Classic mini
 

  You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more

[Closed] Classic mini

54 Posts
34 Users
0 Reactions
162 Views
Posts: 0
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Anyone here drive a proper mini? If so what model,

Soon to pick up a 1990 Cooper RSP-S 🙂


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 12:35 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

what's an RSP-S?

Had a few mini's but don't llke them in LHD format so not anymore 🙁


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 12:39 pm
Posts: 8177
Free Member
 

1990? That's not a classic! 🙂

My mate restores them, this is his '63

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 12:41 pm
 Jase
Posts: 27
Free Member
 

Very nice, they seem to hold their value really well.

About 10 years ago I had a one with a 1293cc in it. Was very quick but my partner wouldn't get in it as the inside would smell of petrol!!!


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 12:42 pm
 Jase
Posts: 27
Free Member
 

Isn't the RSP the limited edition cooper when they first relaunched it again?


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 12:43 pm
 Mike
Posts: 4
Free Member
 

That's blood lovely Jason, youre mate has done a cracking job on that one. I've one of the last 'classic' minis made '00 Cooper sportspack in blue/silver...had about half a dozen before that, love em!


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 12:43 pm
Posts: 8177
Free Member
 

He races too every now and then 🙂

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 12:45 pm
Posts: 373
Full Member
 

Had minis for years, last one was a '74 clubman with 850 engine in it. Great fun to drive when in tip top condition but by jings do they need a lot of maintainance and repair, lots of skint knuckles and swearing during those times. Had three minis, every one scrapped due to body work, and every one of them shared the same engine and rear subframe.

have fun!!


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 12:53 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

pretty much the only cars I've ever owned myself (other than a year with a smart)
No car at the mo myself (share other half's Alfa at weekends)
really miss 'em, Will get another in a year or so purely for weekends

this is the one I miss the most
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

My Brothers building something like this at the moment.
He's said I can borrow it too, I can't wait 8)

[img] [/img]

Minis are great


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 1:00 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I have a friend who owns one (it's currently broken), he's properly into photography and just picked up his first mountain bike last night, he's also expecting his first baby. You have to be rich to have that many Money Pits.


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 1:03 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Haha! Awesome, maybe we should start a STW mini massive!!

An RSP was the LTD ED Cooper when its was relaunched after it left the line up in 1971. RSP stands for Rover Special Projects.

The 'S' pack was an performance option offered by John Cooper garages endorsed by Rover.


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 1:06 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

yeah they can definitely be money pits I know I spent £000's on some of mine

Bikes are my main money pit nowadays, still want one though,

Next one will be fitted with a steel flip front though
I too have had enough of grazed knuckles etc
my hands used be a right state when I used to have my Turbo one (up there ^), there was next to no room for anything in there


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 1:15 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

From this:

[IMG] [/IMG]

To this:

[IMG] [/IMG]

I miss that car 😥 It was/is my first car. Its tucked up in the garage at home whilst I'm at uni. Using that green beast as a bike transporter 😈 Its quite nice to have a shit car.


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 1:19 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I was hoping this was about skirts and with pictures! 😥 there were a lot of classic mini's around in the sixties...bring em back i say 😉


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 1:19 pm
Posts: 8392
Full Member
 

Got some 10" Cooper steel wheels propping stuff up in the garage, and some minifin brake drums too. Any use to you guys?


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 1:22 pm
 ski
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I had one of the last 1275 carb version (91) Coopers, before they went over to fuel injection.

The 'S' pack was an performance option offered by John Cooper garages endorsed by Rover

If that's the 85-90bhp conversion they did, you will love it.

Mine was fitted with this kit as an upgrade and transformed the car. Smiled ever time I took it out.

Have you seen some of the prices a decent classic Minis are fetching now!

Mine, clean for once:

[img] [/img]

Never did like the spots on the front of mine. If I had one now, I would love to have a early MK1 or Mk2 in old English White, no stripe, no large wheels, totally standard.


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 1:25 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
Topic starter
 

PJ266 - I had a felicia estate for a bit too, it sure was good to have a proper battle wagon! It's now in Mongolia...
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 1:25 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I worked for Rover back in 1990 when it was launched and had never realised it was called the RSP...

I was fortunate enough to work on the introduction of the fuel injected version which came out a couple of years later. Even better was that my own modified injected version was a convenient base for calibration of the engine management system for the Cooper S version.
That was a great car. I sold it to get a Rover 114gta. Stupid stupid stupid


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 1:31 pm
Posts: 0
 

1985 Mini Mayfair

Love it! Light blue, but no pics to post.

Had it since I was 17, wouldn't swap it for anything. Could do with some work, still, I've got loads of time to imagine all the things I can do with it before I finally have the money.


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 1:34 pm
 ski
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

If you have not already alexonabike, check out:

[url= http://www.rsp-cooper-register.co.uk/ ]http://www.rsp-cooper-register.co.uk/[/url]


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 1:35 pm
Posts: 1430
Free Member
 

I had a 91 Rover cooper, red with white roof also with an su carb. I hade it Stage 1 tuned with an janspeed LCB, K&N filter and RC40 exhaust. Set up on a rolling road, went from 63 at the fly to 65 at the wheels..... mucho fun. Only span it 3 times!

