Completely Unique Mini Motorhome - Multistage Show Prep Part 1

Dave KG · 03-16-09, 06:12

This vehicle is completely unique!

A labour of love for its owner, three years long and counting, Stevie has rebuilt it from nothing but a shell. The cab is a 1979 Mini pickup, running a rebuilt 1275cc BMC A-Series+ Engine (Mini Cooper), single SU carb (as opposed to the twin SUs the Cooper ran) and fully ported and polished head. Stevie did the rebuild himself... The back is from a 1987 Honda Acty. Join the two together and you have this completely unique creation - it may not be to everyone's tastes, but you can never deny the amount of work that has gone into the van - all the stainless is home made by the owner, the bumpers are home made, the engine is a home rebuild, the list goes on! I have a huge amount of respect for this project, and think the van is fantastic - which is why I was delighted to be able to help out with something I am good at, and do an assissted detail with Stevie in preparation for the show season.

This is part 1, of what will be many parts over the coming weeks (engine is being re-painted then the whole bay will be perfected, interior is being reupholstered.... and more! )

So here she is...

I had previously worked with the owner doing a full machine polish on the cab and back, so only a quick reminder of technique and product was required and Stevie was off polishing his van! Some swirls before, only light as was fully compounded a few months back:

Menzerna PO106FF Final Finish, Meguirs W8006 polishing pad was all that was needed to restore the luster back and remove the swirls:

This detail was more than just the paint though, this van is very intricate with a lot of parts not normally seen on an everyday road car that would require attention... Such as the scratches Plexiglass...

and the dull stainless steel brightwork to name but two:

I set about the brightwork, kicking off in the engine bay with the rocker cover...

No access in here, so off it came:

Reminscent of the Rolls Siver Ghost of a couple of years ago, it was time to get out the Briliant polishes again!

Briliant #1 Metal Restorer was used to remove pitting and restore the finish, and the lustre was then restored using Briliant #2 Alu and Stainless polish.... flat sides were easy and polishes by PC7424. The barred top was done carefully, using a Dremel to get into the slots...

The side before:

and after:

The finished article, protected with Renaissance Wax:

Dave KG · 03-16-09, 06:13

A lot of Stainless was used on the van, including the custom storage tank below the body... and all of it was fading. This was going to be a mammoth task but well worth it, and would form the majority of this first part of the detail along with the paintwork which the vast majority was done by the owner himself, while I worked on a lot of the bright work.

Below, one of the doors to the storage compartment polishes alongside the other not yet touched...

Not complete just yet... the locks are being removed back in the workshop, and this will allow polishing of the lock itself and the removal of inaccessible gunk from the "join" of the lock and panel. But so much better already!

The rear wheel arches were also polished...

The front wheel arches before:

and after...

The owner meanwhile worked away with a Dremel on the Austin Princess grille...

Front bumper was removed altogether to polish the metal and plastics dressed with Black Wow... check out the grille here as well, shining like new now!

Light surrounds not yet polished... the candles (sorry, headlights!!

:

are being replaced with HID ones and so the surrounds will be polished then once they are removed from the vehicle.

Another challenge was the plexiglass, quite badly swirled!!

Lacking in clarity...

Fast Cut Plus on a Lake Country CCS Yellow Cutting pad followed by Menzerna 106FF Final Finish restored the clarity and removed all but the much deeper marks, Stevie was over the moon! Inside needs sorted too, but this is a task for when the interior is out and being reupholstered - see future parts!

A huge improvement so far though....

Other side before...

and after...

Clarity restored:

Stevie meanwhile dealt with polishing his tail pipes with Briliant #2... 50/50:

The windows on the cab are made from Lexen and this is a very sensitive material but well scratched...

A gentler approach with Menz IP was adopted, and the windows polishes both inside and out to restore the clarity...

Up close, with the Sun Gun:

All trim was dressed with Black Wow, tyres with Meguiars Hot Wheels and wheels sealed with a test wheel sealent (Quixxman will know it

) which added a subtle extra shine to the polished rims.

Dave KG · 03-16-09, 06:14

White bodywork received three coats of Collinite 476S for protection, all bright work protected with Reneissance Wax. This ended Part 1 of the detail, Stevie is now getting the engine bay repainted and that will be fully detailed in the next installment of this show prep... For now though, some afters to reward a hard but hugely enjoyable weekend's work!

Beading on the stainless steel:

More after pics from the SLR:

Yes, the roof was polished as well!

A great van to work on, something completely unique and for me who is used to and enjoys older cars, the sound of the A-series being revved up in the unit was a distinct and very enjoyable noise! Cracking van, and I'm looking forward to the next installment of detailing on it

kei169 · 03-16-09, 07:27

amazing result!

Auto Concierge · 03-16-09, 07:27

Super clean!!!!!! I have never seen a mini RV (that's brill) also using the dremel and taking off the valve cover is OCD at it's finest!!!!!!!!! who else would appreciate this but the guys here and DW.

Awesome correction.

jordanrossbell · 03-16-09, 08:04

Wow, Dave this is over the top..i love it, awesome work

connorb850 · 03-16-09, 04:51

That's a really neat vehicle, nice work and attention to detail!

That red e38 7-series in the background also caught my eye, did you detail that as well?

Scottwax · 03-16-09, 07:52

That is really, really cool.

Can't imagine the acceleration is that good though.

David703 · 03-16-09, 08:01

GREAT JOB! I would love to see the interior.

Dave KG · 03-17-09, 02:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by connorb850

That's a really neat vehicle, nice work and attention to detail!

That red e38 7-series in the background also caught my eye, did you detail that as well?

Yup, write up to follow

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottwax

That is really, really cool.

Can't imagine the acceleration is that good though.

You'd be surprised

The little Mini Cooper engine (1275cc) was rebuilt by the owner, ported and polished head, single large SU carb, running around 60 - 70bhp. Doesn't sound much, but the wee camper only weighs 600kg and despite its height its got a fair turn of speed when you wind it up! Engine spins up to 8000rpm and sounds great, not bad for a 1979 unit, derived in the 40s