Nobeerinthefridge, I’m 6’2″ and my brother’s 6’4″ no prob’s in a mini with new seats, I’ve got more head room in the VTech van than I have in my Passat, the seat is on the floor and back a bit with a longer steering column though, the steering wheel is quick release too else you need to be a contortionist to get in and out, but with it off and the roll cage it’s easy to get in and out and comfy to drive.
Tour right topper never de-seam a roof, just doesn’t look right and you’d never want to drive it in the rain either, it’d be awful, I recon you’s get water running down odd places and leaky doors\windows.
chewkw for the VW a Subaru flat four is the way to go, much cheaper than a Porche engine, readily available and loads of power options from 150bhp up to silly turbo power 8)
And Chewkw if you ever hit the jackpot you know where to go, he’s got another VTech mini build he’s quoting for at the moment and is also working on a 70’s beetle restoration at the moment too
shame less plug 8)