Sold it 10 years ago as the rust was beginning to get out of hand. Ever since every time I have driven a twisty B-road I wished I hadn't. Occasionally my wife has said she'd get me another one....


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 1:37 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I had a MkII Mini 1000 and later a Clubman 1275GT. Loved both those cars although they were both falling to bits.


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 1:48 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Cheers for the link Ski, Already there! 😛


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 1:51 pm
Posts: 3
Free Member
 

This went to the great rust heap in the sky a few years ago 😥
It was my first car, had it for 4 years, so much fun on 10s with s discs. Will get another one when I can afford to buy/run a nice one

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 2:00 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Damn that's Schweeet!


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 2:01 pm
Posts: 1
Free Member
 

I share an 81 City with my son, we've (I've) sorted the suspension and brakes and next on the list is fitting the 1275 we've got lying in the garage.


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 2:04 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

My old one

[img] [/img]

They are ace fun. I used to take this one round roundabouts in third gear, foot flat on the floor, one rear wheel off the ground. A reet giggle.


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 2:06 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Here's a cutting question - can minis and bikes mix?


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 2:07 pm
Posts: 3
Free Member
 

Here's a cutting question - can minis and bikes mix?

Yes! I had two people and two bikes in mine regularly. Not always the cleanest or most scratch-proof bike transport though.
I seem to remember Jenny Copnall having a nice bike rack on hers. I may have made that up though!

More pictures please


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 2:11 pm
Posts: 2
Free Member
 

I had one of the later 1275GT's. Engine was smoking like hell when I bought it so it got rebored, put a stage 2 head on it and a twin delorto carb (38 I think), it absolutely went like stink. It was reasonably quick in a straight line but where it really excelled was in the corners.

At the time the car drivers that were really up for a race were XR3i and cosworth drivers. The 1275 would leave an Xr3i without even thinking about it but the cosworths would be up my arse until we got into some twisty lanes and then they'd disappear.

Great little car. Apart from the bodywork and radiators.

edit: And here's a bloke facto. I can barely remember the first time I had sex but I can remember my first cars registration - fnd 515v


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 2:11 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Yeah course they can, get a Paddy Hopkirk roof rack and you're away

If I could get this mother of a Kayak on then a bike or two will be no trouble
two's probably the limit though with kit

[IMG] [/IMG]


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 2:14 pm
Posts: 17
Free Member
 

Never saw the appeal to be honest, used to get driven to school in one as a kid, too small then! Though I do kinda like the one a mate had, was very similar to this:
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 1430
Free Member
 

my 97 klein attitude used to drop behind the front seats in the rear footwells with the wheels off. also had a roof rack for it. and went all over with my longboard on the roof, and camping gear in the back

damn I'm nostalgic now.....


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

My parents had one it was 91 i think, brg mini cooper with white stripes and white roof and the john cooper signature written in the stripes. The bought it new and collected it from the importers. It was the first car i drove at 11 on the drill square.

Since then i have been besotted with them but ive not had the money for a decent one or to keep a crappy one going.


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 2:19 pm
Posts: 3
Free Member
 

Keith, stop willywaving 😯


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 2:19 pm
Posts: 17
Free Member
 

Keith, you are aware of the law about overhangs on vehicles ? (max of 60% of the distance between the front wheels and the rear of the vehicle IIRC).


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 2:33 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I had a 1990 Checkmate in British Racing Green with a white & green mouldy roof! It was only a 998cc but I did the following:

K&N Air Filter
Tuned Exhaust
LCB Manifold
998 Cooper S Head
1.5 Rockers
Electric Cooling Fan
Modified Carb & Inlet Manifold to Vizzard Spec
Stainless Brake Hoses
EBC Pads

Tantrum 600.4 Power Amp
Alpine Sub, 300W
MB Quart Component Speakers & custom fibre glass pods
Marantz Head Unit & Changer

It used to go like stink!! Easily beat a 1275 and many other hot hatches. Have no idea on the top speed, speedo only went to 90 I think, it just kept on going! Fitted Weller 8 Spokes, didn't handle as well, didn't slide predictibly, steering felt numb, so took them off.

Great fun, I miss it, but it was also a money pit!

I dont have any pictures, because it looked totally standard The rust on the A-Panels, Scuttle, Doors, Boot, etc; fooled a lot of people into believing it was a banger!

It did spend more time off the road than on the road, but that was the whole point... It taught me a lot about cars, and why mechanics hate working on them.


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 2:39 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I had three,

'78 Pickup, 998cc, very cool

'84 saloon, 998cc bright orange rustbucket, full length sunroof, bullbars and 12" alloys (orange)

'94 Cooper, 1293cc white with black roof. Ended up binning the fuel injection and having a single SU with stage 3 head, yada, yada, got to 95bhp!

I loved them all, especially the cooper but the tin worm got to it. I have to content myself with a Lancia Integrale these days... 🙂

PS. That blue turbo is beautiful...


