Carbon Fibre/Glassfibre front end
Turbo Mini Forums

The crazy Malteser is up to it again!

Since I'm thinking of a clamshell bonnet, I'll need to build me an almost entire front end to replace the steel one on my Mini.

I was thinking of something on the lines of the Beemer Mini, and this means I will have to do one myself.

To weld the Mini body panels would make one hell of a heavy bonnet, so I thought of having a go at building one ni either Carbon Fibre or Glassfibre.

The requirements are:

Must use normal bonnet hinges
Works bonnet straps up front
Gas Strut mount to replace the bonnet stay

So I was thinking of integrating bracket mounting plates from a scrap bonnet into the sheets of fibre to mount the bonnet.
Steel plates mounted in the sandwich up front to reinforce the mountings of the bonnet straps.

Any ideas on how I would prepare the mould? I still haven't chopped any panels off the Mini, and she's pretty square to start with.

Also, how difficult is it to use carbon fibre? Can anyone advise on the best techniques to do so?

Can Carbon fibre be painted like glassfibre? I want the car to look as normal as possible from the outside... then open the bonnet and let 'em see the weave...

I donated, but somehow didn't get the label! :(

There's a great book called 'The Glassfibre Handbook' by R.HWarring. It covers everything you need to know about making a mould, laying up GRP etc.

Carbon fibre can be painted like any other thermoset plastic. The carbon is just the reinforcement for the resin, which is the same as that used for normal GRP.

Why not use gas struts on a metal front like the Bini?

Andy