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Writer's pictureVAD Admin
Sep 20, 20212 min read

Mini R55 Clubman or should we say Clubvan with added flare

Updated: Sep 22, 2021

It took some finding but as they say we got there in the end and we are more than happy with how this stunning R55 Cluby has turned out.

We have always wanted a shop van to fetch and carry our smaller parts, it’s been great having the R56, R58 & F56 Hatch and coupes as the demo vehicles to showcase the wider flares but now we have the platform with the Clubman or should we say Clubvan to not only show them off but also to livery up where you go to get the wider goodies.


Well the first job we did after finding our black 2011 Cooper D was to lower on a set of H&R springs and then fully de-chrome and tint the windows, this was all done by Smifys & 1st choice tints and as per usual they absolutely smashed it, Smify also gloss blacked the side windows with vinyl to convert from ClubMan to ClubVan, we can now sit the livery exactly where it needs to be and it looks exactly how we had envisioned, 1st Choice Tints then applied the window tints with a double layer of 5% added to the rear windows to add to the Van look and they really pulled it off.

 
 

Next up were a set of our wider flares which were a little trickier to fit at the rear, but we do like a challenge, you just need time with a bit of patience as these are for the R56 as the fixing points are a little different, but as per usual we nailed it and it was time to look at wheel options and what we would fit on this build and as with all 4 stud vehicles that require wider wheels, it always throws up a headache especially when you want an old school look, as our tried and tested 2Forged wheel design just wouldn’t cut it on this build.

 

We had almost decided that 3 piece was the only option when we stumbled across the Japan Racing Wheels 5 spoke JR6 listed as a 9x17 & 10x17 4 stud wheel, with custom offsets available it was a no brainer, they are fitted with 245/40R17 front and 255/40R17 rear Nankang tyres and the rears still need help with a 12mm hub centric spacer, but they look absolutely amazing fitted.


The last piece to this build was to add our JCW Challenge front bumper, fitted with our Cooper D front grill this gives a totally different look to the usual JCW front end, all that’s left to do is add the livery.


All the parts off this R55 are available and if you fancy building an identical Clubby, get in touch with us to discuss further.

 


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Writer's pictureVAD Admin
Sep 17, 20211 min read

MINI R56 JCW GRP Mini Challenge Style Front Bumper.

Our Mini Gen 2 products keep growing due to the demand , and we are excited by this product as the JCW product is so hard to get hold of, with the Challenge MINI parts for the Gen 2 hatch even more difficult to source, so its great to bring the both products to market as a one piece product, with the challenge splitter now an integrated part of the bumper, for road or track use.

This fibreglass front bumper is designed around the MINI Cooper S R56 John Cooper Works bumper with an integrated Mini challenge splitter moulded in.

The bumper mounts to the original fixing points and has a 10mm lip around the central grill opening for mesh, or to fit your OEM grill set

 
 

The bumper is supplied in White or black gel coat ready for painting or wrapping your colour of choice.

get in touch and order yours today, available from stock or a 7 days manufacturing if product is out of stock.


In our next blog post one of these bumpers will be fitted to the www.miniflares.com dail Mini Clubman that has been conversted to a van and we must say looks incredible with all of the other additions that build has undergone, its a real little eye opener.




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Writer's pictureVAD Admin
Jun 11, 20212 min read

DuelL AG for the UK Market

For those who haven’t heard of the name DuelL AG this brand is the Connoisseur of the Mini aero world and for those that know the brand name you already know how important they are to the world of Mini, so for those of you that don’t know of this incredible brand let us explain who they are.

Based in Nagoya-City the brand was launched in 2006, starting with enhancing the Gen 1 Mini, building some absolute world class exterior upgrades and tuning, it wasn’t long before they turned their attention to the Gen 2 with so many chassis variants it was hard to keep up with their aero enhancement programme as they catered for the R56 Hatch, R55 Clubman, R57 Cabriolet, R58 Coupe & the R59 Coupe Cabriolet, you name it they produced it from full aero kits to various splitters, diffusers with complete bespoke interiors, all parts that improve the looks of the standard Mini, one R conversion they have produced which is a real looker is as full aero pack for the R60 Countryman which we love and we will build eventually as a company demo.

 
 

With any high quality aftermarket tuner who base their business on one brand its always important to enhance and work on the current chassis and with DuelL AG it no different, it’s been not only intriguing but exciting to see their take on the Gen 3 F series and they haven’t disappointed, for us they have produced some of the best looking Gen 3 conversions the market has to offer, if not the best, showing the Mini brand how it’s done, their body kits, components and accessories are made to fit like the OEM factory parts, which makes them incredibly natural feeling once painted and installed, like they left the factory that way, like a real enhanced factory version, which is a credit to the company and what they are doing.

 
 

Even though we are late to the Duell AG party we feel very privileged to be a part of their future, the Gen 3 is already a huge part of the VAD and Mini Flares market, so just imagine this, our wide flares on a Gen 3 hatch with the Krone Edition V3.22 JCW Front Bumper, vented bonnet sitting on our signature 9.5x18 and 10.5x18 flow formed wheels lowered on H&R Suspension, the ingredients for the ultimate Gen 3 that we really need to build, just need to find the Mini chassis for the complete overhaul, watch this space.

 
 
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