MARSHSEIS "Classic Mini Challenge" Creating a Time Machine.

Well it has been a while since we updated the progress of the Marshseis Mini Challenge and just to refresh and reiterate a little the plan is ambitious indeed, perhaps even audacious, some have even said "It can't be done", well we'll see about that!

We intend to take all the modern equipment, including engine, running gear, interior, even all the electrics and ancillaries well almost all from a modern MINI Cooper 1.5 and merge them into our classic Mini shell thus creating a vehicle that transcends time itself hence the new title "Creating a Time Machine".

There has been no end of thought, planning and decision making gone into how we are going to achieve this, and just so that everyone is kept up to speed on how we "have" achieved this we are going to have to back track a little.

Below is a pic of our classic shell which gives good indication of the space we have to work with and for the eagle eyed amongst you, yes this is the old mini front sub frame mounted back onto our refurbished shell and yes there is a very good reason for this.

It's commonly accepted that you just can't improve on the suspension and steering geometry on a classic mini, it gives handling properties and road holding that are second to none and that's why the mighty mini conquered and ruled the rally world for several decades and more and became every boy racers car of dreams. So essentially decision made, the original suspension geometry "that has to stay".

So although the old sub frame assembly does look a little tatty it will serve our purpose well to establish some key objectives like.

What will be the ride height?

Where will be the optimum place to mount the engine?

How much modification of the shell will be required?

Can it even be done???

And....here it is... the awesome power plant of the modern MINI Cooper 1.5.

It might look a little tame and not at all that big when viewed sitting in its original location, but remember it took teams of engineers at BMW years to design and shoe horn this amount of engineering and technology into such a small space . We are going to go one better and cram it all into a space that is significantly smaller yet retain all the handling and suspension geometry, not to mention inside space and versatility of the original Classic Mini. Well we at MARSHSEIS do love a challenge.

That's about all for this blog....All the best and take care and be sure to keep an eye out for our next blogs where you'll find out exactly how we got on with "Creating a Time Machine".