My 1991 Mini Special
Discussion
Time for a new reader's car thread.
Back in 1990 Rover built a black Mini Special. This is the name for the left hand drive Mini City models built for Europe. It was exported to France and registered on the 15th of January 1991.
The first owner kept it until 1996, then it went through 2 more owners who each kept it for about a year, until it was bought in 1998 by a lady who kept it for a while. It failed a Controle Technique in 2007 for being very rusty indeed and 2 months later it passed, having been given a lot of new panels and a respray, plus a retrimmed interior. That owner sold it in 2014 to a couple in the Boulogne-Billancourt area of Paris. I found photos of it on Facebook from this time. Always google the registration!
In 2016 They sold it to a man who fixed many things and added some rather nice alloy wheels, then moved it on within a year to a military vehicle maintenance specialist who went through the mechanics of the car with a fine toothed-comb refreshing all the suspension (including new cones) and all the oil seals. He spent a fortune on parts and did everything himself to the most exacting of standards and drove it only about 1000km. Then the silly man put it up for sale because he's just bought a 205 GTi to restore. I had looked at one or two overpriced and somewhat disappointing Minis in the Lot and Dordogne, so when I got home and had a look on Leboncoin and saw this at a much cheaper and very reasonable price I had to go and see it.
Well, as you've guessed I saw it, I drove it, it seemed perfect, so I bought it without hesitation at the full asking price there and then. Here it is:
I have wanted a Mini for about 30 years. Where I live I have a barn which is nice and wide, but it is only deep enough for a very small car. The mini just fits.
It's in beautiful condition. There is no rust anywhere except a small spot in the corner of the boot (Yay for south-west French sunshine and lack of snow/salt). It drives brilliantly and is so much fun. It's not perfect. I'm not overly keen on the grey vinyl interior - it gets bloody hot here - and there are some small electrical issues I need to fix. Clearly the seller was a great mechanic but not an electrician. The fuel gauge reads half full when it's full. I've no idea what it reads at empty. The brake fluid warning wires have come away from the terminals, the indicators do not self cancel on left turns, the interior light doesn’t work, and the hazards are intermittent at best, and mostly inoperative.
Also the middle exhaust box hangs down and bashes on the pointless metal strip that my barn doors close into. I expect the exhaust is missing a hanger or a clamp.
Because it's a Mini of course I'm going to be buying it presents and doing things to it, so I expect I'll be back to update this thread fairly often.
Back in 1990 Rover built a black Mini Special. This is the name for the left hand drive Mini City models built for Europe. It was exported to France and registered on the 15th of January 1991.
The first owner kept it until 1996, then it went through 2 more owners who each kept it for about a year, until it was bought in 1998 by a lady who kept it for a while. It failed a Controle Technique in 2007 for being very rusty indeed and 2 months later it passed, having been given a lot of new panels and a respray, plus a retrimmed interior. That owner sold it in 2014 to a couple in the Boulogne-Billancourt area of Paris. I found photos of it on Facebook from this time. Always google the registration!
In 2016 They sold it to a man who fixed many things and added some rather nice alloy wheels, then moved it on within a year to a military vehicle maintenance specialist who went through the mechanics of the car with a fine toothed-comb refreshing all the suspension (including new cones) and all the oil seals. He spent a fortune on parts and did everything himself to the most exacting of standards and drove it only about 1000km. Then the silly man put it up for sale because he's just bought a 205 GTi to restore. I had looked at one or two overpriced and somewhat disappointing Minis in the Lot and Dordogne, so when I got home and had a look on Leboncoin and saw this at a much cheaper and very reasonable price I had to go and see it.
Well, as you've guessed I saw it, I drove it, it seemed perfect, so I bought it without hesitation at the full asking price there and then. Here it is:
I have wanted a Mini for about 30 years. Where I live I have a barn which is nice and wide, but it is only deep enough for a very small car. The mini just fits.
