50 Pounds of Rust and A Ugly Paint job Later Our Classic Mini Cooper Takes it To The Next Level

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So much rust and a new paintjob later and wow she is looking good
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[@RichRebuilds]

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[@mostlymotorized]

You know what's better than seeing this car get built quickly? Seeing the last car you took your sweet time building get used for anything at all

[@tonyking9235]

THE WORST THING THAY DID WAS TO PUT THEM UGLY SQUARE LIGHTS ON THE BACK. ON THE LATER ONES THAY MADE IT EVEN MORE UGLY BY MAKING THE FRONT SQUARE. AS WELL. THAT VTEC WILL GO LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL . HO NOT THAT CRAP ELECTRIC CAR GET IT OUT OF HEAR . SAVE THE PLANET 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 GIVE ME A BRACK .

[@tonyking9235]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 GET A DIESEL.

[@tonyking9235]

THANKS FOR SHOWING WHAT CRAP IT IS . SAVE THE PLANET WHO IN THERE RIGHT MIND BELIEVE THAT 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TheByonsho]

Rich got the Swastika tires. That tread used to be a Goodyear tires tread. Notice down the middle is swastikas

[@Adones09]

I am not one of those whiny watchers Uncle Rich, I like seeing the process, your humor is part of the charm on the builds. Don't feel that you have to chase the algorithm.

[@imakro69]

I want to add that I usually skip parts or episodes where you just stand and talk around the car with what you want to do and what should be done, and I enjoy to the fullest when you grind that pneumatic grinder Rich

[@mostlymotorized]

Whatever dude. You know what I want more than to see this car get rebuilt quickly? see the last car he built do anything at all. The rabbit hayabusa.

[@Adones09]

@@mostlymotorized you know Rich put out real working cars and not just "show" cars that fall apart or shells on a go-cart, like Monster Garage or West Coast Customs or Orange County Choppers. This means that while he's waiting for parts, work to be done, like the sandblasting in this video, he's working on the other cars/trucks, going on long roadtrips, documenting them, which means he's not working on the actual vehicle, that the work is not done at the snap of a finger, but edited, for time. You know this right? If you really are that vested into it, go volunteer to help him out or build one yourself. Its now January 29, 2024, is 2 weeks good for you, by February 12, 2024? I'll hold my breath waiting for you, to do the planning, research, build, waiting for parts, correct mistakes/miscalculations, disassemble for paint, re-assemble, all while filming and editing... for you to add the link, of you showing Rich how its done. Can't wait!

[@mostlymotorized]

That's about the least relevant thing I've heard. All I'm talking about is using the crap he's already built ​@@Adones09

[@aserta]

I think the grey suits it. Everyone paints them red, green, blue or whatever. They look great in white or gray.

[@checkheck8875]

Leenda!

[@theglitch99]

Like the color!👍🏽

[@lordred8017]

Had to do a double take when I noticed the Vtec engine on the green mini. Awesome.

[@emmy4949]

Now i see why am drawn to liking your content, apart from making good content we both like the same colours. 🙂👍

[@nicholi1]

Refreshing to see Leenda

[@jenibond]

its NO Binky but Nice !!!!!

[@marcoallin]

safe to say that those charging company are going down, i would put $ on that if i had some

[@ΘάνατοςΧορτοφάγος]

Nothing wrong with a D16, but if you Honda swap a mini it should at least be a B16 right? Although, a D14 with D16 Vtec head and ITB is cool, revs to the moon. EV still better though

[@Cyril29a]

Great job but the car needs to be racing green or red.

[@lavectech]

The attention to detail. Good to see Leenda around.

[@hf7188]

That shot of Leenda showing the Mercedes on her phone was her " i like turtles " moment.... Just out of the blue.

[@davidbenji1]

This is REALLY COOL to see Rich doing a full-on restoration!

[@TheStwat]

My first car in 1993, was a 1977 Mini Clubman 1100. I bought it for £175 as it was running like shit and overheating/boiling over. I got it home and found the problem was simply that the distributor was out of time. Once corrected it ran brilliantly and I blasted about in it like any youngster would in his first car. Fucking brilliant.

[@MrLurchsThings]

There were certainly British cars of that age in grey, so yeah - it works! If there’s a vote, go with chrome. Chrome looks good against grey and keeps that classic, vintage look.

[@quilleymemory]

It’s not grey. It’s rose taupe.

[@MrLurchsThings]

@@quilleymemory feel better now?

[@quilleymemory]

@@MrLurchsThings lol, I was just being silly. In the 80s my sister had a Morris minor that was that color and it always made me laugh how they described it.

[@coreybagley7346]

Joey did a good job

[@mntmantimes]

Yes, way to go Joey! That takes real talent.

[@daleanderson7629]

David Vizard literally wrote the book on hotting up those mini motors and has a channel. I'm sure he cold port the head blindfolded.

[@brentrenouf7127]

That would be a great motor to own, signed by the Vizard

[@andrewmcewan8081]

no he didn't, downton performance were the people most of the race teams used .they still exist and do performance kits, but if they still do minis i don't know

[@patrickvanden8322]

@@andrewmcewan8081 You should look on Google so you can find his book. Tuning British Leyland's 'A' Series Engine David Vizard a whopping 572 pages!

[@mrrberger]

Vizard, was so good at analysing and working the A-series that it got to his head. His channel is full of stupid bangs and string stretch audio, then he waxs lyrical and fails to input the real tech. Buy his books, they are the value, listening to him is painful. These days the honda swap is a no brainer if you're even close to committing to spend on a real A-series hotup. The honda swap delivers the same power performance of a balls out A-series with the longevity of a factory engine, it's smoother, has more gears, gets great upgrade options "Honda" and will start in all weather.

[@andrewmcewan8081]

@@mrrberger I know who he is and what he's done I'm just saying Downton were who the race teams went to .they did so because there work was proven to last either the length of the race or the season

[@carlosleandry12]

D16 🔥🔥🔥

[@martinda7446]

Rich, is it actually a Cooper? Check the VIN. Have to take this opportunity to say I think Rich Rebuilds is a total phenomenon. Don't know if I've heard a sharper mind here on KZbin. Sure there are the Isaac Newtons born every five hundred years, but I often wonder what a chap like this could achieve? I think he is very special and that feeling is confirmed every time I hear him... Except this time... Hell, I got to see that Mini sorted! They are beautiful, unique and very, very special... Maybe that's why Rich bonded with the Mini?

[@piuthemagicman]

Indeed, Rich is extremely sharp and has the greatest dry sense of humor! 😎

[@martinda7446]

Oooh are you a magician? I love magic. Always wanted to learn some... Do you have a channel? @@piuthemagicman

[@martinda7446]

Maybe not.. But I like your channel anyhow and you look nice too. - I'm just complementing people today!@@piuthemagicman

[@jasonbull179]

What happened to Steve? Is he around any more.

[@bradsheridan8658]

KZbin cabana house arrest, he made a video about his time while locked down

[@jirx7]

I built a turbo mini when I was 18. It was really simple to do here in the uk. There was an MG metro turbo that had a mini derived engine and it just swapped straight over.

[@TaldrenDR]

I noticed that IceT wasn't there. Is that one of your cars or is it owned by someone else? Also, is the Diesel Tesla still a thing? Haven't heard anything about it in a while.

[@jcx2bby]

Rich, we need answers! And where the heck is Stevon!

[@TheRealAlpha2]

@@jcx2bby I swear I could hear Samcrack's voice when I read that lol.

[@mclarenjohnf1]

Great project Rich. One of my Mini's a 1275 GT I got a centre exit exhaust from a mini performance it was a great upgrade for the engine as were the K& N filters.

[@JRs-Garage]

Nicely done ✅ the mini looks good uncle Rich!

[@yummyjackalmeat]

I detest my wife's mini. What is simple on a normal car requires complete deconstruction of the whole vehicle on a mini. "Oh but its so cute!" She says. Ugh.

[@markgadsby5568]

It’s not for everyone! 😂

[@matthewwain9958]

Awesome. My first car was an Austin Mini 850 that I drove, until I managed to be an idiot and ram a curb in fog and put a right angle bend in the wheel. My bonnet (hood) flew off and a car came out the fog as I went to retrieve it, and ran over it, folding it in half (they never stopped lol). My Dad got me to strip the entire car down, including removing all the spot welds for the entire front end of the car, and we had a new front end welded and floors welded on. I replaced every single component in the car, two new subframes, nylon bushings all throughout, white weller wheels, eventually MG Metro Seats. It had two new engines in the time I had it (they were pretty ropey for each of them lol.) Eventually I stupidly traded it for a newer Mini Park Lane. Love mini's, but definitely need to appreciate they have major flaws lol. (Now I live in the USA, getting a mini would be pricey)

[@ezesrebuilds1174]

Whoever is watching this video, I hope this day will be a great day.

