Ever hear about the fiberglass Minis from Chile? | Your Projects

Colin
By Colin Wood
Oct 13, 2022 | Mini, Your Projects

VaguelyRandom’s old-school Mini has less metal in its body than most not because it’s riddled with rust, but because the body made of fiberglass.

Built in Chile, the use of fiberglass was British Leyland’s way of meeting a production mandate that a certain percentage of cars sold in-country had to be produced in Chile.

Sending machinery that’s needed to stamp the steel body panels would have been too expensive, so fiberglass molds were sent instead.

Learn more about this fiberglass Mini by checking out the 1969 Mini 1000…But less metal than most build thread.

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Comments
David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
10/13/22 9:20 a.m.

They're out there. The Lane Motor Museum has one in its collection.

 

Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter)
Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/13/22 12:23 p.m.

I wonder how the fiberglass Mini would compare to the steel one in crash testing?

Ian F (Forum Supporter)
Ian F (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
10/13/22 12:32 p.m.
Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) said:

I wonder how the fiberglass Mini would compare to the steel one in crash testing?

Having been in a low speed collision while driving a Mini, I doubt it could be much worse. I used to joke how the seat belts in that car were mainly there to keep the bits inside for easier post-crash clean up.  After the crash, I came to believe that wasn't really a joke...

Not that my Spitfire or GT6 would fair much better, although at least there is a little more "car" between you and whatever you're hitting.

When driving a LBC, when it comes to crashing you don't think about things you don't think about.

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
10/13/22 12:37 p.m.
David S. Wallens said:

They're out there. The Lane Motor Museum has one in its collection.

 

I think they had one for sale a little while ago.

They do have fiberglass 2CV kit car for sale now though.

https://www.lanemotormuseum.org/cars-for-sale

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/13/22 12:58 p.m.
93EXCivic said:
David S. Wallens said:

They're out there. The Lane Motor Museum has one in its collection.

 

I think they had one for sale a little while ago

...Pretty sure this is that car, unless they had two of them.

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
10/13/22 1:59 p.m.
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
93EXCivic said:
David S. Wallens said:

They're out there. The Lane Motor Museum has one in its collection.

 

I think they had one for sale a little while ago

...Pretty sure this is that car, unless they had two of them.

I seem to remember a blue one but idk it has been a while. Probably is. I half thought about buying it.

Edit: missed that he had bought from LAne.

californiamilleghia
californiamilleghia UltraDork
10/13/22 3:47 p.m.

Did they make other fiberglass cars in Chile ?
 

maybe Mini panel van , mini pickup , or even other larger Austin based cars or other makes ?

 

ddavidv
ddavidv UltimaDork
10/13/22 10:48 p.m.

How I've always described Minis (and I owned one for 5 years):  Brilliant design, horribly executed.

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