Tolman Engineering creates a sympathetically restored and thoughtfully improved Mini for one lucky customer
Tolman Engineering, the firm behind the Peugeot 205 GTi Tolman Edition restomod, has shown off its latest one-off commission created especially for one of its lucky customers. The car, a Mini Cooper S MkII, has been ‘fastidiously restored and refined’ by the Warwickshire-based firm but keeps an ‘authentic Mini appearance inside and out’.
The 12-month build was comprehensive, starting with in-depth bodywork to improve shut lines and panel gaps. Fully adjustable suspension with components from Bilstein and KAD are used to improve handling, along with period-style Dunlop Aquajet tyres on 10in wheels. The uprated braking system, meanwhile, utilises ATEC CNC brake lines for more consistent feel.
Under the bonnet is a fully rebuilt A Series with the addition of fuel injection and an uprated fuel system, a one-off Tolman exhaust, additional heat shielding and a fully electronic engine management system. The result is a near doubling of performance over standard, up to 90bhp and 80lb ft of torque. The four-speed gearbox was retained, adding to the car’s period-correct feel.
Unlike some recent restomods, Tolman’s lighter-touch approach has seen many original parts retained, including the car’s headlining and brightwork. The car had been fitted with Weber carbs in period and its bulkhead modified with a Pratt’s Oil can to make room; this interesting feature was replaced with a stronger version in a nod to the car’s individual history despite the move to modern injection.
Modern conveniences include heated front and rear windows, LED lights all round and Bluetooth connectivity.
“The Mini is already a famously fun and practical car to own, our job was to take these attributes to the next level,” explains Chris Tolman, founder of Tolman. “In keeping with our previous projects, our team’s decades of motorsports experience have not been used to create the fastest Mini possible – instead we’ve been tasked with the greater challenge of enhancing what made the car special in the first place.”
Tolman delivered the Mini to its lucky owner in time for Christmas and says it has more commissions in the pipeline, including ‘two 1980s icons’. Four of its 205 GTi restomods are currently underway.