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 2:42 pm
Posts: 91
Free Member
 

I had an old english white pick up. 1400cc, 10 inch wheels, Cooper S discs.

A pal restores them. Mostly 60's Cooper S models. he has an awesome works rep.
http://www.theminiworks.co.uk/


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 3:53 pm
Posts: 40225
Free Member
 

Here's a cutting question - can minis and bikes mix?

With regards to carrying bikes: I used to get one inside my 1984 Mini Ritz to go racing, but I did have more spare time back then (it took a while).

Answering the question more generally: The saying used to be "have a crash, lose your legs" - I think because the steering column was rumoured to have a habit of crippling drivers in accidents.


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 3:54 pm
Posts: 40225
Free Member
 

Still the coolest car ever made though.


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 3:55 pm
Posts: 17
Free Member
 

You obviously define cool different to I, but each to his own - they do have a certain uniqueness, and still look fairly appropriate on the roads today, moreso with the revival of smaller cars.


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 4:00 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

yep coolest car ever imo too 40 + year in production can't be wrong
no car is ever going to beat that now I doubt

coffeeking, I was assured by a friend who runs a trailer and roof rack centre that it was 1m past either end of the vehicle which I was just!! about within.

not exactly like anybody was going to miss it 😉


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 4:03 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

The RSP is the one to have if it's good it's probably the best Mini 'investment' model. I've got a British Open Classic - the most fun car I've ever had - Roll on mid life crisis 3


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 4:20 pm
Posts: 17
Free Member
 

keith - looks a lot longer than 1m over to be honest, otherwise I'd not have mentioned it! Must be the way it looks in the image 😀

Regulation 11 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 refers to the permitted overhang on certain classes of vehicles

Heavy motor car and motor car - the maximum overhang is 60 percent of the distance between the transverse plane which passes through the centre or centres of the foremost wheel or wheels and the transverse plane which passes through the foremost point from which the overhang is to be measured.

60% of the distance from the front wheels to the rear of the car. Or, if its a frontal overhang, 60% of the distance from the rear wheels to the front of the car.


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 4:29 pm
Posts: 8
Free Member
 

998 Cooper S Head
sorry for being a pedant but Cooper S were 970, 1071 or 1275, Coopers were 998, Cooper S head was also 11 stud not 9 and if fitted to a 998 block the valves would hit the block as all Cooper S had same bore and capacity was varied by stroke length 😳


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 5:26 pm
Posts: 12
Free Member
 

My first car was always going to be a mini - and it was: £300 for a badly handpainted 1975 850. Which promptly had a NOS 998 dropped into it, some lovely black centred minlites and a beautiful respray in BMW Mauritius blue.

I left it in storage at my parents' house and was going to restore it when I discovered last year that my mother had sold it. [url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/being-disowned-bydisowning-your-family ]I very nearly disowned her for that..![/url].

My father, in 1996 bought one of the official Rover convertibles, which he owned as a second car for a few years, and my sister had a Cooper in around 1995 (actually, she had two, having written the first off).

Now, none of us own minis, but i hope those who had our cars have had fun in them..! Well, especially my father's mini, which was bought by a lad from German, who came over with his girlfriend, tried to pay with a German banker's draft and were distraught when it couldn't be accepted. They went home (my parents driving them to the airport), arranged a proper transfer, and came back another time to collect. All happy in the end. 😀


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 5:27 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I've worked on a few, this one recently
[img] [/img]

It's what the customer wanted!
[img] [/img]

www.peterflynnclassiccars.com


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 6:32 pm
Posts: 181
Free Member
 

Loved mine...

[img] [/img]

[url= http://www.thosebears.com/mini/ ]more[/url]


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 6:40 pm
Posts: 17366
Full Member
 

Oh dear, I feel an attack of minitis coming on. Was browsing/drooling through a Mini magazine barely an hour ago, and then I see this... 🙂


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 8:52 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
Topic starter
 

here's the one soon to be mine!
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 9:25 pm
Posts: 293
Free Member
 

Had loads of mins 😀 fave was a 1340 clubman with a beam axle, de seamed very quick.

Had a couple of pick ups would be worth a fortune now. Cant believe the money they make these days.


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 9:32 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Votchy i think he meant the 12G295 Cooper head.

I've got a 72 1000 in the garage, needs some attention as it has been stood for a while since i got into mbikes and working abroad.

Did all the normal mods and is now a RSP replica, 80000miles of abuse through my teens and early twenties.

It will fly again........along with all the other projects i have......


 
Posted : 12/02/2010 9:49 pm
Posts: 1
Full Member
 

My first car was a 1275GT - sh1t to a blanket......... also had an 1100 clubman at the same time.

So much fun.

Always wanted a Kent Auto Developments conversion. Wonder if they still make them.


 
Posted : 13/02/2010 11:11 am
Posts: 1
Full Member
 

Yep they do google rocks 180bhp **** my old boots 😯

http://www.kad-uk.com/16v-engine.htm


 
Posted : 13/02/2010 11:12 am

6 DAYS LEFT
We are currently at 95% of our target!