Hi All,

I've inherited a 1982 GTM COupe from my Dad. He used it for competition for a number of years before giving it to a fella to store in a farm shed, however the guys never put it away and as a result it lay in a field for 3 years. The rust had set in quite badly when he got it back and he could never find the time to get it running again. He did strip it to its component parts a couple of years ago and decided the job was just to time consuming, so he gave it to me. I've been working on Mini's for a number of years now so thought this would be a good little project to keep me occupied. I've attached some pictures below of the car in its hay day doing hill climbs in Northern Ireland and sprints at Kirkistown and Nutts Corner race tracks.

So now she is lying in my garage with most of her parts and i've completed the welding of the chasis. I'll be talking it to be shot blasted and primed to remove the rust and hopefully make her weather proof for many years to come. Probably get the chasis powder coated while i'm at it and keep her the same red, for old times sake. I have 2 competition race engines but I think I'll use the smaller 998cc road engine I have to start with. I would love to drive her on the roads for a few years before upgrading things for competition use.

I've posted in the Coupe section as the car is missing a number of components, mainly a wiring loom and fuel tank. Can I use standard mini parts with a bit of modification or does anyone have any spare GTM parts which are no longer required?

The pictures below are about 6 months old and show the chasis resting against the garage wall and the race engines. I'll put up fresh ones later this week. Would like to have her back on the road for the August bank holiday.

Some Pics taken today, I stuck the fibre glass main section on just to get a feel for the fact it is really a little car. Taking the chasis to shot blasted, primed and powder coated before the end of the month!

The wee mini is not a donor car, my run around for a number of years and now needs a bit of welding work done on the front end, rusting in the usual spots!!! A panel, front wings under the lights etc.

Why have you got 2 chassis?
Are you planning another Honda transplant aswell?

2 chassis?

I can see 3 front subbys but only one chassis

In the forth picture from the very top you see one against the wall and one in front of it on the floor  

Aren't you the sharp eyed one?

The green one has the same chunks chopped out that I had to for the 4age - i wonder........

I spotted the second chassis too Then lo and behold within a couple of hours Stuart posts the question

Phil, the brackets in the footwell are for mounting the front part of a full cage.

The second chasis is completely rotten. We got a hold of it for some measurements as the chasis we are using had been rolled through a hedge. So had to ensure it measured up right before we started work. They sturdy things, slightly bent on the drivers rear suspension arm but other than that the chasis had not bent at all!

The chasis against the wall could be used to build a 2nd GTM (with a couple of months of welding work), I have enough parts to build about 3 minis so parts wouldn't be a problem. Missing the Glassfibre body for the second one though and dunno were I could get a hold of one, except keep a keen eye on eBay.

Yeah, i'd sort-of come to that conclusion myself.



Is that why your back end is chopped off? Or are you going for the Ginetta G15 look???

The back end is sitting on the floor. We have one complete decent body shell. The back end was chopped off and will be attached using the same clips you see on single seaters. allows quicker and easier access to the engine bay when the car is complete... so I am told!

Both Chassis look pretty solid to me from the pictures. (these are not manufactured any more, I had a quote from Premo designs @ £2000+VAT)               I wolud hang on to it if I were you   it will be needed again, or  once you are bored with the a series ..        I've  spent enough money, to know     .  I bought the last chassis manufactured by GTM which had been passed to Premo when they bought the rights (it was old stock  so a cheaper price was agreed)   

Do you mean dzus fasteners

Indeed, couldn't remember the name of them!

Some new pictures,

I've spent the past 2 weeks sprucing up the subframes and making them as rust proof as possible. Also rebuilt the back brakes and built the suspension in the front subframe.