Here are some photos of the nearly complete B16-powered classic mini that is being built for me. It's a few weeks from completion; more photos to follow.












Safe motoring,
Keith Irtenkauf

 

very nice......

 

I like how the body is not highly modified. That is very cool!

 

honda motor - nice package overall !!!

 

Oh, the seats...the freakin' seats!

 

Very sharp!!1

 

looks like minitec's garage....did they do all the work?

 

Yep, it's all Norm & BJ's work. I have not seen my car in person yet (I live in the Motor City and they're in Skoal country . . . ) So far I'm very happy with what I see.

 

How long did the project take?

Good looking Mini.

 

Hi Xanthus,
From start to finish, the whole project will have taken 6 months. Mini Tec quoted approximately 14 weeks, but they knew that I live in Detroit (the road salt rust capital of the known Universe), and that I wasn't going to be driing it until spring anyhow.

 

Totally Rocks.

 

from what i have heard and have seen, with peoples experiance with mini tec, is that their not very acurate with there projected timelines......right Lance.....lol......good products from them though.........cant complain about that......

 

I'm a member of the Lance (Meno) Mini Tec emotional support group too! Lance is indeed a brave soul who will be the first recipient of a Mini Tec K-series conversion. He's doing it right, asking lots of questions and reaching out to the mini community. I think he's going to be very happy with the finished product.

Thus far, I have very much enjoyed my experience and relationship with Norm & Benjamin (BJ) at Mini Tec. They are great guys who are very laid-back. I think the fact that they're so laid back makes it easy to take their relaxed attitude as inattention. I can tell you that they don't miss much that you ask them or tell them. They have been very fair with me and have accomodated all of my requests and sometimes silly questions. That stated, I do wish that they would send updates and photos on a more regular basis and I think that their lead-time estimates should be expanded to a more realistic tie frame. I'll discuss these customer service desires with them when we go to pick up our little monster early next month.

When Susan (my wife) and I go down to royston, we're going to snap some photos of his car for him and just generally perform some secret agent-style snooping (ssshhhh!!! . . . don't tell anyone).

I would like to hear from current and former mini tec customers on their experiences and their level of satisfaction with their cars.

 

For clarity, there are two "Lance's" who are currently customers of Mini-Tech.

Code Name: Real Name: Car Name:
Xanthus Lance Wee-Beastie
Meno Lance None as of yet other than "Late"

Norm was referring to Xanthus
Keith was referring to Meno

 

Yeah, no lack of quality on anything they do, I just wish they were faster at getting things to me. I have heard also from others that they seldom make the time estimates they first state. I think they are overwhelmed with work and orders, and thus cannot keep up. I think that this is because they make excellent kits and do a fantastic job on the cars, thus they have a high demand. I hope that in time things become more streamlined. Good people, just don't be in a rush. Well they are in the south, we do tend to do things a little more relaxed. No complaints from me as other issues (like rewiring my whole car) that I was going to possibly do later, I did now before my final drive gearset is available. Even then, that was due to the producer of that part, not Minitec. They did take longer than I expected for the initial delivery of my kit, but when it came the entire thing was assembled and ready to bolt onto the car which was fantastic.

Your Mini looks fantastic, I hope you enjoy.

Oh, and tell the classic fanatics that hate our conversions that our Minis start when we turn the key......EVERY TIME.

So mr K series is also a Lance.... WOOT hey dood!

The tire shop is gonna LOVE you. I think you will be spinning wheels a BUNCH on the low end but you top end is gonna be INSANE!!! I went for a B16 type R as I thought I was over any need for power I have already.

 

Please allow the view of an old classic Mini enthusiast here. This car will be a very quick, reliable, well-engineered classic Mini REPLICA. No Mini engine, no Mini tranny, no Mini subframe, no Mini suspension, no Mini brakes, no Mini interior, not even a true Mini silhouette. It is not a Mini anymore.

 

He's a witch! Burn Him! Just kidding NSX.

One technicality though; it has a Mini chassis which is the skeleton of a Mini so therefore not a replica unless you were using hyperbole. Additionally the chassis, insofar as material space is concerned, constitutes the single largest part of the whole.

Highly modified? Yes, then again "modified" is the standard expression of Mini hence the tradition is echoed not corrupted. As such, "Frankenmini" is aptly named.

Perhaps it is in the "degree" of modification that is difficult for some. Touché. Keep in mind that even the MINI is not all Mini or even all BMW when it rolls out of the factory.

Consider it the Ying and the Yang - East meets West, Grasshopper.

Respectfully,

 

Meno:

Yes, I'm guilty of hyperbole, but there must be some point at which one of these Mini creations ceases to live up to its name. Grassroots magazine featured a "Mini" a few months ago that had not a single component from an actual Mini. That's like trying to pass off a Factory Five as a real Cobra. If the members of this forum are not a little **** about what a Mini is or is not, who will be?

 

Please, we KNOW that there are those that do not like what we are doing to your precious Minis......

I don't care. I HAD a Mini (and a MINI for the record), the thing had electrical issues all over, and spent more time in the shop than on the road. I wanted something better...

