Mini Minus Build Blog

Day Dream Believer?

Only in my work time day dreams did I believe; that I will ever find either the money, space or the time to modify my mini so it would be capable of being driven across Europe.

A long distance road trip; starting off from my home town across the Channel to France. Passing through Reims, its Champagne vineyards, its old street racing circuit and on through the Mont Blanc tunnel to the Italian Lakes, down to Turin, to the old Fiat Factory, then across the Alps, over the ‘Col de Turini’ and on into Monte Carlo. Then heading back towards Calais and either the ferry or Euro Tunnel home, via the ‘French Rivera’, the Pyrenees and up the Atlantic coast of France.

All of this in a 1000cc 1983 Austin Mini Mayfair, which to be honest has seen better days and as of the 25th of September 2008, SORN'd with a broken clutch, drivers side sill, close to being rusted through and two rear tyres very close if not on, their legal tread depth limit, it all seems a long way off.

But this is the plan; and to concentrate my mind I’ve given myself a deadline of sorts. The idea is to complete the restoration/modification of the car and to be ready for the trip after a shakedown run to the English Lake District and the Welsh Mountains by 2012, which is approximately 4 years, give or take a few months.............well that's the idea any way.

This blog is going to be a record of the build, getting the car legal and attempting the road trip, or at least my attempt at living out my office day dreams.