autoevolution
 

Totaled MINI Cabrio Gets Turned into Pickup Truck

This isn't the only MINI pickup truck in the world. In fact, Red Bull has a whole fleet of them. But the fact that it's been made from a car that should have been scrapped makes this very interesting.
Totaled MINI Cabrio Gets Turned into Pickup Truck 19 photos
Photo: MINI Scene Stuttgart
The project belongs to MINI Scene Stuttgart, a non-profit organization that binds all the fans of this British marque in the area.

Mechanics started off with a crashed Mk2 convertible (looks like it could have been a JCW). Instead of just scrapping it, they went back to the drawing board to make a working truck out of the little bugger.

Everything had to be stripped off, including the engine that had been damaged in the crash. Not only did the men have to replace every single panel that had been damaged, but they had to fabricate a bed from scratch.

After stretching the windshield pillars back into place, mechanics installed half the roof from a hardtop, followed by a custom rear window. A cage is now in place to protect the two passengers, just in case they roll it over again. A new coat of black paint, and voila, the kids have something to enjoy.

For the record, MINI made a pickup out of the Paceman 3-door in April 2014 to showcase what apprentices from Munich and Dingolfing could do.

While the idea seems outlandish to us modern folks that are accustomed to MINI's posh attitude, pickups were once part of the business. Such a car was launched in 1961 when Mini wasn't written with capital letters and was still part of British Motor Corporation.

Mini also sold a wagon and a van, all of them roughly the size of a modern Fiat 500. It was part of the effort to re-launch the British economy.

In recent months, company officials have been adamant that MINIs don't have to be small and that only the core cars will be kept in production. So after the Roadster and Coupe were dropped, the Paceman will run its course as well, leaving only its Countryman brother.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories