Paul Wiginton Classic Vehicles

Paul Wiginton Classic Vehicles Based in Milton Keynes we are specialists in the restoration of Classic Aston Martin & Classic Mini

1071 Cooper S Project.This is the post that I didn't have time to do yesterday (Friday)The left hand quarter panel is fi...
22/08/2026

1071 Cooper S Project.

This is the post that I didn't have time to do yesterday (Friday)

The left hand quarter panel is fitted, I had hoped to fit both, but the shell was so badly out of shape that getting it all in the right place for the new panel to align properly took a while.

I get questioned a lot about why I weld the quarter panel near the door aperture on a Mk1/2. I get asked if it's so that I can alter the door gap. It's simply because I use a Mk3 panel which is smaller than Mk1/2.
Pic 2 shows the Mk3 panel laid over the top of the original, you can see the spotweld fl**ge.
Pics 3&4 show that fl**ge flattened out and that is where I join it.
You can also see a couple of lengths of wood and some clamps holding the shell in the correct position while I fitted the quarter panel.

On Monday I will deal with the spotweld fl**ge of the rear panel.
It is a new panel, which was previously fitted elsewhere and poorly plug welded, which made a mess of the fl**ge, but it is repairable




21/08/2026

The Mini Festival is back at Brands Hatch 2026 brought to you by Mi...

1071 Cooper S Project.I finished assembling the new floor today.Very important details are the caged nut for the fuel ta...
20/08/2026

1071 Cooper S Project.

I finished assembling the new floor today.
Very important details are the caged nut for the fuel tank strap, which is spotwelded to the valance closing panel.
The rear wheel arches and closing panels are all spotwelded to the bootfloor after they were aligned on the jig.
The last job to do on the floor was correcting the seatbelt mounts on the tunnel to suit the 1071, for which I have a pattern.
The triangulations between the inner wheelarches and boot floor were fitted, then the remains of the bodyshell was fitted to the assembly.
It takes a bit of jiggery pokery to get a body this twisted to sit correctly, but I now have the rear panel and B posts sitting in the right place, and the bulkhead crossmember is bolted to the jig.
The toe panel and inner wings were recently replaced.
Unfortunately, they're not aligning with my jig.
The last pictures shows bolts coming through the steering rack mounting which should drop through the holes in my jig for alignment. As you can see, its quite a way out and it will be awkward to rectify, so Im going to fit the new quarter panels and doorsteps to get the back end fixed to the floor permanently while I think about how to sort the front




A long retired gentleman called in yesterday. He used to work in a bodyshop and has had these 3 genuine "new old stock"...
20/08/2026

A long retired gentleman called in yesterday. He used to work in a bodyshop and has had these 3 genuine "new old stock" Mini wings in his garage for about 20 years. He asked me if I could sell them on his behalf.
This sale is nothing to do with my businesses, just doing a favour.
Condition as in the pictures, there is a bit of surface corrosion which will easily clean up.

The prices are what he would like to achieve

Mk1-3 front wings £240 for the pair (sold.pending collection)

Clubman left hand front wing £140

Please message me here or on [email protected]

These are for collection only from Milton Keynes




Star Wars, A New Hope is about to begin🍿🍿
19/08/2026

Star Wars, A New Hope is about to begin🍿🍿

1071 Cooper S Project.Assembling the new floor on the jig.Yesterday I fitted the heel panel to the new floor, plus some ...
19/08/2026

1071 Cooper S Project.

Assembling the new floor on the jig.
Yesterday I fitted the heel panel to the new floor, plus some details, today I've fitted the sills, the slinger brackets and jacking points and painted inside the sill section with red oxide.
The new rear inner arches are located on the bootfloor and I'm ready to spotweld them in place and fit the valance closing panels.

I've finished early today to go to watch Star Wars with my family on a massive outdoor screen.

May the force be with you




1071 Cooper S Project.The boot floor in this shell had previously been replaced, as mentioned before, and it wasn't quit...
17/08/2026

1071 Cooper S Project.

The boot floor in this shell had previously been replaced, as mentioned before, and it wasn't quite in the right place, nor had the corrections been made to suit Mk1. I have removed it from the shell, and made those corrections around the fuel pipe holes, the rear seatbelt mounting area and the rear seat base, plus a couple of small repairs where it was welded poorly.
The heel panel had also been replaced, and I decided to clean it up and reuse it as it appears to be a new old stock part.
The new floor number tag has been spotwelded onto the new Magnum floor and they are all ready for assembly on the jig once I have finished preparing the shell to fit onto that assembly. More on that tomorrow




London 02 today for Hollywood VampiresThat means no work today or tomorrow🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
12/08/2026

London 02 today for Hollywood Vampires

That means no work today or tomorrow

🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

If you need to be at work on a Sunday morning, Santa Pod live Mopar Nats is essential. I was there for a couple of hours...
09/08/2026

If you need to be at work on a Sunday morning, Santa Pod live Mopar Nats is essential.

I was there for a couple of hours for the next project to be dropped off. A very tidy 1965 Cooper S, should be a quick easy one after the current 1071 S




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Haversham
Milton Keynes

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