The dreaming started on my first visit to Japan in May 1997, I found a little thing called a Subaru Rex (not WRX), AWD, Supercharged, I walked around it and around again and couldn't shake the feeling that it was just the same size as a Mini... hmmm,

I thought, these things would be worth nothing. One day I'll get one and stick a Mini shell on it...

Over the next few years I thought a lot about it, mentioned it to a few friends who all thought it sounded fantastic, but truly crazy... I'd never be able to pull it off.

Some time in 2003, I discovered that the Subaru I had been thinking about was only a 3 cylinder 550cc, and not as lively as I wanted - bugger, what other options do I have I wonder. Early 2004 I happened across www.ringmini.de, through a UK 16v Mini discussion group. You ought to check it out, there is hardly any information, but the pictures are very detailed, and told me exactly what I needed to know. Get the mechanicals out of a AWD Civic wagon and they'll go in nice and easy. The thing I like most about this guys work is that he's using all Mini subframes, steering, suspension, hubs, brakes, you name it. Which means there is no change to the Mini steering geometry, or to the wheel track. If I get the brakes working right, I can even keep it on 10" wheels, pefrect!

I printed all of the pictures and showed them to some friends, then to Andrew Enkelman, owner of Enkelman Enginnering in Melbourne. He's an enthusiast, and encourages free thinking and trying something a little different. I met up with him in the park in the middle of Wodonga, showed him all the pictures and talked him through the changes I wanted to make. He nodded along and said "I like it, do it, tack it all together and we'll have a look, tell you what needs to be changed and then you can weld it together, we'll have another look and you're done.

Literally a week after meeting with Andrew, I wrecked my Cooper S - plans on hold, no chance in the short term, wife and funds won't allow it.

Or will they?? After a few months of building the van up, busy with work, visiting the family in Japan etc. etc. I got the bug again, and started doing more research. I went through a few different options for donor vehicles - Suzuki Swift GTI AWD, 660cc Suzuki Works AWD, Nissan GTI-R, Toyota 4AFE, and some others. I kept coming back to this car, a 1988/89 Honda Civic AWD Wagon (the specs here aren't wuite right - the motor is 16v, not 12v, it has twin carbs, and there are 6 forward gears, but one of them is low range) same as www.ringmini.de. I knew I didn't have the money for it, and I knew I wasn't allowed to, but I hunted for a donor vehicle anyway. Russell from Jappo Donks and Cog Swappers in Wodonga loaned me a copy of Parts Locator magazine, it was 6 months out of date, but listed in there was Honda Civic AWD Wagon, complete car... hmmm I gave them a call, I spoke to Rodney... the car was still there, Rodney said he'd wreck it for me for $1500 and send me the parts. I'd been quoted $2500 for front cuts, $3000 for whole cars etc. etc. for the various options I'd gone through, but this was good, easy and cheap. I gave him a deposit and he said he'd wreck it the next day and send the parts, he'd even pay half the freight! I waited a few days for him to get back to me, then called... he said "look, why don't I just give you the whole car - I want a few panels, but this'll be easier." OK... this'll cost me more for freight, but it'll be easier in the long run. So I organised a truck and at 9pm the next night (Friday 22 October 2004) it was here. I pushed it from where the truck dropped it, down to Clarke Automotive, Ivan Clarke is a great mate and I knew he wouldn't mind me storing it there - I wanted to ask his permission but he was away that day. Never mind. I dumped it in his yard and went back the next day to catch up with him and move it to behind his workshop. It is great to get the whole car, because I could test drive the motor, see where and how everything mounts, plus get heaps of great extras - inertia reel seatbelts, dash, seats - including a split/fold jobbie that'll fit in the van etc. etc. - It is a really nice little car, everything about it is immaculate, except for a repaired tear in the back seat and a dent under the right tail light. These cars go for upwards of $5000 in the yards - I seriously contemplated fixing it up and giving it to my sister to drive, but nah... :)

Saturday 23rd October
Dave Lockley and I got it started, it goes well, sometimes only 3 cylinders but that'll be sorted out easy enough - main thing is that it goes. I drove it around (no exhaust) on the dirt a little bit, then parked it where it is now. The exhaust, air conditioning compressor were gone, the wrecker had wanted to keep the tailgate - that was fine with me. But for some wierd reason the fuel lines had been cut, and not just snipped, but sectioons cut out of them, Dave and I used bits and pieces to connect them up, filled the carbs with fuel and eventually it started. The rocker cover was missing a nut, it made it kinda piss oil out right on to the exhaust, so I stopped driving it around and borrowed some spanners and a screwdriver off Ivan, I pulled some bits and pieces out, and had a look underneath it. Unbolted the propshaft, popped the inner CV's out etc.

Sunday 24th October
Got a leave pass and went to get started getting the motor out. The seats are near perfect - the drivers seat has had a cover on it since new and IS perfect. So I stripped the interior out and took the front seats home. I'd hate to see them wrecked by vandals which can happen.... I made sure I took a heap of photos of the emission control pipes etc. cos they look like spaghetti. Also took pictures of all the engine mounts, and whatever else I thought I'd need to remember. The engine is ready to come out.

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 25-27 October
spent an hour or so each day after work getting the motor out, I brought it home on Wednesday afternoon, and for a short time I had a twin engined mini panelvan! Getting the motor out proved to be a pain in the butt - I wanted to take it out from above without removing the subframe, so I could still push it around, wasn't to be - the subframe came out so the honda hasn't got any front-end now... The brakes are vented, so may find their way under some 12" wheels on the Mini

Tuesday 2nd November
Had family visiting for the Melbourne cup long weekend, so I only got to spend a few hours on Tuesday afternoon. I had collected an old hydrolastic subframe from a mate, it's going to be my conversion subframe, or if it screw up it'll be my test mule. Doesn't this look pretty? looking at it from the front there is nothing there - I cut it off flush with the front of the towers. I love the look of the tailshaft off-take sitting at the back of a mini subframe

Thursday 25th November
Still puddling around with the subframe, after chatting with Minstar (check out his conversion here) via Ausmini.com I've decided to make a jig to hold the subframe while I fabricate the new one - I've been messing around trying to get things in the right spot with no real idea of the limitations.... a jig will make it much easier. I also had to prove to myself that the engine would go in a mini - look at this pic!