The values of MK1 Minis continue to rocket, increasingly justifying the cost of the part or total restorations that will be required for most examples sooner or later.
British Motor Heritage (BMH) has long been a suppler of individual panels for all marks of classic Minis, and complete body-shells for models from 1976 onwards.
What’s been missing until now is the Holy Grail, a full replacement shell for the MK1, but the wait is now over.
The first production batch of 15 bodies will commence in April, with deliveries occurring through May and June. The launch price is £9,950 ($17,400 NZD) and the company is accepting orders accompanied by a 25 per cent deposit.
The early body differs from its later counterparts. The major variances include:
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Smaller door aperture with different step profiles; sliding window doors with external hinges; rear window; rear side windows; rear light mountings
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Different ‘A’ panels and hinge reinforcements; cant rails; floors; sills; front and rear parcel shelves; switch panel; boot panel, bonnet and inner valences; front valance and number plate mounting
Since creating the prototype body, BMH has commissioned additional tooling to refine the finish and improve the build quality.
The British Motor Heritage was established in 1975 to support the owners of classic British marques by putting genuine components back into manufacture, using original tools wherever possible.
To date it has built over 6,000 replacement body-shells for the MGB, MGR V8, MG Midget, Austin Healey Sprite, Triumph TR6, original Mini and Mini Clubman, as well as thousands of individual replacement panels.