Morris Minor flat four.

[ACE]

The Morris minoor was designed by Alec Issigonis (Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, CBE, FRS) with a flat 4 engine, Morris wouldn't pay the development costs, so a straight 4 was fitted (918 ccside-valve straight-4 to 1952, 918 cc A series 1952 to 56, 948 cc A series 1956 to 71).
So why not rebuild it the way it was intended?

Moggy Minor + Subaru flat 4 engine, maybe a Forrester 2.5 turbo?
I'd go mad and uprate the brakes, the rear axle and maybe other stuff too.

[Relentless Rob]

That was Will's bath idea a few years ago I believe it's been done as well.

[mitsuru]

That was Will's bath idea a few years ago I believe it's been done as well.

Now that would be something to see, and for him to get ideas to take it further!
Pictures please!

[Relentless Rob]

Had a quick Google about and can't find one even in Australia (where they're allowed to be a bit more bonkers than we are). It's been discussed on several forums but it doesn't appear to have happened yet. The general feeling is it would need to remain rear wheel drive unless it's a straight WRX floor with a Minor body conversion. Like the MK1 Escort featured a few months ago. Even if you modify the front to take a cross member you'd need to re-enforce the chassis and that level of alteration would be IVA/SVA territory making it less practical for a hobbyist to take on. The costs to get someone like Wisbech Engineering to do it would be out of most people's reach.

The 200SX powered Morris Minor feature car is the closest anyone's got to it. I can't remember when I was told it had been done but it turns out the person who told me was full of crap and sadly I've passed that crap on to you guys. Sorry I should have checked my sources.

For the costs involved and amount of work I guess it hasn't been done in favor of a cheaper/faster/quicker V8 or other J-Tuner donor alternative.

So it would be breaking new ground that a lot of people have considered.

Now get on a build it.

It would be something for one of Will's bath ideas to make it as a feature. I'm sure in a shed somewhere someone's doing one.

[fha772]

It has been done, I think it was featured in Retro Cars(but we don't talk about that...), I think it used the full AWD Subaru running gear, in the Minor.
It was about 18 months to 2 years ago when I saw it, but it has definately been done.
I remember it, because I didn't realise the Minor was designed for a Boxer engine, until I read about the Subaru powered 1.

[mjslonergan]

I concur, the last few memory cells have a little shadow of recollection of having seen it in pics...

[Relentless Rob]

It has been done, I think it was featured in Retro Cars(but we don't talk about that...), I think it used the full AWD Subaru running gear, in the Minor.

Ah-ha! I'm not going mental. Retro cars; no wonder it isn't on the web. They still point at planes in that office.

[fha772]

I vaguely remember the pictures of it, I'm sure it was a dark colour (blue or grey), and the static photos were taken outside a cafe or pub, with the car's owner sat at a table with an umbrella chatting to a waitress.

[mjslonergan]

chatting to a waitress.

I think I remember her

[Mr Bounce]

I seem to remember it was in their "Projects" section. I know it wasn't finished though...

[Neil Davies]

I've seen an Alfa flat four powered van at some of the classic shows at Malvern. As a fan of the "drier" variety of flat fours, it did make me do a double take!