Boot2Bonnet Restoration

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United States
Woodland, CA
Boot2Bonnet Restoration

Boot2Bonnet Restoration opened for business in 2010, and is owned and operated by Nicholas Upton. We Service, Repair, and Restore Classic Minis

We offer high quality paint and body restoratio.

08/28/2026

🏁 **The Rolling Road Is Back!** 🏁

Our chassis dyno— or as the British call it, a **rolling road** — is back together and ready to put some Minis through their paces!

At Boot2bonnet, we don’t believe in guessing when it comes to performance. The rolling road allows us to test the **complete car under controlled conditions**, so we can make sure every engine combination is properly optimized.

🔧 Dial in fueling and ignition
🔍 Find problems that may be difficult to diagnose on the road
📊 Measure the results of changes and upgrades
🏁 Make sure the entire package works together as it should

Most importantly, it allows us to **prove that the upgrades we recommend actually work**.

Whether it’s a standard road-going 998, a warmed-over 1275, or a serious performance build, the goal is the same: make the combination work as well as possible.

We sell the same parts we install, test, and use every day in our shop. Having an in-house rolling road gives us another tool to understand what works—and what doesn’t—before we recommend it to our customers.

**Built. Tested. Proven.**

🔧 Classic Mini parts, service & performance
🌐 boot2bonnet.com

08/26/2026

Apparently the Parts Department has a new manager 🐶💤

We’ve recently expanded our inventory, with lots more Classic Mini parts in stock, on the shelves, and ready to ship.

All that extra inventory has also created more places for the shop dog to sleep. 😂

Her current responsibilities include:

📦 Inventory control
🔍 Parts inspection
🧪 Lab testing
🐾 Security
🦴 Quality control
😴 Sleeping directly in the middle of everything
🥓 Mandatory snack breaks

The Lab testing department seems to spend most of its time testing the floor for comfort. So far, every section has passed. 😂

🐾 Lots of parts in stock
📦 Ready to ship
🔧 The same parts we use in our shop
😴 Management currently unavailable

Shop Classic Mini parts at Boot2bonnet.com

08/14/2026

A rollover can do a lot more than just damage the panels you can see.

This Classic Mini is on our Celette frame bench after being rolled over, allowing us to accurately measure, locate, and correct damage to the body structure using the proper Mini-specific setup.

Because a Classic Mini is a unibody vehicle, the body is the structure. There isn’t a separate chassis underneath that can simply be straightened independently. Damage from an accident, rollover, or bad rust repairs, can travel through the floors, sills, bulkheads, suspension mounting points, and other structural areas—even when everything looks reasonably straight from the outside.

That’s why proper equipment matters. Before replacing panels or making cosmetic repairs, the shell needs to be checked against known dimensions and corrected so the suspension, subframes, doors, panels, and drivetrain all end up where they were designed to be.

At Boot2bonnet, our Celette bench and Mini-specific fixtures allow us to approach structural repairs the right way: Measure first, correct the structure, then repair the body.

The right repair starts with the right equipment.

🔧 Classic Mini Service • Restoration • Parts

🌐 boot2bonnet.com

08/07/2026

One photo. Three stages. One professional result.

From **left to right**:
➡️ Dirty, oxidized gearbox case
➡️ Low-pressure glass bead blasted
➡️ Finished in our vibratory finishing system

While glass bead blasting does an excellent job of cleaning the surface, our vibratory finishing process takes it a step further. It smooths the blasted surface, evens out the finish, removes remaining discoloration, and leaves the aluminum with a clean, factory-style satin appearance that’s much easier to keep looking good.

This isn’t just about making parts shine—it’s about producing a gearbox that’s finished to the same standard as the precision components inside it.

Every gearbox we build receives the same attention to detail because we believe the outside should reflect the quality of the work within.

And the best part? The same high-quality parts we trust in our own workshop are available through our parts department for your next Classic Mini project.

🌐 Boot2bonnet.com

MiniRestoration TransmissionRebuild Boot2bonnet

07/23/2026

⚙️ Fresh build. Proven parts. Ready for the road.

This freshly rebuilt **5-speed rod-change gearbox** is headed under a customer’s fresh 1275 engine build. 💪

We upgraded it with a **cross-pin differential** for added strength and reliability, then finished the case with a vibratory polish for a clean factory-inspired look.

At **Boot2bonnet**, we don’t just sell parts—we install them every day in our own workshop. The bearings, seals, gears, differentials, and components we recommend are the exact same parts we trust in our customer builds.

That means when you order from us, you’re getting parts that have been proven in real-world restorations and performance builds—not just pulled off a shelf.

