Check this out, a Mini w/ a V8

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CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
0
Originally posted by: geno
The AC/Cobra was virtually done by one man. It brought together the best of two worlds. WTF did this abortion of a project accomplish?
They made a mid engined, V8 Mini - that has to be cool for something. The looks are subjective, but I'm sure it performs nicely. I think the whole "pickup truck" look is interesting, but would've been much better if they left it looking like a Mini.

You can't compare it to the Cobra IMO, there's simply no comparison between the two ;)
Like I said, the Cobra's the best car a V8 was ever stuffed into :)

That and a HEMI Dart :)
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
The engine couldn't fit under the hood, so it can't be used as a pickup. The wheel wells, large enough to accommodate tires and wheels that handle well in stock form (or so I'm told), had to be extremely modified for this Frankenstein. The whole thing makes no sense.
 

DivideBYZero

Lifer
May 18, 2001
24,117
2
0
Originally posted by: Ornery
The engine couldn't fit under the hood, so it can't be used as a pickup. The wheel wells, large enough to accommodate tires and wheels that handle well in stock form (or so I'm told), had to be extremely modified for this Frankenstein. The whole thing makes no sense.

Which is why it was done.
 

Brutuskend

Lifer
Apr 2, 2001
26,558
4
0
Carroll Shelby had the vision to mate a light and efficient British chassis with a thumping American shortblock V8.

Uhh I bet it was REAL slow with a shortblock in it.
rolleye.gif


IE a shortblock is a engine block, no heads, intake, etc.

Do you think they maybe meant SMALL BLOCK? ;)
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Originally posted by: Ornery
The engine couldn't fit under the hood, so it can't be used as a pickup. The wheel wells, large enough to accommodate tires and wheels that handle well in stock form (or so I'm told), had to be extremely modified for this Frankenstein. The whole thing makes no sense.

Seems to me they wanted a small fast MR car that can handle, looks like they achieved that very well! It makes great sense, they wanted to build a high performance car, and they did so while making it look like a Mini-pickup. Its purpose is to go fast, how does that not make sense?

Why would anyone make these? it's just something different and interesting
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
11
81
Originally posted by: Ornery
Bah, it's lame. This is much more elegant. Still, you can get 50/50 weight distribution with a front engine, RWD, so I wouldn't bother with the mid engine at all. Just ain't worth it.
Is a windvane easier to turn when the weights are on the ends, or closer to the middle?
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
Difference ain't worth the trouble. Don't tell me you think that weird ass truck is going to be used on a road course. Damn thing probably doesn't even have 50/50 weight distribution anyway, after all that bother.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Difference ain't worth the trouble
The difference is worth the trouble, if you have the money and time to set it up as such!

The best handling cars in the world have Mid-engined motors, there's a reason for that. Handling isn't completely dependant upon 50/50 weight
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
Exotic cars have exotic prices, and pain in the ass & expensiveto to repair. Shelby's execution is much better, with the KISS principle. I like many concept & project cars, but this one just rubs me wrong.
 

mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
7,804
1
0
Why don't you just accept it as a showcase of a person's creativity, engineering, and fabrication skills? Not everything has to have a purpose. It's done for the sake of being done.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
I like many concept & project cars, but this one just rubs me wrong.
Not a thing wrong with that :)

Me, even if I don't like the result, I can at least respect it for the hard work that was put into it - it's impressive to me
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: Ornery
Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Originally posted by: Ornery
WTF is Mini about that, now? Retarded! Here's how it's done...

It's way smaller than a Cobra...

Anyhow, this aint the first Classic Mini to get a V8. The most impressive are the ones that have them under the hood...
The AC/Cobra was virtually done by one man. It brought together the best of two worlds. WTF did this abortion of a project accomplish?

Wheelbase of the Cobra is 90", on the Mini, it's 97". Overall length of the Cobra is 156", Mini is 144". Width of Cobra is 70", Mini is 66.5".
Dude, seriously, you need to stop playing "hardass" on the internet.

Are you telling me you can't appreciate someone elses project.. all the sweat and hard work they put into it? It doesen't matter if you don't like the overall concept, it was their project, and they did a damn fine job of it.

Did you ever stop to think that it was the challenge of actually pulling it off that was alluring, not to be like some 60s domestic piece of sh!t sports car that only a few select people even care about anymore?

Christ. :frown:
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Originally posted by: Ornery
Calling that a Mini, is like calling this a Mustang. To each his own, but I can't get into it.

Maybe I saw the pics wrong, but the whole front half of the car is an original Mini body :confused:

some 60s domestic piece of sh!t sports car that only a few select people even care about anymore?
Woah woah woah, I know you're trying to make a point, but you'd be lying if you said that a "few select people" care about the Shelby Cobra! :frown: It's the most imitated car of it's time, and it enabled Shelby to start a sports car revolution. It set the high bar for sports cars everywhere for *decades*, you can't call that a POS :|
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: Ornery
Instead of ranting Eli, answer the question. WTF is Mini about it now?

Do I really need to explain it? It's still built around a Mini chassis/body/whatever.

If I put a V8 in a Datsun 240Z, I can't call it a Datsun 240Z anymore?

:confused:

Lighten up a little. We're arguing about someones project. It doesen't matter if it doesen't make sense to you, it made sense to them.

You design and build something that nicely executed, and get back to me.