KiaOra from the land of the long white cloud, New Zealand!

[FOT17]

Hello my fellow Midas-ers

Felt it was about time I got on here and let the world know about my Midas journey thus far!

I have owned a Midas Gold MK3 for near on 5 years now, it was brought to NZ some 10 years ago by Andrew Hatfield when he immigrated here.
When I purchased my red baby she was held together by what seemed blue tack and cable ties. Being my first car however I was happy it went so drove her for a solid 12months. Decided after that point twas time to start the do up!

Dropped the engine out (mini a+ 1275) which was running pretty rough on a single SU carb (still as good as new!) ripped my baby to bits. New EVERYTHING went into the old block, the most noted changes being the decision to put an electric fuel pump mounted at the rear of the car as well as electric water pump. removed the a+ cam in favour of a standard Cooper S cam as it is a tad more lumpy, this teamed with a new Webber carb has resulted in me getting around 86horse power on the dyno. During this time I re painted the block back to mini British green and changed the colour of the car to a bright red rather than the original morone. using the original loom and hosing etc I took her out onto Pukekohe Park Raceway achieving a best lap time of 1.16, considering the V8 Supercars raced it in 56 seconds I was stoked with the out come! I then decided that I hated the old rubber hosing and water tanks etc. so have made custom water tanks from aluminium as well as a new aluminium oil catch tank. Also have fitted Fragola blue/red fittings to accommodate the new braided hosing that I have put thru the whole engine. Size limitations have meant that a braided radiator hose was not possible so I have made a custom aluminium pipe instead which is too be mounted with rubber racing fittings at the ends. I have found the old loom was too un reliable and found a firm in the US that makes pre fabricated ones for 500NZ dollars so I have just had that arrive last week so I will be running that out in the next few months. Naturally as this happens I will be inserting a new fan system for inside that car, doing away with the huge old fan box in favour of a bilge pump that will be nicely tucked away under a stainless steel boxing in the engine bay. New gauges etc along with a full amplified stereo system will also go in at this time, and then the new carpet/vinyl and vinyl seats and she will be done!


A month ago I purchased the White MK3 that was for sale on the Pembrokeshire classics website, this is leaving the UK on a sea journey bound for NZ also, due to arrive in NZ late August. This too will be done up over time, tossing up a lot of options about what to do with my second Midas, the possibility of putting a V-Tec in has being thrown around as the old original untouched metro engine will be in need of a fair bit of work (id imagine)


So as the proud owner of 2 factory Midas I just thort I would say hi and if you want to know anything further about my do up, or any thing else that may randomly come to mind, please feel free to ask!

[Stuart]

Welcome to the forum Andrew's mk3 was the first Midas I went in and that persuaded me to buy a mk2 (mk3's were a bit out of reach for me back then)

Have you got any photos ?

[FOT17]

Here are a few pics of the do up

[FOT17]

Here are a few pics of the do up

[FOT17]

Here are a few pics of the do up

[FOT17]

Here are a few pics of the do up

[Hans Efde]

Hi Nathan,
Welcome to the forum. You know John Maclaren who is an old English chap and emigrated to NZ a few years ago? He took his Gold with him, so there must be at least 2 Golds on the road.

[FOT17]

Yes John and my self have being emailing back and foward for a few years now, i have never met him however, as life just hasnt allowed our paths to cross as yet haha!

Yes John just got his road legal in NZ last month and I know hes very excited by that! There is my one and Johns one that are the only 2 road legal in NZ atm, we know of another one down country somewhere thats a do up and never being registered, onece my new one arrives from whales there will be the 3 musketteers (or should i say "Midas-teers" haha get it) road legal in nz

[FOT17]

another change i forgot to say about above was the undertrays i had re moulded and then produced in carbon fiber then had that kevlar coated! no more sag or breakages for those!

[manifold]

Looking good there Nathan! Keep up the good work and welcome back to the forum!