[@thedopplereffect00]

3 miles range left. Still goes 10 MPH over the speed limit while towing. Brave man.

[@backyardprojects9945]

I like the colour, what about doing the roof in white?

[@ernieleithes6545]

Yeh most coopers came with the white roof

[@t0mt0mt0m]

Your last episode was well edited this was well scripted. Rich, you’re getting better at this, bravo sir.

[@RastaBIasta]

I use to have a VTEC Mini, you're constantly fighting corrosion. I do not envy you uncle Rich!

[@shawnerz98]

It was good seeing Leenda again. Hearing that K(?)-swapped Mini bounce off the rev limiter was really cool! Can't wait to see this build come together. I'll be looking next week for an update. :) Best of luck!

[@End3r_Wiggin]

Was a SOHC D16.

[@michaelstanfield7530]

D16Y8 sohc 127hp, perfect choice for a reliable fun Mini, one of Honda's most reliable engines and I can attest to the fact they'll spend years bouncing off the red line on the daily as long as you maintain them 👍

[@End3r_Wiggin]

Stout motor!

[@tHe_WiZaRd_Life]

Its a D16Z6. Common in the Civic Ex from 1992-1995. 125hp at 7200 rpm. No... there is no torque.

[@Rev.Match.Reviews]

​@End3r_Wiggin I've genuinely never heard a good sounding NA D series, so I completely convinced myself it had to be a B series. Good lord that thing sounds phenomenal! I wish my old EK had a Y8 instead of a Y7, and my EP3 had real vtec 😂

[@chevyracing1080]

The joys of owning a Rivian lolololol. Looks like a fun charging network - or lack thereof.

[@Knackeredandbroke]

Please Rich whatever you do DONT copy the other minis dashboard. Go with the Smiths clocks & build your own. It'll be so much better than whatever that excuse was for a dashboard.

[@jsyjay]

My mini has a turbocharged original engine. It makes 155hp @ 9psi so that's your benchmark 😉

[@foadrightnow5725]

I phucking HATE primer gray colored paint! Should have gone with dark blue!

[@fettywhopper7684]

I am one of those whiny watchers Uncle Rich, I hate seeing the process, your humor isn’t part of the charm of the builds. Feel that you have to chase the algorithm.

[@joshdobson2737]

The little Honda Fit in the background has almost all the parts you would need..... how much gd3 can you fit in a Austin Mini?

[@Follett2121]

Nice to see! That fender repair was questionable 😂

[@3K4peikos]

Very nice built. I hate minicoopers with passion i think they're overpriced piles of poop, but this is one of the best pieces of shit I've ever seen

[@End3r_Wiggin]

Reminds me of Mighty Car Mods and Moog's CTR swapped Mini. It's no joke.

[@davidreeves2596]

I don't like the way you dropped that rim on the ground...😂😂😂

[@tomw6719]

Chrome bumpers please! Nice project.

[@sebastiaan3116]

Seems stressful to drive an EV in a third world country.

[@Nphen]

Nice build! New suspension will make all the difference for handling & safety. Sounds like you might do a rollcage as well. A proper classic sleeper! Props for doing this one right!

[@N0N0111]

Finally comment section talking more about Joey, names leave and names enter.

[@22k203902]

Any update on STEVENs return to the channel?

[@OnzaRob]

Mini, the car that changed the entire car industry....Issigonis is a legend!

[@jonnyringo6338]

I cant believe your not intalling a 2 litre turbocharged 4wd from an early 90s japanese sports car. I mean how hard could that be.

[@sweeneyuk567]

What’s happening with binky? Nothing uploaded for ages. Def the longest build ever.

[@BAGINAZARD]

Rich you know you like them rims THICK, stop playing.

[@jooei2810]

This is the best EV channel in the KZbin par none!

