Wanting to buy a classic mini

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smac, Feb 8, 7:47pm
SO answer my questions.

socram, Feb 8, 8:24pm
Then skip it!

franc123, Feb 8, 8:36pm
Sorry pal but an old Mini is not for you, they are cool little cars that can be very reliable but these days if you arent a DIY person they will be somewhat expensive to keep on the road if you are running to the garage frequently for even just maintenance stuff. Socrams comments are bang on, being an intermittent long time owner myself.

foxdonut, Feb 8, 8:39pm
Walk away.

smac, Feb 9, 6:12am
Well I say the opposite - those things are the reason to get a mini. Hell that's whygot interested in the first place - they are an ideal car to learn the basics on.

socram, Feb 9, 6:26am
Normally I'd agree, but the original poster doesn't come across as a person who is keen to learn and for that reason alone, I'd say no.This doesn't appear to be a post from an enthusiast.
Your comment is spot on though as I grabbed a handbook when I bought my first mini and later a workshop manual. In later years, it was a case of swapping engines in the driveway, buying rolling shells and repowering them, fitting hotter heads, replacing clutches and so on and I still profess to have very little real mechanical knowledge.

I still have a stripped, reconditioned short engine with a pile of still wrapped new components (998cc - plus CVJs etc) plus a well worked 1300cc engine with less than 200miles of use (with gearbox), tucked at the back of the garage - which may have to go very soon to finance my retirement lifestyle!I am just reluctant to say goodbye to all the Mini stuff though, as I had my first in February 1967 and have never ever been without a Mini since.

lordv81, Feb 9, 6:37am
How many car mags do you have!or car web sites stored in your favourites!if its zero then you need to start helping yourself.If you dont know anything about cars and want to own a classic or older car then you should be buying up any old magazines with stories and imfo on the car you want.Take a class in basic car maintenance.Minis are good fun,I have some great memories of minis from when I was in my late teens.Back then you could buy a dunger for $50 and thrash it all day.

richardmayes, Feb 9, 7:28am
Another lovely thing I've just remembered - the main wiring loom to the back of the car runs along the edge of the exhaust tunnel underneath, and halfway along it is fastened in place by a bent-over steel tag that extends out of the floor panel. On some cars the sharp, roughly-sheared-off edges of this tag can gradually cut through the insulation and short out some or all of your rear lights!

But in saying all that - smac and lordv81 are absolutely correct -
they are an enormous amount of fun; go-kart like cornering, and when you get it up to 90-100km/h you will feel like you are going 200MPH.

Do it, we need more new drivers for old cars.

the-lada-dude, Feb 9, 1:40pm
those 731 cams were sh.

socram, Feb 9, 2:14pm
Really!Not according to David Vizard, but what would he know!

Great cam for fast road use. Docile enough for everyday motoring, unlike the Formula Junior cam (544!) or the full race 649.
Ran a 731 cam for several years. Didn't stop me winning my class (up to 1300cc road-going modified) in the UK Midlands Area the last time I competed in the UK - and that was with a very tired engine indeed, with low compression due to a couple of broken rings, just before I had the engine fully rebuilt.

poppajn, Feb 9, 2:17pm
My boss has a strecthed limo one.

mgmad, Feb 9, 2:30pm
Have to agree with socram, the 731 is not a bad cam at all. Not a full race cam by any means, but very tractable through the mid range and good power for a road engine. A great cam back in the day and still popular, although there are now better fast road cams around.

pebbles61, Feb 9, 4:18pm
Your no. 1 problem will be rust in a mini, if you want a something close, but better for longer trips, get an Austin/Morris 1300. Will also be cheaper than the mini.

smac, Feb 9, 5:13pm
I just call 'em donors.

pebbles61, Feb 9, 5:18pm
Tis' a shame, as the 1300 is the better car I reckon. Even better is an 1800.Or our OP might like an Maxi _b

mgmad, Feb 9, 5:42pm
I agree, although the MG and Riley versions are even more fun with the rear ARB and Cooper S spec engines. Would quite like a 2-door MG 1300.

pebbles61, Feb 9, 5:57pm
I'd love a Wolseley 1300 to go with my 1800.Or make an MG 1800

scoobeey, Feb 20, 8:55pm
your talkin about antiquated machinery.if you really want one go for it.just forget the comfort lol

deflatedpumpkin, Feb 20, 8:58pm
ya don't get a classic mini for luxuries. you get a classic mini for its characteristics, nostalgia and novelty!

hehe yep, antiquated machinery, but i can damn near guarantee that my twin turbo subaru legacy won't be going strong when it's the same age as my mini :P

geedubu, Feb 20, 9:17pm
I've always wondered about this, but I don't think the Wolseley/Riley/MG versions had the real deal Cooper S engines.Twin carbs & other bits, for sure, but NOT the full-on 1275 CooperS block & head-to-crank! An expert may comment!

socram, Feb 20, 9:21pm
And therein lies the appeal of older cars - if it has anything with a microchip in it, chances are that a few years down the track, the car will be sidelined because minor electronic spares will no longer be available and no one will be able to fix them without robbing a donor car.
The original kiwi way of using number 8 fencing wire and a hammer won't be enough.
Not just microchips either.Last time I checked, a replacement headlight unit for a specific popular 1980's small car, was more than I paid for the car!

socram, Feb 20, 9:25pm
Correct. Same applies to the 1275GT.Cooper S head was different, with an extra stud (or two!) and better valves.

scoobeey, Feb 20, 10:36pm
amazing the subaru is goin at all lol

mgmad, Feb 21, 5:53am
1275GT, from memory, was quite a bit lower spec than the Cooper S wasn't it! MG 1300 (and I think Riley) still had big valves and better cam and were the same, or very similar, power to the 1275 Cooper S - but yes, different head and block castings, the Cooper S was the only 1275 with tappet covers if I recall.

Spridget, and I think 1275GT, were noticeably less power, in the case of the Spridget mainly so it wasn't quicker than the MGB.

ceedoubleyou, Feb 21, 1:11pm
I have a 44 yr old classic and it drives like a truck, but it never fails to bring a smile to your dial when you are behind the wheel and everytime is an occasion. It gets looks of approval from all other road users, even primary school age kids give a wave when you drive past :-)