CUTTING THE FRONT OFF - Classic Mini Mayfair Restoration

[@grahamwoodier5066]

Listening to the rain and not getting wet. What an improvement!

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Oh Graham I know its absolutely epic!

[@michaelhunt2369]

Good to see what may be around the corner, enjoying all the content, thanks

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Defo now time to get a plan together.

[@Bertsretrorides]

looks loads better.......well you know what I'm getting at!! Great video 👍

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Haha yeah it looks better with the rot cut away…. Well some of it.

[@mikemcbride6932]

Sweet, another great video. Thanks

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Thanks buddy glad you liked it 👍

[@andrewb2475]

Back in the day when I was an apprentice my first car was a 1977 Mini Clubman, in white! I loved it but the inner sills were crisp and crunchy, I had outer sills welded on over the 'holey' ones, oh and paint was bubbling all over. Watching your cut back video I now understand there was a lot of hidden corrosion going on that I wasn't aware of, basically it was very close to scrap but back in the 1980's what car didn't have rust on it!

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Hey sounds like you had a great little car. But yes your right what Mini doesn’t have done rust on it. It’s definitely their favourite thing to do rust away. But we do love them. 👍

[@recreativesigns4571]

Welcome to the grinder.

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Haha 😂 welcome for sure

[@patadamson4005]

We’ll stop picking away now… stabs at it again with the screwdriver 😂😂😂

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Haha can’t help myself 😆

[@andyfry1970]

Hi Marc, no messing about...just lop the front off hey! Shame about the cracking on the inner wings...but better that it's found and rectified hey. Great poster! Will look cool on ya wall! 👍😊

[@SimpsonsClassics]

aha you guys know I love my disc cutter! it was good to see what I have to work with or what I don't have shall I say. Time to get panels ordered and move forward. That poster is epic isn't it.

[@edmondpower5722]

That's a great poster that you received, you'll have to frame it and find a space on your wall to mount it ASAP!!

[@SimpsonsClassics]

It’s epic isn’t it! Definitely will have it up ASAP!

[@MidasMk1]

Looking good, bet James is happy to get progress rolling on her!

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Thanks man, yes defo although his wallet will be lighter with the panel order.

[@dc1316]

Loving the mini content. I’ve just bought second hand a black interior, 10” original super lights, 4 pot 7.5” brakes with drive shaft and some hi-lo’s. My winter is all set when ‘Lottie’ goes into the garage for hibernation

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Oh cool sounds like have some fun work ahead. All the best with Lottie. Thanks for watching buddy glad your enjoying the content 👍

[@nickharland2880]

Another cracking video! Eves getting some love! James must be so excited!

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Cheers buddy. Glad you enjoyed it. Definitely nice to see this one getting some love as I have known the car for years now to

[@graemew7001]

I did a Tim Allen, Home Improvement "arr arr arr!" impression when you got the grinder out and then realised the reference is a bit before your time and realised how old I am lol. Is it the rot elsewhere that's caused the inner wings to crack like that?

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Haha 😂 it was good to get the front off for sure. We aren’t sure both inner wings are cracked we do know about 16 years ago it had a light bump at the front so maybe this as caused the issues but we will have to investigate further.

[@darrencottrell5541]

Fascinating insight as always Marc. This will be a thorough job as always and another one that will live long. Great artwork too. That will look epic on the wall. Deservedly, you and the channel are going places mate.

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Thanks Darren really appreciate the comment. Hopefully this one can be saved and live to fight another day for sure. Stay tuned for a workshop update loads of bits going on.. 👍

[@johndaly2180]

Great video . Oh my god the rust on it . I think you cought this one in time . Can't believe mine doesn't have any of that on the inner wings etc I must have been lucky

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Cheers buddy. Oh yeah it’s definitely worse than expected under those wings the poor little car. You definitely got lucky.

