My MK1 was deseamed 40+ years ago. Kept the rain gutters. Still holding up fine.

I sent this de-seamed, bespoke Mini to Ireland last year. Had been built-to-order by famed car-designer Chris Humberstone in the early '70's for a famous Hollywood figure. (I was asked to keep the identity private.) It was restored here after it had been stolen and was missing the A/C unit and engine.

More photos and info here:
https://www.miniguy.com/vehicles/customsilver1/

As always, we are looking for classic Minis that might be available. Tips, leads and links greatly appreciated.

Also, please check out - and follow - our new Facebook page. I'll be updating it daily, give or take.
.
.https://www.facebook.com/MiniGuyDotCom
.
.

Chopped, channeled, square headlights, and yes deseamed although they did have a roof gutter over the doors, the Stewart & Ardern  Minisprint.  I had two two of them in the 70's and the 80's.  As they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

If you think de-seaming is fun try re-seaming one. We replaced the body seams on a vintage racer. Thank goodness
they had not removed the gutters. We also remover a full length sun roof and installed a new steel roof panel in a
track day car. Steve (CTR)

I've owned 2 deseamed minis. I read many horror stories after getting my first one, but found no such problems with the first one I had. Then I got a second one that was also done well and later sold to a friend.  I have personal hands-on experience with a 3rd deseamed mini, a Downton MK2 Cooper S and it looks fantastic as well (but sounds like to me Ve9aa would pay to NOT have to own a Downton Cooper S.. or a Radford, or an elf/hornet, or a Broadspeed and any number of high end cars that were all deseamed). All 3 cars I mentioned personal experience with still had their roof seams.

It's personal taste. If you like the look, don't let the threats of "it'll fall apart" scare you away. That was never a legitimate worry with the 3 I've had my hands on and I chalk it up mostly to stories of a friend of a friend or of cars that never would have survived 10 years let alone 20-62 years as the ones that are still around today.

If you do it make sure you cut and weld one seam at a time as there is a lot of the body strength in the seams as the Mini does not have a full frame.
I agree on the roof/gutter seam the Mini's do leak when removed.
Resale value is affected also there are very few Mini buyers who like the seams removed.

That being said removing the seams from a Mini variant that only has the front wing to A panel seam Vans, Estates, pick ups, Hornets, Elfs I think looks good.

A deseamed mini is just plain ugly and drastically limits the resale.

Issigonis, the creator of the mini, thought about how to assemble the mini without major machinery. He thought about how to have other countries like Italy & Australia assemble the mini.

He was a genius. His industrial design is superb, revolutionary.

Alex is right in that it has to be done properly for the butt weld to equal the spot welded seams.... but it can be done.  When a friend did his shorty convertible he plated the inside of the bottom section of each seam.

IMHO if you're going to do it then do it properly and this involves removing the roof seam as well..  However, if you simply remove the gutter you end up with a "bald" look.  You need to modify the cant rail around the top inside edge of the roof so you can drop the roof about 1/2 an inch.

I've only seen it done once but, when you do see it, you will realise its the only way... (I didn't ask if it leaks... )

Cheers, Ian

It's been done for 60 years, with varying degrees of success and reliability.  The factory even deseamed the prototype Elfs.  You don't have to use lead to fill over the welds, but you do have to make sure the filler used is of a very high quality.  The welding has to be absolutely top-notch to replace the strength lost by cutting off the seams.

Do it wrong and the car will fall apart. 
Do it badly and it will rot out. 
Do it well and it can look good and last.  

Taking the roof gutter off is a mistake imho as it not only looks wrong but allows a lot of water into the car though the tops of the doors as it wicks through the seals.     

I partially deseamed my Hornet, only taking off the lower half of the front seams (it doesn't have rear seams anyway) and I think it looks amazing

Yes, I've seen them.
IMNSHO It looks like a steaminng pile of cr@p.  Also, if I'm not mistaken, reduces overall body strength.

You don't like the look of a Mini, buy a different car.

Course, just one guys opinion. (Hey, you asked)

YMMV

Hello Gang,
I was just wondering if anyone has ever seen or owned a De-seamed Mini? By that I mean an original Mini but with the seams removed and filled with lead? 
That would mean all the seams. The rain gutters off the roof and the seams running down all fenders.
I hear that to do it correctly, it had to be lead.
Any thoughts about doing this?
Any opinions on the look ?