Hasegawa 1/24 Mini Cooper "Sport Pack" edition - customised

[Wardukw]

A while back I wanted to hotrod a mini in a rat rod sort of way ..until I tried to find one 
Bloody nice work Hatter mate 😀 

[Madhatter]

Thanks guys One of my cousins had a Mini as a teenager and he shoved a Rover V8 into his. I remember we took it for a drive to test it out. It had one seat and no windshield (or any glass for that matter),  and no seat belts. So I sat on the floor gripping the roll cage wearing some Biggles style goggles..... ah the 80's were a wonderful time weren't they? I look back upon those times with rose coloured sunnies and reflect back on the minor fact that, somehow, after adventures like that, I'm still alive.

[Rick Lowe]

the minor fact that, somehow, after adventures like that, I'm still alive.

We can all relate - I wonder how some of the modern kids will cope if they have to do something similar... but they probably won't. 

I'm surprised there was any sort of cabin left, after the V-8 and transmission was shoehorned in there... 

[Madhatter]

Yeah, I initially thought the same thing (on both counts for that matter), but it was one of those really small aluminium v8s that rover made. From my seriously ailing memory, I think  he fitted it transversely. Sadly, I  can't ask him how  as he's been estranged from the rest of that side of the family for whatever reason. I tend to stay out of crap like that. 

[PR19_Kit]

That was the ex-GM 3.5 litre V8 that Rover bought the rights to. It was lighter than the 1800 cc B Series engine in the MGB, no wonder they made the MGB V8!

And at a single stroke improved the British hot rod scene no END! 

[Madhatter]

I didn't know Britain really had a rod rod culture as such. When I was there in the mid to late 90's, it was all about the hot hatch's and fast saloons etc. I will admit though, I was an admirer of the Escort & Sierra Cosworths and one of my old school friend's Dad had the only Vauxhall Lotus Carlton in NZ which he took us out in one day. It was, at the time, the fastest 4 door family saloon in the world (for all of 5 minutes)

[PR19_Kit]

I didn't know Britain really had a rod rod culture as such.

Huh! I'll have you know.................................. etc etc.

We certainly did have, and to an extent still do. Just get down to Santa Pod raceway during the season and the car park is stuffed with all sorts of custom built machinery. It's just a case of moving in the right circles.

While Cossies and Carltons are great on the open road they're not a match for laying down a low ET on the strip. 

[zenrat]

That was the ex-GM 3.5 litre V8 that Rover bought the rights to. It was lighter than the 1800 cc B Series engine in the MGB, no wonder they made the MGB V8!

And at a single stroke improved the British hot rod scene no END! 

It was originally a Buick engine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_V8_engine

[PR19_Kit]

And Olds as well, and Pontiac too.

[Madhatter]

Must have been pretty good then to be recycled throughout so many makers. I just remember it made a heck of a racket! It didn't have a proper exhaust on it when we drove around with it.

[PR19_Kit]

Nononono, only two makers, GM and Rover.

GM owned Buick, Pontiac and Oldsmobile at the time (and maybe still do...) It was the whole concept of a medium sized (meaning big in the UK...) all-aluminium V8 that it so attractive, and useful,

[kerick]

GM still has Buick but Pontiac and Olds are gone.

[Wardukw]

I took a Rover V8 and stuck it in my 2500 TC when it's engine died 
Weirdly I still miss that car .