Irish Mini Owners Club

hi all,i'm here in the snowy south east,wexford,i've restored a good few minis over the years.
now to what i am looking for !
i am in the process of restoring a 1961 mini van and i need some panels,now as i can't get hold of MINI BITZ in CAHER,i'm assuming he's gone out of business.
is there another supplier of panels here or in the NORTH !!!!

incidently for those of you who live within striking distance of wexford town,there is a MINI MEET EVERY THURSDAY AT 9PM IN HALFORDS CARPARK.

hi i'm in wexford aswell. where abouts you based???
wat panels do you need??

Hi Chris and welcome to the forum.

Many on here deal with Somerford Mini in the UK, they have almost all available parts in stock and postage is a lot less than you would think.

If you are going to order panels, go for the restoration quality ones, they cost a bit more but are well worth it in the long run.

If you need a bit of inspiration, check out KMG's 61 Van restoration at

http://www.irishminis.ie/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1954

and Johnny Macs 62 Van at

http://www.irishminis.ie/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3965

Kenneth Murphy wrote:hi i'm in wexford aswell. where abouts you based???
wat panels do you need??

i'm in oylegate,i need out sills inner and outer valance,floor panel,etc.

howdy dude, welcome to the forum!

lots of us seem to be living in Wexico these days!, i'm in Courtown as is Gareth on here,
would love to call down to one of your meets but unfortunately i work every thursday night

hope you get the panels you are looking for

i got my panels from top part in drinagh, whats your second name if ya dont mind me askin?

Hows the form lad, welcome to forum

Ya sommerford is the way forward unless theirs someone on here that has what ur lookin for, very reliable people, and u ll have the parts within a few days

post a few pics, i always like to new van projects

Come on Wexford. Yeah another mini van here in Wexford.

Welcome to the forum dude, that van wouldn't be John's for blanch would it be? He also owns a Mini pick-up?

StanO'Toole wrote:Welcome to the forum dude, that van wouldn't be John's for blanch would it be? He also owns a Mini pick-up?

afraid not,as a matter of interest i haven't seen any pics of the last mini i restored on here,i believe it was at mondello for the 50th anniversary.
it's a yellow roadster ,that as an after thought i made a cover for the weather,it's in around the harrow ferns.

Welcome to the forum,good luck with your van resto and post up pictures of it.We would love to see it.

spannernut wrote:

StanO'Toole wrote:Welcome to the forum dude, that van wouldn't be John's for blanch would it be? He also owns a Mini pick-up?

afraid not,as a matter of interest i haven't seen any pics of the last mini i restored on here,i believe it was at mondello for the 50th anniversary.
it's a yellow roadster ,that as an after thought i made a cover for the weather,it's in around the harrow ferns.

ah the 79 you sold to Chris? Nice motor. You bought that off mr cutler is ashford? I was thinking of buying that. You did a nice job of it. Where you get the van from?

This one..................................................



We had a mini run in Gorey a few years ago and he was at it. Here a pic of a few of the cars there.... The blue mini on the near end of the row look familiar?

gareth wrote:This one..................................................

y is the badge upside down???

I know. it bugged me too and i said to chris the guy who owned it and his reply was that he liked to be different.

gareth wrote:

spannernut wrote:

StanO'Toole wrote:Welcome to the forum dude, that van wouldn't be John's for blanch would it be? He also owns a Mini pick-up?

afraid not,as a matter of interest i haven't seen any pics of the last mini i restored on here,i believe it was at mondello for the 50th anniversary.
it's a yellow roadster ,that as an after thought i made a cover for the weather,it's in around the harrow ferns.

ah the 79 you sold to Chris? Nice motor. You bought that off mr cutler is ashford? I was thinking of buying that. You did a nice job of it. Where you get the van from?

thats it,the van is more the brother inlaws i'm just giving him a hand , never asked him where he got it ,he's never restored one before,and as ive had a good few ,i got involved,although i dont really have the time ,i'm trying to get my porsche 924 sorted,put the thrust bearing through the pressure plate yesterday,a real dog of a job to do.only just got the engine in a couple weeks ago and now it has to come out again/give me a mini anyday.
but i will get some pics and post them,he cant use a computer.

daniel garry wrote:

gareth wrote:This one..................................................

y is the badge upside down???

yeh thats at least 2 years ago ,as for the badge i always liked to do something different,gave people something to talk about,or ask about.

Who did the roof for you?
I need a back window replaced in the hood of the boxter. some scum bag slit it with a knife outside the brothers lock up.

incidently if any of you have a convertable or a van and you need fasteners for the hood i have loads,well a couple hundred.
no charge.if you go to buy them in fj keoughs they'r €3.00 each,i know i bought some there.

gareth wrote:Who did the roof for you?
I need a back window replaced in the hood of the boxter. some scum bag slit it with a knife outside the brothers lock up.

howya gareth, the wife did the roof.
i think i still have the clear window material i was gonna use in the mini,will look tomorrow..

cool. if ya do i'll buy it from you. There a woman in Arklow who said she can fix it for me but she can't et hold of the material. And the nice guys in porsche wanna sell me the whole roof. You don't even wanna know the cost of that.....

gareth wrote:cool. if ya do i'll buy it from you. There a woman in Arklow who said she can fix it for me but she can't et hold of the material. And the nice guys in porsche wanna sell me the whole roof. You don't even wanna know the cost of that.....

i can well imagine,i buy all of my porsche spares from germany on ebay,they are very helpfull,and a lot cheaper than here or uk,even the post is reasonable

found the window gareth when do you want it,i can bring it to work if you remember where that is in ferns.

gareth wrote:
We had a mini run in Gorey a few years ago and he was at it. Here a pic of a few of the cars there.... The blue mini on the near end of the row look familiar?

That blue mini is gorgeous.

hi chris welcome, just a few miles from you im in enniscorthy.