, I have never seen a manual DNCE before so this might be unique.

Maybe MiniWorld would like to do a feature on it, or will you be stepping back out of the limelight since your starring role in the latest issue?

Well Monty (Watkins) hasn't been in contact yet, but I know he is busy in Japan at the moment, so maybe that's the reason.

As for making the cover with it, Monty says that if he puts a Mini on the front cover that has a standard A-Series engine in it, sales of the magazine go down, hence all cover featured cars have exotidc engines, Vtec, R1, Chevy and the like.

If Woody ever gets the heads done on his Lotus, sure we could pop the engine in the back for a photo or two and you never know :-)

If your going to do it ,do it right.
Metro 6R4 IN THE back of woody with tinted glass, 10" wheels of course.Ultimit street sleeper!

If your looking for an automatic car I may be able to help.

Hi mini_sprite94. I also have a mini automatic (1988 Mini City 1000; NCT till March 08; Minilite 12 inch wheels, four front spots, CD/MPs player) if you are looking to buy. Peter

PS I got the automatic cos I've got a dicky left leg; its in daily use. Peter

no but thanks Peter, I'm very happy with my Snoopy, I'll learn to drive with gears, or I wont be able to drive my fiance's "big" car :lol:
I'll be the chap at the picnic, stalling with the L-plates on :)

if only my auto estate was a drop nose is there any way in the wide earthly world i can convert it or is it also considered sacrilege to convert a standard slab nose to the very rare drop nose

I'm sure it would be possible to convert a standard mundane looking slab front estate to the more sporty racing drop nose version, you would have to modify the wings and A panels which would be easy enough the main problem would be the unique floor pan that they have ( they were originally converted by the guys who made the Concord and were brought out in 1979 for the anniversary, they only came in red, blue and white, the colors of Air France and British Airways ( I have one of the red ones)), you would need a specialist, who would be used to making handmade panels, to do this, someone like the guys at Aston martin or Rolls Royce possibly. Workmanship of that standard wouldn't be cheap though, The modified floor is beautifully formed with varying radius's and has hardly any straight lines at all, it's a shame to cover it with carpet to be honest :-)

If you want you could drop over and take some photos and measurements while I am doing the restoration.

I don't know if it would be economical. Keep an eye out at the more prestigious car auction sites, http://www.coys.co.uk/showroom/index.php or http://www.classic-auctions.com/ but they don't come up too often. I don't think you would get one on Ebay though. :lol:

oh what a let down and there i was thinking that i might be able to get these unique panels from heritage or mini machine perhaps one of those auction house webs sites might turn up one to these rare machine but i,d better not hold my breath and as regards taking measurements and photos i doubt a mere mortal like me could emulate the work created by the godlike men who created the concorde

Uniqueness has it's price, you never know, when the restoration is finished, I might sell it, but Milton has first dibbs, sorry.

I don't suppose cutting the front end off a Marcos and sticking it on the front of the Clubman Estate in best McGyver style would go any way towards replicating the look by any chance?

personally i believe it would be a grave mistake to convert from auto to manual because if for instance you were attacked and savaged by a yeti(a creature almost as unique as the dnce) and the only way to save your life was to amputate a leg than an auto dnce would be perfect for a mono leg driver(though cold morning take offs might pose a slight problem but you could always use a bit of 2x1)

Now you are just being silly, do I sense a bit of jealousy ?

Lads,

I'm surprised ye've all been taken in so easily. TMG has described this car as being a droop snoot, a-series etc with a door in the back. Clearly it's not a Mini at all, it's a shagging METRO!!! Neil, come clean. You're among friends.

Billy

Another of the green eyed brigade, If Milton is on the forum, I'm sure he will verify the existence of the DNCE, in fact it hasn't changed much since the day he saw it when I picked it up in England, Paul Kelly is familiar with the car as well and was able to fill in some of the historical details about it.

I don't know whether to be honoured or saddened by your envy guys.

green as the green green grass of home

Billy is the alzheimer's setting in already, sure didn't you work on the drop nose yourself only last month. You robbed its alternator for the Marcos , a job made easier by the lower leading edge of the engine bay.