The V8Mini story in brief, Oct '97 - ???
Doris arrived in October 1997, as a slightly scruffy 1275GT with a badly fitted MG Metro engine, and over the next couple of years the usual things occurred. Bill Richards 1380, ST3 head, straight cut drops, x-pin diff, SD 6 point cage, steel backed buckets, harnesses etc... Then things got a bit more radical, having seen Viku Perala's V8 Mini in late 2000, I thought 'I could do that', then added, 'But it won't look as shiny!'. As I had an inkling that it may be a bit of a drawn out project, I started a diary to record the trials and tribulations of the conversion. A few notable months are below.
Jan01, V8 engine arrives (fun testing that in the garden). Mar01, got a Princess gearbox. Aug01, got married. Jan01, registered the v8mini domain, Feb02, V8 running in car. May02, Doris moves. Jun02, first road test. Aug02, invited on Thunder Races coz a researcher found v8mini.co.uk. Jan03, first MOT with V8. May - Aug03 , lots of car shows !!!
Since June 2002 Doris has been on and off the road as the development continued (or as things broke/fell off) but if you want the full story you really will have to browse through the diary :-)
6 page magazine feature Practical Performance Car Aug 04 page 30-36 - see Scrap Book
Having proved the low cost FWD V8Mini concept, a decision was made in to concentrate on development of the Pievan, so in March 2005 Doris was exchanged for a suitable pile of cash..
In 2016, Doris returned home and was mothballed pending suitable free time.
2020 brings us plenty more spare time due to the Covid 19 lockdown measures, so
a little bit of light tinkering has commenced, along with the slow process of
upgrading the website to something more suitable for contemporary devices !
The changing look of Doris- Sept 1998, May 2000, June 2000, May 2003.
A few show pics we took.
Show pics taken by magazines !
Rover V8, Austin Princess gearbox, Mini Subframe.
Fitting it all in.
Hiding it.
Keeping it cool.
Exhausting it.
Fueling it.