It's in beautiful condition. There is no rust anywhere except a small spot in the corner of the boot (Yay for south-west French sunshine and lack of snow/salt). It drives brilliantly and is so much fun. It's not perfect. I'm not overly keen on the grey vinyl interior - it gets bloody hot here - and there are some small electrical issues I need to fix. Clearly the seller was a great mechanic but not an electrician. The fuel gauge reads half full when it's full. I've no idea what it reads at empty. The brake fluid warning wires have come away from the terminals, the indicators do not self cancel on left turns, the interior light doesn’t work, and the hazards are intermittent at best, and mostly inoperative.
Also the middle exhaust box hangs down and bashes on the pointless metal strip that my barn doors close into. I expect the exhaust is missing a hanger or a clamp.
Because it's a Mini of course I'm going to be buying it presents and doing things to it, so I expect I'll be back to update this thread fairly often.
So, I've had the chance to have a really good poke about, and it really is as good as I initially thought. I will update with photos later, but for now, have some words. Sure there are issues but they are very minor and well within my capabilities.
The good is that bodily it is almost perfect. There's just no rust, and the underside is spotless. This is a car that hasn't seen salt or rain since 2007.
The engine and box are great, the clutch is good (I think the advert mentioned that it was new, but that's since been deleted, so I cannot check). I've popped some cardboard underneath and it hasn't dripped any oil.
The suspension looks brand new, and looking at all the bills, it is. All new seals, boots, bearings, arms, top mounts, Including 4 brand new rubber cones from Moulton.
The wheels are in perfect condition, which is great, because they look fab with their deep dish polished rims. The tyres are almost new Falkens.
Brakes look perfect.
Not so great things
The electrics.
I had some insulated blade terminals and a crimp tool, so I have replaced the dodgy brake fluid level connection which has fixed that.
At some point the Lucas fusebox has been replaced with 4 inline fuses. That's an odd thing to do. The hazards and interior light do not work, and I cannot find the inline fuse for that that is supposed to be there, so I will have to do some more thorough testing and investigation. In the meantime a new flasher and switch have been ordered so I can start from a known good place.
The spare is one of the original steels, and the Pirelli tyre is probably original to the car. It's very hard and shiny.
The fuel gauge doesn't work properly. I've bought a new sender. I just need to use up more fuel so I can fit it.
The interior switches are all a bit 'stuck' so I've ordered a new set. I can keep the originals as spares.
Other things are more of a personal preference.
There is a cheap radio cassette, with one working front speaker. Wires have been run for rear speakers but none fitted. I'm planning to put a modern stereo in anyway, so it's nice to have something already there to guide me. The parcel shelf has holes for two rear speakers, but the trim on it has no holes. Rather than cut two big holes in it, I'm planning to see if I can punch lots of little holes for that hidden speakers look. I guess if I bugger it up I can go back to the big hole plan!
There was an electric aerial once, which has long since been replaced with a manual one. The switch for it is still there. I think I'll just remove the switch rather than get another aerial.
The previous owner swapped to white indicators. I'm not sure I'm a fan of the look, and am considering going back to gingercators. Just need to decide whether to upgrade to LED at the same time.
Apart from new (grey vinyl - ugh) seat covers and door cards the interior is as Rover intended. Which is to say, not very well-made. I have just received a couple of boxes of shiny things for the doors to replace the grey plastic hardware (I can't get on with the old door handles, as they rub my arm when I'm driving, so I've got some TR4 items to replace them), some seat relocation brackets to move the seats inboard and back a tad, and an aluminium gearknob to replace the nasty original. And a badge for the back, which was missing.
The good is that bodily it is almost perfect. There's just no rust, and the underside is spotless. This is a car that hasn't seen salt or rain since 2007.
The engine and box are great, the clutch is good (I think the advert mentioned that it was new, but that's since been deleted, so I cannot check). I've popped some cardboard underneath and it hasn't dripped any oil.
The suspension looks brand new, and looking at all the bills, it is. All new seals, boots, bearings, arms, top mounts, Including 4 brand new rubber cones from Moulton.
The wheels are in perfect condition, which is great, because they look fab with their deep dish polished rims. The tyres are almost new Falkens.
