Saturday, August 16. The weather was overcast but beautiful and the possibility of rain held off as I took our Mini Mark to the local Orak Shriners Car Show in Michigan City, IN. Lots of cars of all ages, and brands with even more car enthusiasts out enjoying all the cars. At three o'clock when the awards were announced the Mini Mark was fortunate to receive a "60-76 Custom Class" award.
This show was a bit different than most the car has been to in the last year as the Shriners had a panel of judges inspect the cars (it was not done by popular vote). This meant that the cars were judged on condition and merits, not by popularity. Our record book of each phase of the rebuild helped I think to show what condition the car was in when purchased compared to the beauty it is now. I think it also helped that we did all of the work ourselves except for the paint. There were many compliments on the car, and as usual a new group of people who up until today were not aware of the Bremen Mini Mark.
How many of your Mini Marks came with Wind Wings? How many still have them and they are solid to the windshield frame? Unfortunately when we bought our Mini Mark they were on the windshield, but had been mounted numerous times and had the holes to prove it. They were just "hanging" and I wasn't sure how to revive them. During the restoration I made sure to weld all the holes shut on the frame, but it just didn't seem like this was a design that worked well over time. Also, the original design was just stainless butt hinges, not very stylish. We finished the restoration without Wind Wings, but I still toyed with a design that would do them justice and would be streamline, firm and last. Finally I came up with a design which I think fits the car. Making use of the groove already in the windshield frame I set out making a set of brackets out of 6061 aluminum. I fabricated frame brackets and then glass brackets, finally polishing them to make them shine. New Plexiglas wings which have the edges polished as well for the clear glass look. Stainless acorn nuts with stainless threaded rods join the hinge halves, and a plastic high durometer bearing between each hinge half. I did drill some small holes in the inner side of the frame to mount the new hinges, but they will hold up over time, and because of the design they will not loosen from wind resistance. It gives the windshield the finish look for a roadster, and should keep a bit of air out of the passenger compartment, another finishing touch.