[@AB-C1]

Great job so far Rich! Try n keep it original 60s looking! (It wasn't original 60s before, that was more 80s/90s with the later square rear light cluster it came with etc) but the original 60s look IS REALLY SOUGHT AFTER now, especially as they did a Grey, (not unlike that) back then and the reproduction "Minilite" Mag rims you've got will still make it a bit more modern and the uprated engine, but i think it would be cool and itll BE WORTH A LOT MORE, to try and keep it looking 60s stock/oem+ Exterior Hinges, Trim, OVAL Rear Lights, Basic Dash with iconic Centre Clock etc bit of a Mini-Sleeper (Pun intended) 😂 Coming on great though! Ps. I'd have been shocked of it wasnt rusted through tbh having not been steipped and rebuilt already.. 😂 Cheers from London 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@arkhsm]

Those real late '60s Minis were odd because they had the updated looks, but the original outside door hinges and sliding windows. My '70 had gone to inside hinges/non swinging door handles and wind up windows, losing those huge inside door bins !!

[@markgadsby5568]

This is a Mark 2. The light clusters are correct. Only the Mark 1 had the smaller rear lights.

[@microbuilder]

If I had unlimited funds, my first car purchase would be a classic Mini

[@Saint_Vincent1735]

Love this build. The mini is just such a great design and your plan really brings it up to date.

[@SirAJentz]

Uncle Rich always comes up with some cool projects. This thing is awesome!

[@wombatt6669]

Disappointed at the lack of brackets

[@oliverjantz1108]

Luv it that leeeeeeerenda just pops up randomly in this vid Living the mini build as well 🥰😍

[@n84434]

Stevon Update? Blink once if he's ok....

[@connorohoare7470]

Don’t do chrome go for the black trim they always look amazing ! And with that colour it will look great !

[@kumaboyy.7443]

this is a neat build, almost like a go kart!😂

[@hvt8147]

I can feel his range anxiety...😅

[@rnobx]

Rust at normal places for a mini. Weird that your pan under driver are still on. Todd job on it car guru.

[@802Garage]

Wow it's really rare for a car to get better when you sand blast it.

[@paulthibodeau7417]

Fellow NH classic mini owner here. Love that you're building one out. LOVE the color! Hope to see it out on the road sometime soon.

[@ronkeeney1752]

Great stuff Rich! I’ve owned one Austin 850, a 998cc Cooper and a 1275 Cooper S over my 74 years. When Minis became expensive/scarce I bought a Honda Z 600 coupe Kei car. I have been working on embryonic plans to spec/build a Spark EV powered Mini with an aluminum square tubing frame and UK sourced carbon fiber body. Do you think that’s doable?

[@danstewart8218]

Hey Rich...It is your car though you should have looked into keeping the Hydrolastic suspension its really really good, when its properly set up its as good as expensive shocks...Ps Paint the roof BLACK...They look the shizz with a Black roof...and from 50yrds away people know its a Cooper

[@ja2054]

Rich, how can you bear the range anxiety BS with that Rivian? Life’s too short and I’ve got enough grey hairs. Also why aren’t charge points set up like petrol pumps where you drive through? Surely it would help with longer & more awkward vehicles and be more obvious where to wait and who’s next. Imagine petrol pumps with individual parking bays, It’d be carnage.

[@caduceus33]

Must be tough putting up with the charging situation on that Rivian.

[@GuvnaTwos]

Finally! Looking forward to seeing the finished product. Love OG Minis.

[@terrypickette118]

- 👍 👍 🔧 Binky 👀❤🤍💙

[@MGBranco]

Finally! The only decent car you have! Precious time machine! Keep it! Cheers from Portugal! Donlll Just don't put an Hayabusa engine on it....😂😂😂😂

[@alberto7095]

Would have zinced the shell to rust proof it forever. Also you can get all fully adjustable suspension on this car. I see you got 10x6j :) look at the group 4 arches! The wheels will stick too much out otherwise. I have the cooper inverted ones and it’s already pretty sketchy Also the car did originally have small brakes

[@nonamekk1]

Love the color. My vote is for chrome trim. Would look classy pastel grey with chrome. It’ll age well IMO.

[@finddavid]

Looks great Rich! I think powder coated bumpers that match the interior colors look great on older cars and holds up well. We did that to a teal green 1924 Plymouth 4-door sedan and it was beautiful.

