I'm not cutting the top off, just the sides, like the Austin Mini Beach Car. I'll weld in high sills without the middle fin as in the original. Stylized the front opening instead of straight up. I'll stylize the rear as well instead of the straight angle to the rear "C" pillar, by following the rear wheel and seat contours.  My mini has a full electric sunroof, so no need to cut the roof off.  I'll add a chrome or stainless rollbar to use as mounting points for the shoulder/lap seatbelts and to create some sense of security. It will also mimic the stainless grab bars across the top of the front seats. My aim is to create a mid nineties version of the Mini Beach Car

6464  I think I saw where Keith Conv.. added 200 lbs to their Cabrio..  for the braces..  maybe Mini Mover will have photos as he has sold a few of them..  btw. the after market cabrios are NOT allowed to me imported now by CBP as they are NOT totally OEM..   good luck.. later bc

Study how convertible or roadster cars are braced. The Mini has no frame, so you are going to need to reinforce the body structure in the floors before you cut the top off. 

I would enjoy seeing pic's as your work progresses.

Thank you all for replying and the pics. I've decided to build my version of a mini beach car. It's something that I 've been thinking about for a while and with your great inputs, I made my decision. Thanks Jim

Seems it would be a relatively simple conversion on a fiberglass mini. You could make a convincing copy for a lot less than 150k.

6464  I understand that the QUEEN of England still has one of these Mini Jolly. later bc

Try this page:
https://austinbeachcar.wixsite.com/prototype/original_photos

Kelley

page won't open

That car belongs to John Reymondos. There is a build thread on the //www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/topic/175094-one-off-mini-jolly/

The Beach car in Greece was restored by a lad called Dimitris whose the main man now of Mini Pickup International on Facebook.

IIRC it was owner by Aristotle Onnassis, carried around on his yatchs.

A few years ago there was a one off booted beach car found in Greece...been restored...can't find an article

1960  ( have to scroll down )

https://monochrome-watches.com/the-petrolhead-corner-talking-cars-and-watches-with-wilhelm-schmid-ceo-of-a-lange-sohne-at-concorso-deleganza-villa-deste/#image-gallery-19

Happy to help! I found another link where I had posted some additional info on several Beach Minis on this 2016 post.

(There are photos of a few, and VINs)

Mini "beach car" in Barrett-Jackson auction Oct. 13-15 (2016)
https://www.minimania.com/msgThread/120874/1/1/Mini__beach_car__in_Barrett-Jackson_auction_Oct_13-15

[excerpt:]

Looks like (an) Austin Mini "beach car" is coming up for auction again. (Bonhams says only 14 were built?)

 

In 2009, it sold at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale for $53,900.

Chassis Number: AAY1L197654

 

In 2014, a different one sold at a Bonhams auction in Monterey for $181.5k.

Chassis Number: A-AY1L-197664

 

In 2016, the first one is up for a No-Reserve auction (again) at Barrett-Jackson in Las Vegas Oct. 13-15

Chassis Number: AAY1L197654

[ Link to auction listing: //bit.ly/2dgcSPE ]

 

 

Here are the auction links:

[ snip ]

Thanks miniguy for the lead on the austin mini beach car article. Great read.

ML.. still living in the past?/ like when you were a Lic Dealer.. lic broker..?/both  long gone..btw this is 2019.. NOT 2006 r 2014.. light years in classic car business..    just look at BaT prices today.. later bc

//austinbeachcar.wix.com/register#!__page-1

If you haven't seen this article already, here's a Hemmings article from Aug 20th, 2014:

Mini beach car sells for major price – $181,500 – setting new record

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2014/08/20/mini-beach-car-sells-for-major-price-181500-setting-new-record/

Wicker ( not wicked) seats, 

great for having sex in the back seat if you or your date are over 6 feet five inches LOL

BIG AL

Drive it like a Moke