Take the intolerance to Mini Mania. We do not go there and write threads saying Lucas electrical sucks and we have more horsepower than you do. Hell I ADMIRE those that can keep a good running REAL restored Mini going. I admire them every chance I get. Please do not take the time to try to rain on someones parade here.

FYI My Mini's rear view mascot is a teddy bear looking quite Dr Jekyl & Mr Hyde. I KNOW it's an abomination in some peoples eyes. It is named "Wee Beastie" Wait till I get ahold of a MOKE. (MONSTER MOKE coming as soon as I can afford to have it built)

This forum is for the discussion and fun in discussion of Mini and MINIs. NOT for taking the **** out of someone because they do not like the same things you do.

This goes for other threads, one that has no replies at current.

 

Thank You for saying what needs to be said, I'm with you on your point I don't even think of my BMW/MINI as a Mini as it's not, it's a bloody BMW that tries to catch the feelings of days gone by. I love my Mini for what it is, getting in & never knowing if it will start, & if it does will I get to where I'm going & back is just part of the adventure of driving an older British car, it is what it is. Now for the MINI I have love for it as well for I see it for what it really is too, HP that is not to be believed with worry free motoring I find them both to be as much fun as one could have with your clothes still on, each in their own way. I've never understood a Hot Rod Ford with a 350 Chevy in it, it's not a Ford & it's not a Chevy anymore. sometimes I think to much, never mind.........

 

Ahhh, you see, just like in Mary Shelly's story, the monster finds itself misunderstood, mistrusted, feared and unloved!

Is it a classic mini - yes. Is it a goofy crossbreed - yes. Is it a pure anything - no.

It is truly heart warming to see people so passionate about cars that are near and dear to them. To my mind, this creation is no different than a Sunbeam Tiger or a "real" Cobra or a Studebaker Avanti - all were available with a myriad of engine choices and/or have been accepted by the classic car community.

I thought long and hard about the decision to Honda-ize my first mini. The thing that kept coming to mind is that Sir Alec probably would have thought it was cool too. He was always looking for sensible ways to make his design more efficient and powerful. For what it's worth, I do intend to also own a "real" classic mini; one unsullied by the addition of anything other than a set of jumper cables and a quart of oil here and there.

It's all OK: I live in a "Big 3" UAW town, own 2 honda cars and a freak mini with a rice burner motor - everyone hates me. Then again, to some people, different is good . . .

Peace and prosperity to all.

 

i say if you buy the car .......you do what ever the hell ya want with it .........and opinions are like A$$ holes......everyone has one and they usually stink............at least their not letting them sit around collecting rust....most of these frankinmini's are some of the most well taken care of cars......Eveloution at Work is what it is ........

 

Keith:

I've been accused of taking the **** out of your project, whatever that means, but I had no intention of degrading your new car. I just believe that in every discussion there is room for all points of view- in this case one that is rooted in respect for Sir Alex's original variants. Of course, everyone is free to have their own priorities when it comes to whether or not to mod their Minis and if so, how far to go (of the seven that I owned over the years, all had extensive performance tweaks). I wish you well with your new toy. If something similar were available when I was younger, I probably would have considered having one built too. Currently, I'm happy with the '06 Cooper S that I autocross with my son, but I will always be nostalgic when it comes to early classic Minis and hope that at least a few will survive forever in the hands of enthusiasts who value orginality.

Cheers,

****

 

Hi NSXguy,
I took no offense whatsoever to your comments. I do indeed believe that freedom of speech and public expression is a groovy thing. I respect and value your opinion. Moreover, I agree with you!! It is vitally important that restoration and preservation be at the core of the collector hobby. That stated, there was absolutely nothing special about the car that it was. It was a well-worn, tatty, early 1970's mini. It was as non-descript as it gets. That's partly what I love about it - I could stuff a Lotus engine in it or a 1275 anointed by John Cooper himself and it wouldn't have changed it's pedigree one iota. It was dead-common.

I am fortunate enough to have been part of restoring truly rare and historically important vehicles and I understand the need for conservation of those vehicles. I think it's really important to keep in mind that 5.5 million mini's were produced; not exactly rare by any argument imagineable. I think that us Americans have a weird reverance for the mini because it was (is) rare here. I have seen it suggested that there are now far more classic mini's in the US than there ever were while the car was in production. My feeling is that this community we are in is very important in all of its various forms. The purists, the tweakers, the VTEC nuts, the soccer moms, the racers, etc. The fact that we are spending our precious time blogging about this is proof that we care about this silly and wonderful little car!

The other bit of mini-reality is that from day one, the mini has been modified by enthusiasts. Sometimes for the better (Broadspeed, Speedwell, Wood & Pickett) and sometimes, not.

Anyone wanna go for a spin? Buckle-up!

 

"Taking the **** out of someone" is a British coloquealism...

Anyways, back to the topic without commentry as to what it ought to or ought not to be called.

Nice Mini, hope the AC works out well for you. I have heard they do not pump hard enough for Arizona, but ought to be quite fine in your part of the country.

I will likely be doing something custom for mine as I hear you have to go RHD to put the Minitec kit in.