'72 Mini Clubman Estate

[superturbodiesel.com]

Yes!

[Tupers]

I spent ages getting the centre that was cut out of the tailgate lined up and then tacked in last night.




And even more time welding it up as there was a 4MM gap all the way around, I **** thick cutting discs.




I did a little linishing on the ends of the frame and flicked some zinc over them.


Should look good when it's got glass up top.

[Tupers]

After much deliberation about how to lock the tailgate I've decided to go with a simple squeeze lock that will retract two pins from the door frame. Nice and simple and it'll barely cost me anything to build.


I started out by cutting a hole for the pinch tabs in the centre tailgate.


Then I drilled a hole in each side for the door frame for the pin to go into.


Last week a I cut a couple of thick steel squares and drill a 10MM hole in each to give the pin a little more support at each end. I've also spotted some little nylon top hats and the hardware store that I might insert into them.




The top of the frame was in dire need of strengthening so I made a top cap from 1.5MM steel and welded it on. This was unbelievably hard to bend but it's stiffened the frame up brilliantly.

[MartinsElerts]

You have some mad ass fab skills!
Can't wait to see it finished.
Keep up the great work.

[Brian.]

loving your fab skills. You're on the track to success with this. Sub'd!

[white out]

This is an awesome build.

[Tupers]

I took a trip to the shops and found some nice 8MM i.d nylon stepped washers to use as bushes for the locking pins.


The holes in the tailgate and door frame needed drilling out to 11MM and then the stepped washers slotted right in.




I also picked up some 8MM mild steel rod to use for the pins.


After much chopping and welding I got one side 99% of the way there.




The mechanism still needs a bit of tweaking but it's working the way I wanted.

[Tupers]

Progress on the estate has really ground to a halt recently as I've been busy on customer projects but I'm hoping to whittle out a little more time to get this rolling again.

I have at least been buying shinny things to keep me happy starting with a set of Dunlop DJ93 tyres at about 35% off.


I also got a nice steering wheel that's currently on it's way to me from Portugal, kudos if you can guess what it's from.





Today was one of those aforementioned days when I managed to whittle out a little time to get something done that should have been finished ages ago.
When I pulled the old boot floor out the old mounts for the rear seat also went. I'd made the new captive plates to remount the seat ages ago but didn't get around to fitting them until this afternoon. I also tock the opportunity to move the seat base up at the front and rear to make it easier to hinge and fit carpet underneath.

[fresh.gen]

That wheel is from the Abarth division of Fiat. Looks very nice. Sort of Retro Sporty. Keep up the good work!

[A4crn]

I'm thinking the steering is from a Fiat 127 Abarth, or possibly a Ritmo

[MattyHacks71]

Autobianchi Abarth a112?

[Tupers]

Autobianchi Abarth a112?

That's the one. t

[A4crn]

Autobianchi Abarth a112?

Nice one

[MattyHacks71]

That's the one. t

My uncle had one

[forloveandglory]

Now I just understood your plan with the split tailgate.
Damn, what a great idea.
(Hope the upper part will lift much more than standard or you're quite small.)