Bodyshells

[Old Nick]

I seem to remember back in the eighties that the morris minor center in bath were producing bodyshells (i think made in sri lanka), What happend to that idea ? Would solve a few probs ! Does any body know ?

[Dean]

Sounds great, but I guess to many the thought of a Sri Lankan body shell, would sent shivers through their chassis legs.

[bmcecosse]

" shivers through their chassis legs " - I LIKE it!!

As far as I know - NO ONE has made up a new bodyshell - they may have 'reconditioned' old ones using new parts, possibly from SL. However these SL parts don't exactly have a good reputation for quality or accuracy............... Also note that a bodyshell must retain it's original identity - you can't 're-shell' your car using a reconditioned bodyshell. The NEW Mini/Spridget/MGB etc shells from Heritage DO allow these cars to be reshelled and to retain their original identity. It would be great if Heritage could produce NEW Minor bodyshells - and I would have thought not too difficult for them to do Convertible shells, where no roof panel involved. Project for the MMOC to perhaps 'fund' the necessary tooling ??
There was a NEW OLD STOCK shell recently on ebay at what I thought was a fair price for such a unique thing - but it didn't sell as far as I remember.

[IaininTenbury]

"
There was a NEW OLD STOCK shell recently on ebay at what I thought was a fair price for such a unique thing - but it didn't sell as far as I remember.

I missed seeing that so go on then, how much was it?

Closest I think Sri Lanka has come to new shells are the vans which were advertised by Birmingham Minor centre a year or so back. Comprised a new chassis, a GRP rear body and a cab made/reconditioned from a dead 4 door saloon.
Looked pretty good but difficult to register properly I'd imagine, (rather than just slapping on the chassis plate from your rusty heap as most would do), as its not entirely new.

[chickenjohn]

"-snip- The NEW Mini/Spridget/MGB etc shells from Heritage DO allow these cars to be reshelled and to retain their original identity. It would be great if Heritage could produce NEW Minor bodyshells - and I would have thought not too difficult for them to do Tourer shells, where no roof panel involved. Project for the MMOC to perhaps 'fund' the necessary tooling ??
There was a NEW OLD STOCK shell recently on ebay at what I thought was a fair price for such a unique thing - but it didn't sell as far as I remember.

I don't think it would be financially viable for Heritage to manufacture new Minor shells, being much bigger (more material) and more complex than a Mini shell, and the finished car having a lower value than Spridget/MGB etc. Maybe they could do a Traveller shell.

The new Ebay shell may not have sold as how would you register the resultant car with the modern beaurocratic nightmare of the £450 BIVA test, which the "new"Minor would probably not pass, a Q plate and no free tax. Enough put anyone off.

Really, with such good panel availabillity, the way forward has to be restoration of the Minors we do have and "rescuing" as many (potential) scrappage victims as we can.

[billlobban]

The new Ebay shell may not have sold as how would you register the resultant car with the modern beaurocratic nightmare of the £450 BIVA test, which the "new"Minor would probably not pass, a Q plate and no free tax. Enough put anyone off.

Do people really tell the DVLA that they have re-shelled their car?

[bmcecosse]

No - if you use a NEW shell you don't have to tell them anything! You just buy a shell and transfer ALL the bits over. And of course - 2 seconds after you do that, you are perfectly free to then 'modify' the car any way you like!! I've done it twice now, both Minis obviously. And it's illegal to do it with a non-new shell, that's called 'ringing'!! A new Convertible shell is not all that big - or heavy. Remember, no doors/wings/boot or bonnet fitted - these parts are all available already. And since Convertibles are already 'highly valued' I rather suspect new shells would sell like hot-cakes! Of course many would use them to re-shell saloons, turning them into Convertibles, but that's ok I think! I seriously suggest MMOC should ask Heritage if they would consider this. I wonder if there is anyone listening ??

[Dean]

I get the feeling from their web page the new Mini shells sell quite well... even though they cost £4k a piece. I think the MMOC should look into the new shell idea, all these field finds could potentially have a life line. I agree with BMC, new shells would sell well. The only stumbling block is that Heritage don't actually do that many Minor parts in order to utilise on a new shell programme. This could make it a very costly exercise.

[chickenjohn]

-snip-The only stumbling block is that Heritage don't actually do that many Minor parts in order to utilise on a new shell programme. This could make it a very costly exercise.

This is why the idea will not work. There are many parts on the Minor that are not currently manufactured and the amount of investment needed to re-tool to manufacture these missing parts would just be astronomical. If this were even possible, I doubt that the expertise needed to re-manufacture all those panels exists in the UK anymore! The currently sold parts are the ones in demand- i.e. the parts that rust and need replacing. The only reason heritage can manufacture new Mini and MGB shells is because they bought all the original tooling and jigs from the manufacturer. Such equipment for the Minor will have been scrapped decades ago.

Really, many of those field find Minors have those missing parts on them, so to make a "new Minor shell", simply take a field find Minor and replace chassis, floors, spring hangers, sills, inner wings, all the rust etc. Restoration is the way forward for saving more Minors, not re-shelling. This would also be much cheaper than buying a new shell,- if one existed- and would use far less resources and energy in the restoring of the Minor- and far less waste to dispose of, if you are concerned about such things.

Repair, don't re-shell!!!!

[bmcecosse]

But your 'repaired' shell cannot be used to re-shell your car, it must retain it's original identity. I believe new Convertible shells would be possible - but the shells would be ~ £8000 each, and they would be just bare shells with no doors/bonnet/boot/front panel that sort of thing - just the basic shell. Still well worth it - to build a 'new' convertible! Chinese tooling can be surprisingly affordable...........

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

I thought I had saved a pic of that new shell but cant find it. It had a starting price of £4000 and was complete with wings, doors, boot and bonnet.

[IaininTenbury]

Probably not a bad buy really when you consider it.... Almost a shame to use it though - same dilemma the club has with their new shell - an amazing historical artifact but once used its gone...

Regarding remanufacture; its a lovely idea but I'd imagine tooling costs for all the new panel work, the parts that aren't currently produced would be prohibitive. Dashboard, scuttle, bulkhead sections, body sides and boot surround. As for the £8000 price, that may well be realistic but I wonder how many people would go for that when you could have your existing shell completely rebuilt for rather less even including dip and ecoat.
Take the point about making convertibles out of saloons, which does make sense. The only reshell roject I've been involved with was an MGB roadster which did start off as a GT. Still relatively easy enough to convert a saloon shell in the course of a rebuild though, if thats the desired course.