Modifications U (Don't) Like

[lordlee]

Can't stand clear indicators when a car should have ambers. It's seems especially rife on early 90's Mercedes. I saw a gorgeous 560 SEC the other day that, in my opinion, was ruined by cheap looking clears on it. Shame.

[MGB Boy]

barefoot said:

Not sold on the carbon fibre(?), or the door cards (especially with speakers in) but that leather trimmed centre console is beautiful

Also how did you make and fix those panels behind the console under the dash?

Those seats also look pretty tasty too!

Modifications I dislike
-Big wheels e.g. 17" Minilites on an MGB
-Most vinyl / leather seat covers
-Chrome lower trims along the sill (my car came with them and they will be removed when I get it painted!)
-Most radio aerials
-Webasto roofs, period or not

As for modern head units I'd rather have something more period but I'm not made of money and I want to plug my iPod in!
Oh and I've got Minilites (or similar) just to spite you all

[aeropilot]

Markh said:

Proper minilites or JA Pearce wheels look great, look-like Minilites are just low rent and look wrong

Agree with this...... they have to be proper Minilites for the correct period look, and most arn't which is a IMHO

[braddo]

lordlee said:

Can't stand clear indicators when a car should have ambers. It's seems especially rife on early 90's Mercedes. I saw a gorgeous 560 SEC the other day that, in my opinion, was ruined by cheap looking clears on it. Shame.

Agreed. Early 996 Porsche 911s are blighted by this - I think every single one in the PH classifieds has been changed to clear indicators, which just exacerbates the 'fried egg' look of the headlights. The orange indicators tie in nicely with the bumper line.

[2volvos]

Ferg said:

Pat H said:

Chrome wire wheels instead of painted ones.

Absolutely!

Pat H said:

Plastic wheelarch extensions on Minis.

Hmmm...harsh. I actually had ally spats on mine, but plastic would have been OK. I just needed to keep the wheels legal.

That's judged an awful lot of Minis...Any running 6 by 10s or 12s will need some kind of wheel arch extension - a set of Group 2s are on the shopping list for my 1275GT.

However, I have issue with later Rover Sportspack wheels and arches. I admit that I haven't driven one but would be interested in knowing how those huge boots affect the direct steering, strain the powertrain and bearings and stop you sliding the thing around.

[AJAX50]

From about 1965 onwards, the Cooper S works rally cars had wheel arc extensions, screw on black ones with the chrome plastic trim on them.

[Pat H]

AJAX50 said:

From about 1965 onwards, the Cooper S works rally cars had wheel arc extensions, screw on black ones with the chrome plastic trim on them.

Yep.

Those are the best of a bad bunch.

Each to his own, and all that. But I prefer my Minis to have bare arches.

[CY88]

Breadvan73 said:

Thinking over the Colin Chapman "everything does two jobs" formula, I am trying to figure out what job the front numbers/letters attached to the grille are doing. Making the car a few grammes lighter, I suppose. Maybe I can kid someone that the rear numberplate is a vital structural member.

I always thought that letters / numbers fixed to the grille meant that airflow through grille was not compromised, whilst also avoiding need for (arguably lighter but visually offensive) sticky-back plate on bonnet?

[D18OCK]

CY88 said:

Breadvan73 said:

Thinking over the Colin Chapman "everything does two jobs" formula, I am trying to figure out what job the front numbers/letters attached to the grille are doing. Making the car a few grammes lighter, I suppose. Maybe I can kid someone that the rear numberplate is a vital structural member.

I always thought that letters / numbers fixed to the grille meant that airflow through grille was not compromised, whilst also avoiding need for (arguably lighter but visually offensive) sticky-back plate on bonnet?

Yes, exactly the theory I believe is that the number plate itself not needed because the grille is serving it's two purposes.

Let's be honest though it is pretty hard to think of two jobs for most parts of any car, you have to resort to....erm, and aero dynamic efficency an awful lot!

[Ferg]

Pat H said:

Yep.

Those are the best of a bad bunch.

Each to his own, and all that. But I prefer my Minis to have bare arches.

Actually, whilst we're on the subject of Mini modifications....

I really don't like them with non-10" wheels.....

[Pat H]

Ferg said:

ctually, whilst we're on the subject of Mini modifications....

I really don't like them with non-10" wheels.....

Neither do I.

In fact, one of the better modifications to any Mini is to stick on some Cooper S discs and a set of 10" rims.

Without arches, naturally.

[Ferg]

Pat H said:

Without arches, naturally.

We're going to have to disagree on this one, Pat...






It fks me off when Googling 'Mini Cooper 'S' that I have to wade through so many images of those wky BMW things before I can find a picture of a proper one.

[Compo_Simmonite]

Breadvan73 said:

One correction: black numberplates are legal on a car built before 1973. I have a Lotus Europa which was built in October 1972 but registered in January 1973. It is allowed to have black numberplates. I agree that black plates are deplorable on post 1972 cars and particularly on modern cars.

Edited by Breadvan73 on Thursday 10th February 12:24

That's good news.
My Range Rover was build 10/12/72 but registered in '73 so though I was limited to the later plates.

Paul H

[mgtony]

Electric windows. Who on earth thinks it's a must have in a classic resto

I can understand most modern upgrades, but is winding up a window such a chore?

[ARH]

mgtony said:

Electric windows. Who on earth thinks it's a must have in a classic resto

I can understand most modern upgrades, but is winding up a window such a chore?

The windows in the morris minor can be wound up in half the time my electric ones in the jag take to operate. why do we need electric windows?

[anonymous-user]

Also, wind up windows do not go wrong. Mr Chapman was cross when the marketing spods made him put electric windows in the Europa, and he was right. I spent a few days enjoying the breeze and diesel fumes last week when one of my windows got stuck open, before it was spoken to firmly by Monsieur René le Mech and started working again.

[Hooli]

ARH said:

mgtony said:

Electric windows. Who on earth thinks it's a must have in a classic resto

I can understand most modern upgrades, but is winding up a window such a chore?

The windows in the morris minor can be wound up in half the time my electric ones in the jag take to operate. why do we need electric windows?

I've got a theory that's never been proved wrong yet - the faster the car, the slower the electric windows. I used to know a damn quick astra GTE with the slowest windows I've ever seen, yet Mrs Hooli's current fiesta is slower than a unpowered brick yet the windows move so fast they blur

[2volvos]

Ferg said:

Pat H said:

Without arches, naturally.

We're going to have to disagree on this one, Pat...






It fks me off when Googling 'Mini Cooper 'S' that I have to wade through so many images of those wky BMW things before I can find a picture of a proper one.

I'll agree that the best looking Minis ever were those on the grid at Goodwood Revival 2009. Those 10s and no arches...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq743jZ6L0Y

(And if you think that was good you should see the the owners' race on the DVD)

My first Mini had 5x10 Dunlop alloys that didn't need arches. Lovely. My current Mini has 5x12s and arches and therefore I like them too. Contrary? Moi?

[grahamw48]

Any self-respecting driver of a quick road-going min back in the 60s and 70s would want widies, arches, and a nice big fat centre exhaust...loud as possible.

Forget all this 'original' or aesthetically pleasing guff.

My mate had at least 10 gauges on the dash and in an overhead console that weren't even connected to anything.

[Markh]

grahamw48 said:

Any self-respecting driver of a quick road-going min back in the 60s and 70s would want widies, arches, and a nice big fat centre exhaust...loud as possible.

Forget all this 'original' or aesthetically pleasing guff.

My mate had at least 10 gauges on the dash and in an overhead console that weren't even connected to anything.

so right, I forgot the 70's , more was ALWAYS better


thanks for reminding me