[@harvey1166]

I'm 3 minutes in, and awaiting to see how to pull the front end off easily, iv just done inner and outer sills on my drivers side and following your progress on this before I do my front 🤘

[@nickharland2880]

Marc’s the guy to watch! He will keep you right for sure :)

[@harvey1166]

I keep looking at my front end going ahh it's not that bad i can repair that, and more I look at it just want to cut it off and start again 😂

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Cheers man ❤️

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Cheers buddy keep following along for this one and check some of our older builds out for reference. Sounds like your cracking on nicely

[@SimpsonsClassics]

They aren’t to expensive and well worth doing buddy. Saves the rust coming back.

[@arthurdexter2082]

Think I’m going to take the front end off one of my fundraiser projects, given it’s aiming to be as close to a race car with aesthetics but road legal I’m considering putting a fibreglass one on as a completely removable option so I can take it to charity events/show days/ schools and things and have the engine in full plain sight…. Is that something you’ve dabbled in before Marc or have you just stuck to proper panels?

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Hey no this isn’t something I have ever done but we will be doing something like this on the most recent project on the channel so stay tuned for that one. All the best

[@chrisshort4198]

A great vid again, plewase dont missi anything - anything and everything you do will be of use to someone. With the inner wings cracked - will they be weldable to fix or must they be replaced and if so does the engine need to be removed?

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Glad you enjoyed the video buddy. I will do my best to document as much as I can. Stay tuned for a coming video to see what we do next, the inner wing can be replaced with the engine in place but space would be nicer I guess.

[@Polecat54941]

Did that mini fall in the Harbor at some point?

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Does seem like it. Na it’s a late rover mini they all seem to be the same

[@classicvolvorestorations3848]

Cracking project. What’s the mini panels and repair panels like? Decent range and quality?

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Cheers Mitch British heritage do most panels but there other companies doing them also. All depends on what you need and what your budget is

[@joesoap156]

Cool video mate 👍 iv heard some people complaining about heritage panels not fitting very well recently something to do with the press they use to make the panels being badly worn what are your thoughts on this ? Is there a better alternative out there iv got a mini that I'm planing to restore next year and not sure which direction to go panel wise

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Thanks Joe, yeah, I have heard the same the issue is the pressings are getting tired now I believe being the main problem. From doing the 99 cooper sports pack with pattern panels, the doing the 89 with heritage its night and day the front the 89 took me less than half the time to do. So I would always go heritage front ends and for most areas to be honest. M-machine do some great floor panels which we will be using on this project. Hope this helps.

[@joesoap156]

@@SimpsonsClassics thanks mate 👍

[@carlmc9775]

Mate what's the best way to take the wings off to save them ?

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Errm I would say trying to drill spot welds but it’s not easy and the cost of a wing really isn’t much in the grand scheme of things 👍

[@carlmc9775]

@@SimpsonsClassics new front end it is then I guess

[@charlieboyok]

Wow , it is rusty the old girl , r u gonna remove the motor & wiring to get to the " firewall" as l am very afraid my friend ..... It has to be done & properly.can't wait for the next one. 😳😨😱

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Yes this one is very poorly for sure. Yes the engine etc will be removed at some point. Plan is to keep it rolling for a litre while as we set the shop up then drop the subframes etc. Thanks for watching 👍

[@andywhitelaw6957]

I think my flitch might be worse than that ahahahahhaa, I know there wasn’t much left round the vents

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Argh buddy that’s a shame. Its definitely a common mini area for sure

[@bazzookabod5250]

So that’s why the footwells kept filling up with water🤔

[@SimpsonsClassics]

It’s normally the cause or a poorly fitted windscreen..

[@RobNelson-vu8nr]

Were older steel that was used on cars back in the day poor quality, or the paint. Just don’t see the rust on modern models

[@SimpsonsClassics]

It’s more have them car is constructed. Classic cars are full of rust traps and seams new cars are normally well primered and better built to prevent this sort of thing.