Domino is a general name for a range of kit car bodies originally produced by Fibretech GRP and distributed by Domino Cars (GB) Ltd. They assets of Fibretech were eventually transferred to Domino Composites which changed its name to Composite Designs and which finally went into liquidation at the end of 2007. Production is being continued by the DominoCars-Organisation which is a separate entity from any of the predecessors. The models are being re-engineered to incorporate modern safety features. They were intended originally for use with components from the classic Mini

Mini

The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...

, but adapted in some cases for use as electric vehicles, and even in at least one case powered by steam. DominoCars-Organisation is currently developing a hybrid Diesel-electric powered unit to power the classic Mini-shaped vehicle as a town car.

The Domino range included until the 2007 liquidation the Pimlico, the Premier, the HT Saloon and Pick-up models, each designed to echo the design of the classic Mini, but with modifications necessary both because of their fiberglass

Fiberglass

Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...

 construction, and due to licensing issues. The range to be continued (2008+) will include the Pimlico and the Saloon. Plans are being drawn for a hybrid-powered town car utilising the Domino shells.

Domino / Mini differences

Unlike most Mini based kit cars, such as the Marcos

Mini Marcos

The Mini Marcos was produced in limited numbers between 1965 and 1970 by Marcos, 1974 to 1981 by D & H Fibreglass Techniques Limited and again between 1991 and 1996 by Marcos. It was based on the DART design by Dizzy Addicott who finally sold the project to Jeremy Delmar-Morgan. Jeremy marketed...

 and Midas

Midas Cars

The Midas is a British made kit car initially using Mini running gear that grew out of the Mini Marcos.Harold Dermott and his company, D&H Fibreglass Techniques, of Greenfield, Oldham, Lancashire, England came to an agreement in 1975 with Marcos cars to take over production of their Mini Marcos model...

, the Domino is intended to resemble the design of a traditional steel-shelled Mini. There are, however, several obvious styling differences that distinguish them:

All Dominos (as indeed is the case with most fibreglass car body shells) are seamless and thus feature none of the distinctive guttering found on a steel shelled Mini. Some owners choose to add their own sections of gutters above doorways to avoid being dripped on.

The cars by default feature large wheel arches molded into the body, giving a similar style to the later 'Sports Pack' Mini range. Thirteen inch (330 mm) wheels can be fitted with no modifications (though Domino Cars themselves recommend 12").
All Domino models feature distinctive side skirts, not dissimilar to those found on popular Mini body kits, although they descend no lower than the underside of the body. The design on the skirt varies depending on the model of Domino.

The sills on all models are higher than those found on a steel shell, giving the fiberglass body extra strength, though having the adverse effect of making exit and entry into the vehicle slightly more awkward.

Finally, the rear lights (on models which allow the fitting of regular Mini clusters) are often positioned higher than usually found on a Mini.

Current Domino Models

As of the 2007 Liquidation. See DominoCars Organisation website for more up-to-date information.

Pimlico

The Pimlico, designed in 1986, was the original car designed by Domino Cars. It has an open top, with a fabric hood.

Single skin doors are available at extra cost and where fitted, usually require external hinges.

Premier

The Premier was developed from the Pimlico in 1988, featuring lowered doorsills which enabled double skinned, internally hinged doors to be fitted. It also allows a regular Mini bootlid to be used.
A variant, the Premier Plus is identical other than being six inches (152 mm) longer.

HT

The HT (Hard Top) resembles more the traditional Mini, with its full roof. Wheel arches are slightly wider, and the car uses original Mini steel door inner skins, shortened by around five centimetres and bonded to a fibreglass outer skin.

Pick-up/Ute

A development of the HT Saloon, the two-seat Pick-up differs in obvious ways, but is also slightly longer, giving the driver more leg room.

Cabrio

The Cabrio, superseded by the Premier, was an open-top design featuring doors of similar length to the HT and Pick-Up, as well a similar sill design.

Pick Up Crew Cab

This variant of the Pick-up features a back seat as found in a regular Domino. Availability is unknown.

HT-ES

The HT-ES (Evolution Sport) features the same design as the HT, but constructed from Carbon / Kevlar composite materials rather than purely fibreglass, and as such is lighter - its quoted shell weight is 50 kg (110 lb). Availability is unknown.

Race Shell

The Domino race shell has much removed, featuring only the bare minimum of a structure and a space frame chassis replacing the standard Mini subframes. Its quoted shell weight is 38 kg (84 lb). Availability is unknown.

Future

The Domino car will survive, .. and it is envisaged to include in its new range a hybrid (diesel-electric) town car design..