Brakes look perfect.
Not so great things
The electrics.
I had some insulated blade terminals and a crimp tool, so I have replaced the dodgy brake fluid level connection which has fixed that.
At some point the Lucas fusebox has been replaced with 4 inline fuses. That's an odd thing to do. The hazards and interior light do not work, and I cannot find the inline fuse for that that is supposed to be there, so I will have to do some more thorough testing and investigation. In the meantime a new flasher and switch have been ordered so I can start from a known good place.
The spare is one of the original steels, and the Pirelli tyre is probably original to the car. It's very hard and shiny.
The fuel gauge doesn't work properly. I've bought a new sender. I just need to use up more fuel so I can fit it.
The interior switches are all a bit 'stuck' so I've ordered a new set. I can keep the originals as spares.
Other things are more of a personal preference.
There is a cheap radio cassette, with one working front speaker. Wires have been run for rear speakers but none fitted. I'm planning to put a modern stereo in anyway, so it's nice to have something already there to guide me. The parcel shelf has holes for two rear speakers, but the trim on it has no holes. Rather than cut two big holes in it, I'm planning to see if I can punch lots of little holes for that hidden speakers look. I guess if I bugger it up I can go back to the big hole plan!
There was an electric aerial once, which has long since been replaced with a manual one. The switch for it is still there. I think I'll just remove the switch rather than get another aerial.
The previous owner swapped to white indicators. I'm not sure I'm a fan of the look, and am considering going back to gingercators. Just need to decide whether to upgrade to LED at the same time.
Apart from new (grey vinyl - ugh) seat covers and door cards the interior is as Rover intended. Which is to say, not very well-made. I have just received a couple of boxes of shiny things for the doors to replace the grey plastic hardware (I can't get on with the old door handles, as they rub my arm when I'm driving, so I've got some TR4 items to replace them), some seat relocation brackets to move the seats inboard and back a tad, and an aluminium gearknob to replace the nasty original. And a badge for the back, which was missing.
While doing that I discovered the passenger side door has a side impact bar, so it must have been replaced with a new one when the car was restored. That's sort of annoying because it means I cannot fit an electric window kit.
I bought, tried, and removed the seat extensions. I don't think the seat fit is good with them, so I have moved both seats to the rearmost of the standard fixing holes. That seems much better.
I bought, tried, and removed the seat extensions. I don't think the seat fit is good with them, so I have moved both seats to the rearmost of the standard fixing holes. That seems much better.
Looks like a really good one. Lots of history too which is always part of the fun. There are a few gaps in the history of my 1996 SPi which I'll probably never be able to fill. No bills for its resto either.
That door furniture really suits it. A much fresher idea than the usual drilled Cooper-type stuff.
Are you tempted to put a period-correct bonnet badge on? Mine had the winged one on but I preferred the 'proper' one.
That door furniture really suits it. A much fresher idea than the usual drilled Cooper-type stuff.
Are you tempted to put a period-correct bonnet badge on? Mine had the winged one on but I preferred the 'proper' one.
I'm not a fan of the winged badges. I always thought they were too big.
I've never liked any of the shield badges either, so I'm not going back to a period correct one. Instead I want a circular one.
The badge I think really suits the Mini is the small round Austin (or Morris) badge that was fitted to the Mk 2 for a short time. Sadly these are likes hen's teeth nowadays, and while you can still buy a surround, you cannot buy a repro centre.
The only other Minis with round bonnet badges are the Paul Smith and the 40th anniversary. Even though it is too old I have ordered a 40th anniversary one from a French shop who claim to have them at a sensible price (most shops are quoting over £100!). However I've not received any word that they've shipped the order yet, so it may not happen.
I've never liked any of the shield badges either, so I'm not going back to a period correct one. Instead I want a circular one.
The badge I think really suits the Mini is the small round Austin (or Morris) badge that was fitted to the Mk 2 for a short time. Sadly these are likes hen's teeth nowadays, and while you can still buy a surround, you cannot buy a repro centre.
