Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 15:49:22 +0100
From: Greg Fripp
To: mini-list@autox.team.net
Subject: Mini Classic: Heritage, hydrolastic and more...
In view of the recent interest in Heritage product plans, and hydrolastic
in particular, I spoke with a senior manager there again today, who was
able to bring me up to date with various things:
Hydrolastic. They are CERTAIN to be remanufacturing complete hydrolastic
systems in the future - their only difficlty is giving a specific date.
After speaking to them at length, my own guess will be around 2001. They
have some of the original tooling, and Dr Moulton himself is currently
looking at adapting the current MGF internals to suit. They will also be
remanufacturing the assister springs, and the original hydro subframes, for
which they have all the tooling ...(some taken from Dunlops scrapyard!)
New lines (and you read this here first, guys)
- Clubman front wings will be on sale this year
- Minivan rear doors will be on sale later this year
- Mini Mk 1 & 2 inner A-panels (14A8346&7) are having a trial production run next week
...so there would seem to be some encouraging progress!
They already have the Mk3 bodyshell, Mk 1,2 front wings,Mk1 doors, pickup
tailgates, Countryman wood kits, a fair number of panels, including
floorpans, boot floor/rear seat, and full Mk 4 front(12") and rear
subframes complete with all brakes and suspension.
Plenty happening, then.
Oh one thing. I have already heard people complaining about the cost of
items from Heritage. My own thought is that having seen the care and
attention that they give their products, you get what you pay for.
And quite often the people complaining are those with a vested interest!
Greg