or, in the alternative a junk handle that I can use as a pattern to make a wood handle. Why...so my old partner can carve it. I will post pictures tomorrow (tonight is poker night) so you can see what I am talking about. Stay tuned...
A wooden hatchet handle would make a perfect replacement It's curved, unobtrusive and won't break easily, if at all. :ihih:
FYI: on the R53, you can remove the hand brake handle and drive the car just fine without it. Sometimes there is some grease left on the inner part of the handle, but you can clean that off with some generic cleaner (Fantastic, Windex, really anything will do) and paper towel and be able to drive the car just fine. [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_9PbLXKaAg"]How to remove the handbrake cover on a Mini Cooper - YouTube[/ame] In the video, above, the guy removes the handle but doesn't show you how to remove the faux-leather gaiter that is attached. If you do what the first video shows, you will find that your stock pleather gaiter is attached to the flange at the bottom of the handle. You squeeze on either sides of the long oval bottom of the gaiter and can pop out the oval inner plastic clip that holds the base in place. Then the handle and gaiter will slide off, all as one unit. Invert the gaiter over the handle and you will see that it is zip-tied on. Cut the zip tie and you can separate the gaiter from the handle. You can see how the gaiter is attached, here: [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BqvytfyuS8"]How to fit new handbrake handle to a Mini Cooper - YouTube[/ame]
I had to do some Googling... I'm recently returned to the MINI community and knew that there was someone out there doing beautiful wood knobs/handles several years ago when I sold my first MINI. http://www.robincasady.com/ShiftKnobs/ He has an aluminum adapter that would make this a MUCH easier / cleaner project and probably make for a much firmer attachment. Probably $50 for just the adapter.
Yeah. If I didn't already own 2 Waylen Shift Machines (one from my first MINI, given back to me for a sentimental keepsake, and one that came with my new JCW R53 with the JCW # inscribed on it) I would have seriously looked at these. There is something very pleasant about grabbing a big woody knob and working it... umm... yeah.
My partner of 30 years, an engraver, knew I was having a bad year medically and he wanted to cheer me up. I had given him a knife about 5 years ago to engrave, and he called me yesterday, telling me it was done. I went to pick it up and was presented with this:https://www.dropbox.com/s/kwwx9q1okkr5dya/2017-09-21%2013.12.49.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/y37xco65py83k7b/2017-09-21%2013.12.39.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/k9vc6jxx89thkpv/2017-09-21%2013.14.03.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/k9vc6jxx89thkpv/2017-09-21%2013.14.03.jpg?dl=0 The bos was carved from 2 slabs of wood by hand. He is going to carve an emergency brake handle for me. That is why I needed a wooden emergency brake handle...it will get the handle done much quicker. Thanks for the link to the wood handles, I am going to order one today.
That is very cool! I thought that he was just going to turn it down on a lathe for you. If you call Robin, he can probably mill one down, unfinished, for you. The carving probably eliminates a lot of the curly / burly woods. These would be cool: http://www.robincasady.com/ShiftKnobs/e22Nanciton.html http://www.robincasady.com/ShiftKnobs/e44Walnut.html http://www.robincasady.com/ShiftKnobs/e35WhiteHolly.html (could be really stunning, carved, antiqued and then sealed) Robin also has one of the best 'how-to' articles I've seen: http://www.robincasady.com/ShiftKnobs/ebrakeInstructions/Index.html
MINI sold OEM leather knobs, and in different colors to match their leather interiors. Not sure if they are still available for 1st gen. However, knowing the quality of "MINI leather", they probably kinda looked and felt like vinyl.
It's been a while, but A friend of mine used his lathe to turn an emergency brake handle that will be carved. It is spalted Maple, dyed red, and stabilized.
I picked up my carved emergency brake handle yesterday. I still have a little bit of polishing to do, and finishing off the bottom, but here it is
That is seriously cool and full-on custom. Love it! Never seen anything like it on a MINI (or on any other car, for that matter)