While I’ll be the first to admit that motorcycles are unfamiliar territory to me, the idea of motorcycle engines swapped into cars has always been exciting. Of course you can’t really just toss a bike motor into any old car – it should be something very small and very light. Something like this Mini built by Speedhunters reader Robert Valk.
Robert has owned the Mini for eight years now and during that time he’s transformed it into quite the pocket rocket.
We’ve seen a number of different motors swapped into Minis, and the Yamaha R1 engine is a perfect choice. The motor is mated to an R1 sequential gearbox, both of which were installed by Robert himself.
Robert says the motor setup is good for 160 high winding NA horsepower. Other work includes twin radiators, adjustable suspension, a full cage, and more.
The 10 inch steel wheels have been widened to 7 inches at each corner and mounted with 160/490-10 slick tires. You can also see the custom side exit exhaust in this shot.
Further shedding kilograms from the car is a complete fiberglass front end and trunklid. To say that the car is a lightweight would be a huge understatement. Robert says that the complete car weighs in at just 550 kilograms, or 1,200 pounds.
I’m guessing there aren’t too many 160 horsepower cars out there that are as fun to drive as Robert’s Mini.
