The Mini donor car looks to be circa 1980 (I anticipate a VERY precise correction from Mini afficianados here.....). I think the Celica GT4 donor car for the drive train and suspension is the ST185 which was made from 1989-93.
Would Nik 'n Rick be using the VIN plate off the Mini donor car, or will it simply be a one-off special which happens to loo a bit like a classic BL Mini, and getting a Q registration?
Of course, this assumes that the car will actually get finished............ which may not be a safe assumption
I don't think it can be registered with either the Celica or the Mini plates. The key points being the Minis chassis is radically altered and the running gear is not original. If it was just an engine swap the Mini could keep its plate. I could be wrong, but I think that if it were a kit car built by an amateur it should be a Q plate. But because BOM can describe themselves as processional car builders, I think the car will be registered on brand new plates. Brand new is certainly the theme given all of the refurbishment we have seen.
"Radically altered"? A bunch of heritage panel-based repairs with a few sheet metal fillets to add a little bit of strength here and there. I suppose the original never had a rear wiper but it's pretty much a stock Mini 1000 that's had its worn-out engine replaced and the paintwork retouched as required.
Oh, and hi & welcome.
They're looking to put petrol in Binky soon and have broken both a mug and Mrs Rich
- neither of which are easily fixed with an angle grinder. Escargo pushed down the priority list.