[@enduronorthnz6437]

Should have got someone who knows what they are doing ….. that paint job and panel work looks terrible , can’t criticise the previous guy who did the work under the red it’s the same quality work

[@stemun4084]

Really sorry Rich this is not a cooper its a Austin mini, Cooper had 2 petrol tanks for a start, then the block was a 1275 block stamped with cc between the block and the gearbox, the engine you have there is the metro 1300, check the bores if its 1340 you have the metro turbo block, nice and rusty like they all are A panel top of wings firewall floor panels and sills maby a few arches then you got a good mini, I used to drive them across fields/estate when i was young and after we would scrap it for £10 😀

[@patrickradcliffe3837]

5:01 the Austin Mini will fit in the bed with the tailgate up on a 1977 Ford F-150 long bed. 13:27 meh... On the color. Wheels are even more boring. Should have popped that little boy a pearl hunter green with a pearl white top, with those rims in white instead of black. Gotta get out of the safe zone Rich you're getting derivative.

[@WilliamBurdine]

After watching that Range Anxiety and Charging situation.... WHY THE HELL do people want electric cars????

[@paulfarghi]

Hi Rich great to see a British icon o.j. Your channel BUT the guy who did your fender repair on the drinkers side, was it Stevie Wonder? That is atrocious full of seam sealer were it joins the windscreen scuttle panel.. Really poor repair.... You need a Brit out there to assist I'll pop over and rectify.. 😂

[@Paul83121]

With that color I think you should really go with black. Will match way better than chrome. Bumpers, grill, everything. Many Minis used to have a black or white roof, so you could also paint that black.

[@patrickvanden8322]

Well Rich, I think you better could have removed the rear and front subframe and rebuild them separated from the car. Did you check the hydraulic suspension system for leaks? The subframes should be painted black for the original look. And if you remove the rear subframe you are most likely to find spots with rot. I'm sad to say your engine is not original to your car as it is the later A+ engine.

[@thhulk306]

Officially the coolest car you own. I love OG Mini's❤

[@Bentleymetalworx]

I bought some venom tires for my 2017 superduty they were 3/8" out of round and caused the death wobble at about 35 mph. They did not warranty them. Toyos now.

[@IggyBiggy]

Have to love NH backroads. That mini looks pretty sweet.

[@arkhsm]

Super happy to see you keep the iconic A series in it ! You should see the Swiftune powered Minis' racing at the Goodwood Revival; sometimes up against V6 and V8 opposition !!

[@gregvonheraud-parker7739]

What happened to Stevon

[@bradsheridan8658]

KZbin cabana house arrest, he made a video about his time while locked down under box eclectic

[@NiclasHorn]

Then it comes to cars like the Mini, i have no issue, i think these old gems are PERFECT for a EV setup then it getting hard to keep the engien´s maintained and running. And also a old proper Mini is a DAMN fun car to drive, just like the Peugeot 205 GTI´s. Those are super hard to find now due to most of them rusted away, i have not seen a peugeot 205 gti in Sweden for 20 years :(

[@RenselProjects]

This is not how you restore a Mini fender. You take the darn thing of and fit a complete new one, spotwelded and all. This is backyard junkster style.. There will be rot behind the a-panel and it will rot through you new paintjob asap.

[@kramer26]

Did a blind person paint that?? Why didn't they do the rain gutter around the hood, or the slam panel, or engine bay, or trunk? It's literally like, 6 bolts to remove the front subframe...

[@truckerwrenchinglife]

Thanks Rich for uploading early so I can climb into bed early, the v=tech was nice ,I thought it was your car , but I remember you like a well hung Turtle

[@rdsledge]

Rich, have you ever checked out Bad Obsession project Binky? Talk about a Major modified Mimi.

[@myqaveli]

not sure if you’d be interested in this but locally around my area they’re selling a BMW i8 that needs rebuilding for like 19k

[@johnny_salmon]

where is the diesel tesla?

[@Thinginator]

Please don't black out the trim. On modern cars it can look cool, but on classic cars it looks really tacky. Still, whatever you decide to do with your car, good on you for saving and restoring it instead of declaring it hopelessly rusty!

[@jaydawg7]

Why would you paint it an Italian car any other color than RED!? I want to go bleach my eyes 😢 sacrilege! Heresy! It was already the original color! I need to go pull all the flesh off my face now brb

[@SBIGDTSM]

Do you call all variants of the mini, mini coopers? It’s not like that in the UK. I do love a mini, I’ll need to scratch that itch again at some point, always fancied one with a sports bike engine.😊

[@stewartkarol757]

Research the MG metro turbo which had a turbo charged A series engine from the factory. The gearbox was the weak link so it couldn't run much if any boost.

[@johnnunn8688]

Had a Mini 1000, circa ‘79, loved it until daughter came along, so too much baby stuff to cart along. So she had to go.