Whether you’re tackling your own gearbox rebuild or a complete restoration, we’ve got the parts and the experience to help you get it right the first time.

🛒 Visit **Boot2bonnet.com** to browse our growing inventory of Classic Mini parts.

👇 What’s your dream Mini transmission setup?
4-speed • 5-speed • Straight-cut • Dog box?

07/09/2026

The shop has been flat out this week—and that’s exactly how we like it.

Gearbox rebuilds, engine rebuilds, diagnosing frustrating no-start issues, brake repairs, and a workshop full of Classic Minis waiting for their turn. Every day we’re installing the same parts we’d trust on our own cars.

That’s why we’re building more than just a repair shop—we’re building a parts source for Classic Mini owners across the country.

The parts we use every day in our workshop are available to purchase at Boot2bonnet.com. From routine service items to hard-to-find restoration parts, we’re continually expanding our inventory so DIY enthusiasts, restorers, and professional shops have access to quality components they can trust.

Don’t see what you need? Join the waitlist on any out-of-stock item, and we’ll let you know as soon as it’s back on the shelf.

Whether you’re rebuilding your own Mini in the garage or letting us do the work, Boot2bonnet has you covered.

🛒 Shop Parts: **Boot2bonnet.com**
🔧 Professional Service • Engine & Gearbox Rebuilds • Restorations

Thank you to everyone who continues to support our small business. Every order and every project helps keep more Classic Minis on the road.

07/02/2026

*”I can quit anytime... right after I buy this one.”* 😅

Some people collect stamps.
Some people collect shoes.

Classic Mini people collect... unfinished projects.

It starts with:
➡️ “I’m just going to look.”

Then:
➡️ “It’s too good of a deal to pass up.”

Followed by:
➡️ “This one just needs a little work.”

And somehow, before the first project is finished.....you’re shopping for parts for the second...making room for the third...and convincing yourself the fourth is “an investment.”

The truth is, buying another project gives you that instant dopamine hit. Finishing one? That takes patience, busted knuckles, late nights, and more trips to the parts shelf than you’d like to admit.

But when that engine fires up for the first time and you drive it under its own power...

Nothing beats that feeling.

Now, let’s settle an important question...

How many unfinished projects are currently in your garage?
(And remember... project cars hidden under tarps still count. 😂)

BritishCars ClassicCarHumor BuiltNotBought OneMoreProject MiniRestoration

06/23/2026

Another busy day in the shop!

Today was all about precision work—cleaning, grinding, and balancing flywheel assemblies in-house. Taking the time to properly machine and balance these components helps ensure smoother operation, improved reliability, and a better driving experience for every Classic Mini that leaves our shop.

Having the equipment and expertise to perform this work under our own roof allows us to maintain the quality standards we expect on every build, from routine engine work to full restorations.

One step at a time, building better Minis.

AutomotiveMachining MadeInHouse ClassicCarRestoration

06/21/2026

Happy Father’s Day!

One of the best parts of owning our own shop isn’t just the cars, the parts, or the projects—it’s the people we get to share it with.

As we’ve built Boot2bonnet’s new home, I’ve been fortunate to have my own dad by my side, helping turn an empty building into the shop we’ve always envisioned. Watching him put in the same hard work and dedication that he taught me growing up has made this journey even more meaningful.

It’s also been incredible to see other fathers and sons spending time together around the cars, passing down knowledge, stories, and a shared passion for Classic Minis. And for me, getting to share this adventure with my daughter reminds me why all of this is worth it.

Today we’re celebrating the fathers, grandfathers, mentors, and role models who taught us how to work hard, solve problems, and appreciate the things we love.

Happy Father’s Day from all of us at Boot2bonnet. We hope you get to spend the day with the people who matter most.

— Nicholas & the Boot2bonnet Team

06/10/2026

The parts department is starting to take shape!
We’ve been busy organizing shelves, stocking inventory, and getting thousands of Classic Mini parts entered into our system. While we’re not finished yet, most of our current inventory is already listed on our website and available to browse.
Be sure to check out our online catalog at Boot2bonnet.com. Not every item has a photo yet, but we’re adding them as quickly as we can. If you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for, many out-of-stock items now have a waitlist feature so you can be notified as soon as they become available.
Building a proper Classic Mini parts department takes time, but we’re making progress every day. We’re excited to continue growing our inventory and becoming your source for Classic Mini parts, service, and restoration.
What part are you hoping to see us stock next?
WoodlandCA BritishCars MiniLife

Address

325 Harter Avenue
Woodland, CA
95695

Telephone

+15303836213

Website

http://boot2bonnet.com/

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