RE: Mini Remastered by David Brown Automotive

[minimalist]

What does the word "natch" mean, as used in the article.

[Plug Life]

Still zero roll-over protection. Very good, too much annoying hipsters!

[big dub]

From the evo article.. "After undergoing an exhaustive four-week painting process..."

Why?? For the Speedback maybe when you're spending £500k+, but why do you need that long for a mini?

Agree it looks great and that they missed a trick by not putting a 5 speed in.

Edited by big dub on Friday 7th April 13:31

[vsonix]

minimalist said:

What does the word "natch" mean, as used in the article.

'naturally'

iirc it was common journalistic lingo in more informal magazines in the late 80s/early 90s. Don't really see/hear it much these days. Author must be a throwback.

[mk2 24v]

I'm guessing that the 50-75k is for the sheer amount of man hours these things must take to make.
New Heritage shells were 7k and that was without doors or bonnet I believe. The aircon and electric windows (think I saw those in the pics) must be a ball ache to fit in there though, as there is literally no extra space on or in an original mini


And as said earlier by someone, those rear lights are indeed hideous


(if that is the case for the shells, it will just be a restored mini, not a newly built one that would need BIVA or SVA at a guess)

[robemcdonald]

This story is six days too late.

[V8 TEJ]

mk2 24v said:

New Heritage shells were 7k and that was without doors or bonnet I believe.

No, the shells are complete with all panels. I used to work here, they still sell them

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/shop-by-model/austin-...

[Mr2Mike]

J4CKO said:

They shaved the seams off, will be a heritage shell I assume with a few mods, not an all new carbon fibre job like that RUF 911.

If they did go to all the expense and design work, why the hell did they stick an old A series and 4 speed in it ?

Its for all intents and purposes a Mini Shell.

If they just deseamed it, why the need for a new "chassis" (presumably they mean subframe(s) in this case )?

[Andynbr]

Mr2Mike said:

If they just deseamed it, why the need for a new "chassis" (presumably they mean subframe(s) in this case )?

The write up also mentions "struts", which makes me think the whole suspension has been redesigned away from the standard cone and trumpet arrangement.

[GarageQueen]

SpeckledJim said:

Depends if they're selling it as a 'new' car, and thus they're the manufacturer, or if they're selling them as restored minis, and they're
just the workshop.

David Brown Automotive Limited restores and modifies existing classic Mini automobiles for its customers. David Brown Automotive Ltd does not manufacture or sell Mini automobiles. David Brown Automotive Ltd is not sponsored, associated, approved, endorsed nor, in any way, affiliated with Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW). The Mini® name and logo are trademarks of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, and any other products mentioned are the trademarks of their respective holders. Any mention of trademarked names or other marks is for purpose of reference only. The product of David Brown Automotive’s painstaking effort is a Classic Mini® restored and remastered by David Brown Automotive. Out of respect for BMW, and to respect BMW’s trademark rights, this classic icon should never under any circumstances be referred to or described as a “David Brown”, “David Brown Mini”, “David Brown Automotive Mini”, “David Brown Rover Mini” or a “David Brown BMW Mini”, or in any other manner that suggests that it is anything but a classic (pre 2001) Mini Remastered by David Brown Automotive.

[binnerboy]

I prefer these

https://www.zcars.org.uk/

The ones in the article are clearly aimed at rich bearded cockwombles in shoreditch

[numtumfutunch]

Nice idea but the price has a whiff of Singer 911 about it but without the engineering integrity of that car

I keep looking at the classifieds for Downtown minis and original Cooper S's which are far more worthy

Cheers

[SpeckledJim]

GarageQueen said:

SpeckledJim said:

Depends if they're selling it as a 'new' car, and thus they're the manufacturer, or if they're selling them as restored minis, and they're
just the workshop.

David Brown Automotive Limited restores and modifies existing classic Mini automobiles for its customers. David Brown Automotive Ltd does not manufacture or sell Mini automobiles. David Brown Automotive Ltd is not sponsored, associated, approved, endorsed nor, in any way, affiliated with Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW). The Mini® name and logo are trademarks of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, and any other products mentioned are the trademarks of their respective holders. Any mention of trademarked names or other marks is for purpose of reference only. The product of David Brown Automotive’s painstaking effort is a Classic Mini® restored and remastered by David Brown Automotive. Out of respect for BMW, and to respect BMW’s trademark rights, this classic icon should never under any circumstances be referred to or described as a “David Brown”, “David Brown Mini”, “David Brown Automotive Mini”, “David Brown Rover Mini” or a “David Brown BMW Mini”, or in any other manner that suggests that it is anything but a classic (pre 2001) Mini Remastered by David Brown Automotive.

That clears that up, then! Thanks.

[minimalist]

vsonix said:

minimalist said:

What does the word "natch" mean, as used in the article.

'naturally'

iirc it was common journalistic lingo in more informal magazines in the late 80s/early 90s. Don't really see/hear it much these days. Author must be a throwback.

Thank you. I see it every now and again and could never figure it out.

[FWDRacer]

SonicShadow said:

How much do original Mini Coopers go for these days?

Good completely original Mk1 Cooper-S is north of 35K GBP.

Still great value compared to this retro pastiche garbage imho.

[J4CKO]

Andynbr said:

Mr2Mike said:

If they just deseamed it, why the need for a new "chassis" (presumably they mean subframe(s) in this case )?

The write up also mentions "struts", which makes me think the whole suspension has been redesigned away from the standard cone and trumpet arrangement.

Would imagine its all tried and tested aftermarket stuff.

Glad things like this are made, but 75 grand, sure its a lot of work but not sure who would buy them ? are there that many rich folk that are interested in old Minis ?

[kambites]

As with others, I'm dubious of keeping the original drive-train. Sick a modernish ~150bhp DOHC engine (K-seris VVC maybe?) with a 5 or 6 speed full syncro gearbox and it'd be enormously appealing. It'd still need to be well under £50k though. Otherwise there's too many options with upgrading/restoring classic minis.

[John_S4x4]

for £50,000, I'd spend £10,000 on a nice Mini and the rest of £40,000 at Swiftune / Minispares etc

[SpeckledJim]

J4CKO said:

are there that many rich folk that are interested in old Minis ?

They'll pay it for an equally awful, equally charming Land Rover Defender, so why not?

It's nothing to do with the car, it's to have something their friends don't have. Or to have something their friends DO have. Either way, the reason is friends.

[cookie1600]

Mince said:

You should probably re-read the article... "considerably SOUTH of six-figures."

Good grief and there's nothing really 'new' about the formula or the tech, apart form the ridiculous screen. It's been done by hundreds of companies over the years and these are pretty, but not outstanding and certainly not worth that sort of money.

I guess they will be for WAGS of the wealthy, who have husbands who would like them to have a little town car. But frankly Wood and Picket cornered this market years ago when the Mini was in production and I bet they weren't the equivalent amount of money and were far better spec'd.

Any decent bodyshop could take a Heritage body-shell, a recon A+ engine and some fancy seats and trim and build something just as nice for £25k to £30k max. Why not even slip a half decent Vauxhall, Honda or Toyota engine and 'box in and give it real reliability, smoothness and economy.

Pretty cars, but I'm owt at that price.

Edited by cookie1600 on Friday 7th April 14:46