The Mighty Canadian Mini

Big thanks to Miguel P. for these scans - this is a late 70s brochure for the Canadian Mini:


Check out Miguel's website - www.minipassionmini.50megs.com/gb/

Restoration Day Two - Spark it Up

Well, I think most of my involvement with this restoration project will be in the documentation department. I had hoped to be able to be more hands-on, but lack of experience (and really, basic knowledge) would make the process drag on far longer than needed. Instead, I'm going to pay very close attention to the work that gets done by my father, ask loads and loads of questions, take pictures and then research as much as possible in the weeks between visits to the Mini.

My second visit to the workshop revealed that my dad had removed the engine and front subframe and started on the panels that need repair or replacement. The engine is still a mystery to me (even with all my reading, things don't tend to come together for me until I can get my hands on them) but I'm looking forward to taking it all apart, cleaning it and putting it back together. This day however, I witnessed the first deep cuts into the front end to remove a rusted panel - much more impressive than the previous stabbing.






Slideshow here!
After discussing our options for replacing the panels - should we order new ones? maybe get an entire new body shell? - we decided to go on a field trip; a local guy had two rusted-out Mini shells for $100/ea and there might be some salvageable front panels.

It was only a 20 minute drive and "Fred" was home when we arrived. He let us know one of the shells had been sold and unfortunately, after looking at the one that was left it had a front end we couldn't use. Fred mentioned that the person who bought the other shell was also local and he only needed it for the struts as he's reinforcing a custom Mini pick-up. He gave us instructions on where to find it (under the railway bridge, around the corner and look down the driveways on the right - the Mini shell is in the back of the guy's Ford pick-up and you should be able to see the back end above the cab where it's parked in the backyard) and we dropped by on our way back to my dad's to leave our contact info. If the guy only needs the struts, we could split the cost and grab the front-end panels we need.

Before we left Fred though, we were invited in to his workshop to check out his recently restored Mini:


Along with the Mini, Fred's outbuildings are also sheltering several vintage motorcycles, a few more Austins (Americas?), an old pick-up truck and a wide selection of meticulously organized and catalogued parts, trim, upholstery, tools and other various wonders.

Vintage Ice Racing

I spent many winters on the ice as a kid in Thunder Bay, watching my parents and their friends racing around in small cars. My brother and I would strap on our skates and try to get close to the action without getting in trouble. Or we'd whine about the cold, it was pretty much a toss up.

My dad started racing in Windsor in the late 60s and continued racing in Thunder Bay until the early 80s. Originally he raced a black Mini Cooper but went on to develop a racing team with his cousin and focused on engine design/tuning. The team won several races, including the championship in 1982/1983.

Truck and trailer loaded with the racing team.


The detachable fibreglass bonnet makes for quicker pit stops.


My dad adjusts something while my uncle, John sits in the driver's seat. I remember borrowing John's helmet as a teenager (to ride on the back of my boyfriend's Vespa!) and noticing a blood type etched on the back - each driver marked his or her blood type on the back of their helmet, in case of emergency.


At the start line.


And they're off!

Full set of pics here: Ice racing in Thunder Bay

Additional information:
Ice Race Ontario - http://www.casc.on.ca/iceRacing.php
Thunder Bay Autosports Club - http://www.iceracingthunderbay.com/

Restoration Day One - Stab Action

This day is also known as "Stab-my-Mini-repeatedly-with-a-screwdriver" Day.

Full stab-action viewable at the slideshow link provided below...

Slideshow here!

Hogmanay Moving Day!

Since I bought my Mini in October it has been resting peacefully in my garage (we only had to move the recycling bins to fit it in!) where I've been able to spend a few moments with it every day while smoking a cigarette or drinking my tea. But with the new year comes new digs - my father's garage/machine shop where we'll be doing all the work on the car.

My father returned to Canada in November after working in Darfur (I bought the Mini while he was gone and was excited to have him back so he could inspect it - it passed with flying colours) and built a suitable trailer so we could haul the car back to his place.

On Wednesday my brother and dad came by with the shiny new trailer (notice the mini-matching, 10 inch tires and the wheel guards that allow the car doors to open fully.) Unfortunately the Mini didn't start (it's been very cold lately) so my brother and I pushed while our dad steered; and the angle was a bit off so there was a considerable amount of winching - but we managed to get the car on and strapped down. Aside from a little rust removal underneath, all went well and the first step towards restoration was a success!

Photographic evidence submitted below:






(click on pics for larger size)

mini magazine article - pg 3

Words and photography by Zoe Harrison
published in mini magazine, June 2000

Mini Machine managed to straighten out the burnt area and treat it so it wouldn't rust, without having to replace the entire side of the car as Trevor had first feared. He has tried to keep as much of the original car as possible, so although the floorpans have been replaced, the transmission tunnel has not.

The Mini Cooper did need new front wings, sills, A-panels, and a new roofskin to get rid of the large sunroof fitted at some point by Mr Hunt. The plate containing the body number was spot-welded to the original slam panel, so the slam panel itself was cut out and stitched in to the new front end. Mini Machine also put in a MkIII S boot floor. "The metal is thicker than the later Rover floors, so that was better," Trevor explains. "Then all the correct holes were put into it."

Although Trevor originally wanted an Almond Green Cooper with a white roof, having traced so much of the car's history he decided to stick to the Old English White with a black roof paint scheme. Mini Machine used two-pack paint, which should help the car last for years.

All the exterior trim was missing when he bought the Cooper, so Trevor scoured autojumbles and car shows. "The particular bits you can't find are the chrome trim round the door and under the window, and the early headlight rims with the brass rivet on top," he remarks. "I ended up drilling out some later ones, sending them away for re-chroming and making up a brass rivet to put back in. Bit sad that, isn't it?" The front grille is a reproduction chrome piece, but the bumpers are stainless steel, after Trevor was unable to find chrome ones.

Since the Mini Cooper was finished in November 1999 it's covered only a few hundred miles, but soon it will be travelling several thousand in one hit. Trevor's work is taking him back to Canada with his wife, Mary, and the car is going with him.

"I'm going to get an enclosed trailer for it and a motorhome so we can travel down to shows in the States," he reveals. "I might even do a few autotests, but I want to go and have some fun with it."

Having gone to so much time and trouble to create such a nice S in the first place, Trevor's not planning on parting with for some time. "My daughter used to watch me ice race Minis years ago," he adds, "and I want to leave it to her when I'm gone." So perhaps this very nice little Cooper will continue with a largely unblemished record of ownership?

Thanks to: SW Crompton, blacksmith, for use of The Smithy at Thornton Hough, Wirral for our location.