Hey all,

I'm in the process of fixing my 78 mini and I've decided to repaint it.

Couple of important things to note:

1) The interior is black with red stitching, which I plan on keeping the same
2) It will have certain chrome accents (ie. grill, bullet side mirrors, trunk hinges, bumpers, etc)

Here is how it sits right now.






Above pics were prob taken a while ago. Here's how it sits now





Here are my top choices

BMW Silver grey with black top (no stripes)
BMW silver grey with silver grey top (silver stripes)
Jet black with silver top (silver stripes) - like now.

With all my cars, I'd like to have a theme to work towards so this one is going for the "tough, sporty clean look" as it will have a bike rack on top.

Any suggestions/thoughts? Thanks

Edwin

 

I miss the air dam.

What about black with red stripes? (This would mean the roof would be black also.)

 

Oh, I still have the front chin. it's getting repaired for this paint job.

Black with red stripes is too bold for me. I can't pull it off

Edwin

 

If it aint broken why fix it?

If it's the first time changing color, it's very difficult to hide the old one without taking it completely apart.

 

The car has rust spots under the paint in a couple of places so it'll cost me just the same to respray the whole car. I don't plan on painting the engine bay, just everything else. I have a good family friend who will do it and I trust him completely. Thanks for the concern though

Edwin

 

dropping the complete subframe with engine it's not that difficult.

I would paint the engine bay to match the outside.....there is nothing worst in a mini than seeing a crusty engine bay.

 

I do not see anything wrong with the way it is now. IT'S HOT!

 

I know I'm straying into Classic Minis, but I appreciate the classics even if I don't own one!

All of your options sound classy & clean.

Just a question for a non-biker - if you put the bike rack on, does use of the rack mean marks on the roof when you're putting the bike in/taking it out? (from the bike tires?) If it does, the black roof would probably be best for practicality sake, right?

And stripes have always made me think Mini - whichever combo you decide on, I vote for stripes!

 

Thanks for your input The front tire is taken off and the rear will sit on the bike rack/mount. The front tire can either be put in the car or on a fork mount. Even if the tire sits on the roof of the car, it won't do any damage (given there's no glass/metal stuck in the tire )

In response to the stripes... I am still deciding. I'm not sure if I want to have the stripes painted on or vinyled....

Edwin

 

I'd keep it black w/silver...

BUT...

Since it's very "modern" what with the chin dam and all, I'd use a metallic flake black or a very, very dark gray (that would only really show in sunlight - at night it would look black) instead of a straight black. that's just what I'd do anyway.

PS - you could TOTALLY pull off black w/ red stripes on that car, IMHO.

 

oooooohhhhhhh.... Now THAT would look REALLY sharp! (Re: the dark grey). Can you do the flake metallic in the dark grey?

 

Well, this is what i'm deciding between now.

I'm leaning towards this (exactly just like that with the stripes thicker and closer together and with a red accent)



but this does look good too

 

Darker... IMHO.

 

Red stripes!!!! Red stripes!!! Ok...so maybe I am a bit biased.


The black and silver is very sexy.

 

I like the dark silver that you showed along with silver stripes, although I'd make the stripes a bit darker than the ones shown (but still lighter than the body). The idea to outline them in red will definitely set them off.

 

That air dam is the sickness.... I vote Gunmetal with black stripes..

 

I vote metallic gunmetal grey with white stripes (piped in red.) WOW...whatever you decide, please post the pics!! I love your classic!