"original" Minis... anyone got one?

[Latka]

Anybody else on the board got a Mini? I've got a 1964 Austin Cooper S (1071cc) as well as a 1971 Mini (998cc). Love the little buggers... We've got a new 02 Cooper S as well, but that thing looks like a Lincoln Town Car parked next to the original!

The 1971 is going to get an engine swap soon. I'll be ditching the maybe 40hp 998cc motor for a new front subframe and a Honda B16A1 / A2. Muhahaha... 1500 pound car. 170hp. That should get it around with some authority.

Anyway - anybody else got a Mini?

 

[Latka]

Oh...here's a picture

 

[69Dodge_Charger]

Dude, your putting a 170hp engine in that thing, it should fly, how much horsepower does the new one have? (Oh, I'm not sure, but miniMadness might have one, just guessing by his name and all)

 

[Latka]

The '02 S is rated by BMW at 163hp, but I want to say I remember seeing guys that had dyno'd it at somethin like 155 at the wheels, so it's probably like 170-ish or so. It's quick, but of course not as quick as I'd really like it to be It's just that parts for the new car are so friggin expensive.

The '71 (red one) is the one that's getting the engine. I'm going to try to keep the 10" wheels and all. Hopefully I can really run with the big boys at SCCA Pro Solo II. Hehe.

 

[the_cobbinator]

Our local bike shop has a 1964 Austin that they had a new paint job put on, and it's their little sales car.

 

[Gil]

I used to drive the Mini's Larger 'cousin'.
My dad had three Americas. Two blue '69's and an orange '70.
It had a 1275cc with a single Solex on it. It wasn't very fast, but it was a hoot to drive.
The '69 with the automatic and the '70 were used extensively for parts.
I kept trying to get my dad to swap the motor from the running '69 in to the '70 so I could add a stereo.

 

[CDailey]

Nice Mini's! I really like the red one. 👍

Originally posted by Gil
I used to drive the Mini's Larger 'cousin'.
My dad had three Americas. Two blue '69's and an orange '70.
It had a 1275cc with a single Solex on it. It wasn't very fast, but it was a hoot to drive.
The '69 with the automatic and the '70 were used extensively for parts.
I kept trying to get my dad to swap the motor from the running '69 in to the '70 so I could add a stereo.

A stereo?

 

[1X83Z]

Finally - a member from Hawaii. Never leave.

 

[Gil]

Originally posted by Integra Type R
Nice Mini's! I really like the red one. 👍






A stereo?

Yes, a stereo!
The blue America that I drove was "positive earth". In other words the ground was the red wire instead of the Black one.
As it only had an AM radio, I bought an AM/FM with a cassette player for like $20 at a swap meet.
ONLY after I had worked for several hours to enlarge the hole in the dash, and got the durn thing to fit. And was so dang happy that the clips were "plug and play" did I find/figure out that the stupid thing WOULDN'T FARKIN' WORK.
I was not the happiest of campers, to say the least. Then I recall that the orange car is "negative earth", and it has cooler seats in it anyway. So, I said, "Pop, how much trouble would it be to swap the engine in the blue car into the orange car?...
But my dad wasn't having any of it. So, when I drove the America I was doomed to listen to AM only. (If only I was smart enough to swap the wires in the dumb connector. (D'oh!)
But as I said, the car was a hoot to drive.

 

[RazorGTR]

A mate of mine has two from the early 70's. They are a riot. Both are British right hand drive ones.

 

[Mopar Muscle]

my friend has a mini, i'm not sure of the year. i am 6'4" 184 lbs.
i can't even fit in the damn thing to ride in it! i got another friend with a ford probe and he opens the sunroof so i can sit comfortably with half of my head sticking out.


the minis are bad ace though!

 

[Latka]

6'4" 180? Lol I'll take a picture next to mine for ya. I'm 6'6", 280.

It is positively, hands-down the most fun car I've ever owned. The red and green ones are right hand drive, and that makes 'em even more fun... 'cause there are *maybe* 10 or so of 'em here in the Islands. Some people ask really dumb questions though...

At a gas station
"Is that a Pugeot?" (I guess he didn't notice the Union Jack that takes up the WHOLE FRICKIN ROOF!)

Also at a gas station
(while I pump gas, no less) "Is that an electric car?" To which I responded - "Yes." Heheheh

Had a guy in a 70s Vette ask me, "Why would you drive such a slow-ass car?" Me - "My car is so damn cool I don't have to be fast."

True, it's slower than most compacts out there right now, but what it currently lacks in power it more than makes up for in handling. It is the best handling car I've ever owned, and that's with worn out suspension components. I can't wait to see what it's like when I lower it a little and put some good bits on 'er.

 

[retsmah]

Nice cars I would like an old Mini, but they're so expensive here in the states.

With a B16 you certainly won't have a 'slow ass car' anymore

 

[miniMADness]

the beast!

 

[miniMADness]

crud, no pic!

 

[miniMADness]

those are the only ones on the computer at the moment, but check out the "Join my Mini Club" and "Post a pic of your real car" threads. The yellow devil is near the back pages in the real car one.

 

[Mopar Muscle]

Originally posted by Latka
6'4" 180? Lol I'll take a picture next to mine for ya. I'm 6'6", 280. ]

how do you fit in it?!