Le Mans Mini Marcos project: upside down

Yesterday I went over to the workshop once again to discuss some details on the Le Mans Mini Marcos project. And I was surprised to see the car being turned upside-down! This in order to work on the underside and reach some body parts that could otherwise not be reached well. The roll bar is now laminated in and with the double-skinned floors now fully restored, too, the shell is once again as stiff as it can be. The floors are now fully restored on both sides with no more holes and cracks whatsoever. We closed all of them as there were so many, and I'll just have to drill new ones to fit the seats and belts and so on when the time is there. The whole of the underside and most of the inside of the car is now painted in grey primer first (we found that under the original black) with a fresh satin black layer over it, just like it was when the car was new. I made a pattern for all the 139 holes that had been drilled in the car's front by Jean-Claude Hrubon originally (but taken out later in the car's life - see here) and these will return soon exactly to where the were back in 1966. More to follow, as usual!

Upside down! In order to work on the floors and several more body parts, this was necessary

Picture Jeroen Booij

Typical floor shapes of Mk1 model are well visible here. Some new steel strips were laminated in here, too. Also note original widened front arches and repaired front where radiator holes were

Picture Jeroen Booij

Working from old photographs, a very precise pattern was made in order to re-drill the 139 holes in the front at the right place once again soon

Picture Jeroen Booij

And all this came out of the A-pillars when the car was turned upside down. Nutshells, leaves, nuts and bolts, a roll of red tape and even chicken bones! No money, unfortunately

Picture Jeroen Booij

Bonnet appeared to be in a pretty sad state with much filler applied to it and loads of cracks. It has been elongated at one stage, too, but that bit is now cut off. Holes are there for H4 SU carburettors

Picture Jeroen Booij