The only other Minis with round bonnet badges are the Paul Smith and the 40th anniversary. Even though it is too old I have ordered a 40th anniversary one from a French shop who claim to have them at a sensible price (most shops are quoting over £100!). However I've not received any word that they've shipped the order yet, so it may not happen.
So about those hazard flashers.
First I fitted a new switch. Then I fitted 3 other matching new switches as they were all a bit stuck, as well as faded.
That did not fix the problem but now I eliminated one cause.
I tried a new flasher but it made no difference, so I unwrapped a bit of the loom and discovered that the glass fuse and holder had been replaced by a blade type. In theory a good upgrade, but in practice, no good if you've used a s
tty carrier and haven't put the wires in properly, Turns out the wire from the flasher was not making any contact with the fuse. It was too short to rectify, so I made up a 2 inch extension on an insulated spade connector, and connected that. Yay! Working hazard flashers!
As a reward for being such a good little car I bought it some security,
A nice keyring,
And a little blanket for it to sleep in.
(Seriously my barn is a very dusty old place, with bats in it that like to poo on nice things.)
First I fitted a new switch. Then I fitted 3 other matching new switches as they were all a bit stuck, as well as faded.
That did not fix the problem but now I eliminated one cause.
I tried a new flasher but it made no difference, so I unwrapped a bit of the loom and discovered that the glass fuse and holder had been replaced by a blade type. In theory a good upgrade, but in practice, no good if you've used a s
tty carrier and haven't put the wires in properly, Turns out the wire from the flasher was not making any contact with the fuse. It was too short to rectify, so I made up a 2 inch extension on an insulated spade connector, and connected that. Yay! Working hazard flashers!As a reward for being such a good little car I bought it some security,
A nice keyring,
And a little blanket for it to sleep in.
(Seriously my barn is a very dusty old place, with bats in it that like to poo on nice things.)
Today we went off to see some motor racing -lawnmower racing specifically.
But not before the Mini thanked me for lavishing such care on it by refusing to keep its bonnet closed, necessitating half an hour of swearing because I couldn’t find the right spanners to adjust it. In the end I bent the catch into place because it was seized solid.
Anyway all fixed and off we went. The mini looks tiny even next to a genuinely small shopping car like a DS3. Only Citroën C1s and those ridiculous sans-permis get close.
But not before the Mini thanked me for lavishing such care on it by refusing to keep its bonnet closed, necessitating half an hour of swearing because I couldn’t find the right spanners to adjust it. In the end I bent the catch into place because it was seized solid.
Anyway all fixed and off we went. The mini looks tiny even next to a genuinely small shopping car like a DS3. Only Citroën C1s and those ridiculous sans-permis get close.
With the classic car season having firmly started we booked the Mini in for a show at a chateau about 40km away from us.
It was a lovely place, and there were some lovely cars there. Nevertheless the Mini acquitted itself very well, and drew some admirers.
I have no idea what fuel economy I'm going to see with this car, not least because the fuel gauge was stuck halfway. I had bought a new fuel sender, having established that the gauge itself would read fine if it got the correct resistance from the sender. However to fit that we needed to use enough petrol so that the level would be below the sender hole. Thus the route back home was nervous, despite the spare 5 litres in the boot. We made it home without needing to use it - just. There was probably a cupful of fuel left in the tank!
This did enable me to change the fuel sender, so I did that, and then treated the car to a new pair of stainless windscreen wipers. It's all about the shiny things!
It was a lovely place, and there were some lovely cars there. Nevertheless the Mini acquitted itself very well, and drew some admirers.
I have no idea what fuel economy I'm going to see with this car, not least because the fuel gauge was stuck halfway. I had bought a new fuel sender, having established that the gauge itself would read fine if it got the correct resistance from the sender. However to fit that we needed to use enough petrol so that the level would be below the sender hole. Thus the route back home was nervous, despite the spare 5 litres in the boot. We made it home without needing to use it - just. There was probably a cupful of fuel left in the tank!
This did enable me to change the fuel sender, so I did that, and then treated the car to a new pair of stainless windscreen wipers. It's all about the shiny things!
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