British Motor Heritage now provides a full body shell for the MK 1 Mini, awesome to keep these cars on the road.

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 since been at the forefront of supplying individual panels for all marks of classic Minis, and complete bodyshells 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!

Mini enthusiasts were given a glimpse of what was to come on BMH’s stand at the NEC Classic Motor Show last November, and the response was universally positive. The first production batch of 15 bodies will therefore commence in April, with deliveries occurring through May and June. The launch price is £9,950 inc. VAT and the company is accepting orders accompanied by a 25 percent deposit.

The early body is markedly different from its later counterparts. The major variances include:

• Smaller: door aperture with different step profiles; sliding window doors with external hinges; rear window; rear side windows; rear light mountings
• 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 company is indebted to M-Machine for allowing it to use their MK 1 floors and sills, as the cost of retooling these items would have made the project unviable. BMH has also used the later front bulkhead crossmember assembly as retooling for this non-visual part would have been prohibitive, and opted not to form the rotodip hole in the rear seat squab; recognising that a significant element of demand for the new shells will almost certainly be for historic motorsport.

A Great Tit halts production of Classic Mini Clubman bodyshells at the British Motor Heritage facility.

‘GREAT’ TIT HALTS MINI PRODUCTION’

For over 40 years, Witney-based British Motor Heritage (BMH) has been at the heart of the restoration and conservation of many of Britain’s best loved classic cars, having built over 6,000 complete replacement bodyshells for the MGB, MG RV8, MG Midget, Austin-Healey Sprite, Triumph TR6, original Mini and Mini Clubman. 

As well as literally tens of thousands of individual panels. Unlike those of alternative suppliers, these items are manufactured to original standards on the original tooling; though happily without the disruptions that characterised BMC production in the 1970s – until recently…………….

Managing Director John Yea takes up the story: “We were preparing to run a batch of new bodyshells for the Mini Clubman when the staff discovered a great tit had nested in the specialist tooling reserved for this model. 

Important as it is to maintain our production schedules, we obviously had no wish to interfere with the course of nature, so sidelined that batch of shells until the last fledgling had safely departed its makeshift home – it’s what we like to think of as our ‘Mini’ contribution to wildlife conservation!

“Actually, these great tits are not the only birds to have taken a liking to our factory this year, as a robin decided to start its family in the top of one of our empty gas bottles – I’m happy to report that its babies also enjoyed a safe start in life!”

British Motor Heritage celebrates 30 years of MGB bodyshell production, amongst others.

BMH BOASTS NEARLY 30 YEARS OF MGB BODYSHELL PRODUCTION

And nine years more than was achieved by MG itself!

As British Motor Heritage (BMH) completes another batch of replacement bodyshells for the venerable MGB, it is incredible to note that the company has now been manufacturing them for 28 straight years – ie nine years longer than they were made by the MG factory itself, whose production span began in 1962 and was cruelly terminated by the BLMC management in 1980.

The key point about the BMH shells are that they’re produced to original specification via the original press dies and assembly jigs, which are continually inspected and refurbished to maintain optimum performance. 

The products are therefore every bit as accurate as those constructed in Abingdon 50 years ago. Only top grade automotive steel is employed, and each shell is supplied complete with a full coat of high build primer, thereby guaranteeing excellent pre-build protection and minimal preparation prior to the application of the final paint finish.

No less than 14 variants of the MGB shell are available, which between them cover: the four-cylinder roadsters and GTs of all years, in both left and righthand drive configuration; the V8; and even cars being converted from rubber to chrome bumper specification. Prices start from £8,250.00 (including VAT) and the shells are available direct from BMH’s online retail arm (www.motoringclassics.co.uk) or via any of the company’s accredited dealers, as listed on www.bmh-ltd.com. Production is currently running at around 30-35 shells per annum.

Said BMH Managing Director John Yea: “One of many great things about the MGB is that good quality spares are so readily obtainable throughout the world, which has allowed generation after generation to enjoy this great British sports car, and we are proud to have been a major contributor to that longevity for all these years.”

BMH is the world’s largest manufacturer of replacement bodyshells and panelwork for British classic cars. It was established in 1975 and has so far built well over 6,000 replacement shells for the MGB, MGR V8, MG Midget, Austin-Healey Sprite, Triumph TR6, original Mini and Mini Clubman, as well as many thousands of individual replacement panels for these and other models.