The perfect classic mini.
Discussion
How much would you need in cash to build it and what to what spec? You have to use it 60% of the time.......
Im thinking a classic shell (pre 1971), media blasted, dipped, stripped and zinc coated... twice. with a 8 pack paint job, zymol strip, super light weight sound deadinging throughout, cavity waxed to death, 7.9 discs and rear disc conversion, twin 5.5 tanks, open tail gate loading, 3 seat arrangement (rear middle lap belt) innocenti dash, cooper 40 carpet and trim in black, 1330 arden 8 port, 6 speed box with helical gears and drops..... 11"/5.5" wheels with a active stainless exhaust!
I would say 25k, maybe 40k......
Im thinking a classic shell (pre 1971), media blasted, dipped, stripped and zinc coated... twice. with a 8 pack paint job, zymol strip, super light weight sound deadinging throughout, cavity waxed to death, 7.9 discs and rear disc conversion, twin 5.5 tanks, open tail gate loading, 3 seat arrangement (rear middle lap belt) innocenti dash, cooper 40 carpet and trim in black, 1330 arden 8 port, 6 speed box with helical gears and drops..... 11"/5.5" wheels with a active stainless exhaust!
I would say 25k, maybe 40k......
why bother with a 'small'1330 arden, the new heads have the cc capacity to take a proper big bore, go 1430-1460 and enjoy the extra grunt, that coupled to the modern injection that fits under the bonnet would remove the need for a fancy six speed box, as the flat torque curve means that you dont have to waz up and down the box to keep it on song.
the minispares 'show car' thats in the process of having its arden fitted is a 1460, sensible rally cam, 5 speed box - it will be a real mile muncher
the minispares 'show car' thats in the process of having its arden fitted is a 1460, sensible rally cam, 5 speed box - it will be a real mile muncher
Minis are a real one off ion terms of driveability and verve.
They are also very small and very restrictive in internal space. I am a big fan myself, I own thee classic Minis, at 1340 special, a 998 Cool Blue, and an 1800K series engine Cooper Cabriolet which is interesting.
Using any Mini 60% of the time would be a real challenge for me. I have seven other cars including two daily drivers, two classics and a lot in bits
You cannot change the basic downsides of Minis. The spec you are suggesting is outstanding and I can well see an expenditure of 30.000 plus possibly more.
Would it be worth it. Difficult question. I just do not know.
If you can find a really early shell there is a chance.
Whatever you do the inherent rust problem with all Minis cannot be eradicated. The actual steel used is not the best (typical BMC) and the many nooks and crannies are always a problem. You can reduce rust you cannot eradicate it in a Mini.
It is a very interesting product to suggest and I wish you well. Only you will know whether you can use the car as you intend and the end value.
Minis are IMO the greatest small car ever made. By a big margin. But they are not modern cars and the noise, vibration and harshness can be wearing.
Good luck with your ideas. At least you are trying something different.
They are also very small and very restrictive in internal space. I am a big fan myself, I own thee classic Minis, at 1340 special, a 998 Cool Blue, and an 1800K series engine Cooper Cabriolet which is interesting.
Using any Mini 60% of the time would be a real challenge for me. I have seven other cars including two daily drivers, two classics and a lot in bits
You cannot change the basic downsides of Minis. The spec you are suggesting is outstanding and I can well see an expenditure of 30.000 plus possibly more.
Would it be worth it. Difficult question. I just do not know.
If you can find a really early shell there is a chance.
Whatever you do the inherent rust problem with all Minis cannot be eradicated. The actual steel used is not the best (typical BMC) and the many nooks and crannies are always a problem. You can reduce rust you cannot eradicate it in a Mini.
It is a very interesting product to suggest and I wish you well. Only you will know whether you can use the car as you intend and the end value.
Minis are IMO the greatest small car ever made. By a big margin. But they are not modern cars and the noise, vibration and harshness can be wearing.
Good luck with your ideas. At least you are trying something different.
Steffan said:
Using any Mini 60% of the time would be a real challenge for me.
i agree, i use my 200 quid volvo v40 as my daily beater and its great. it never needs any money spending on it and im so lazy i simply get the garage to mot it every year.i normally use a mini for a week, then the volvo, then a mini, but in summer will use minis just about non stop.
im a bit stuck at the mo, as my cooper s beater blew up and one of the floats on the twins on my other mini has fallen off (i did wonder why it had developed a missfire....)
For me it would have to be something along the lines of a mid '60s Radford Cooper S, with all the toys you could think of, finished off in an Aston or Rolls Royce colour of the period, with smoked glass all round and a decent stereo. Power wise, you'd need some extra horses to lug around all the extra weight these fab little cars had. One thing though, apparently a lot of the original Radfords build quality wasn't as good as it ought ot have been, so that's something I'd improve on. It would definitely be on 10 inch wheels, possibly Dunlop D1s or Mk1 Cosmics. If it was the right car, I'd want to use it as often as possible...!
When they were new, they cost something like three or four times the price of a standard Cooper, restoring a genuine one now would cost something like 20 - 30k.
When they were new, they cost something like three or four times the price of a standard Cooper, restoring a genuine one now would cost something like 20 - 30k.
Edited by P5Nij on Monday 19th March 11:33
Edited by P5Nij on Monday 19th March 11:33
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