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  #1  
Old 10-08-2008, 09:24 AM
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Smile Sold the Accord, bought a Mini!

Hi all,
just bought a Mini (the original type, as opposed to BMW's MINI) for my wife, though i suspect i'll be driving it just as much. She had one before, about 8 years ago, but never actually drove it a lot. She deemed the Honda to be a bit too big for her. These cars are a hoot to drive, probably the closest thing to having your own street legal go-kart and they're one of the few cars that just put a smile on your face the moment you get behind the wheel.
Handling (non PS) is pin sharp, and the 1275cc engine is quick and responsive. The ride can be best described as 'bumpy' and not a car for long country runs, but great fun none the less.
Were these cars ever officially on the US market?

just think Michael Caine and the Italian Job

Except for the red boot, sorry, trunk lining, the car is exactly the same as this one -



http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Mini/Cooper/car/1119476/


most Minis on the Irish market, well those in decent condition, are almost exclusively ex-Japanese market cars. They were built in the UK, and are RHD, and come with some nice extras such as aircon, which wasn't a standard on the Euro market, and wooden dash.

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  #2  
Old 10-08-2008, 09:29 AM
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Good Sport! Alex Issigonis will bless you from on high!
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  #3  
Old 10-08-2008, 09:34 AM
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There a fun little car alright Carleton.

I wouldn't say no to a MINI, but i'm much happier with the original of the species (i mean my wife is much happier )

Was the Mini ever sold in the US?
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Old 10-08-2008, 09:35 AM
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Originally Posted by tc20 View Post
Hi all,
just bought a Mini (the original type, as opposed to BMW's MINI) for my wife, though i suspect i'll be driving it just as much. She had one before, about 8 years ago, but never actually drove it a lot. She deemed the Honda to be a bit too big for her. These cars are a hoot to drive, probably the closest thing to having your own street legal go-kart and they're one of the few cars that just put a smile on your face the moment you get behind the wheel.
Handling (non PS) is pin sharp, and the 1275cc engine is quick and responsive. The ride can be best described as 'bumpy' and not a car for long country runs, but great fun none the less.
Were these cars ever officially on the US market?

just think Michael Caine and the Italian Job

Except for the red boot, sorry, trunk lining, the car is exactly the same as this one -

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Mini/Cooper/car/1119476/

most Minis on the Irish market, well those in decent condition, are almost exclusively ex-Japanese market cars. They were built in the UK, and are RHD, and come with some nice extras such as aircon, which wasn't a standard on the Euro market, and wooden dash.
Very cool, tc! I've longed for a "real" Cooper since I was a kid but I'd take a nice Mini if I came across the right one. I'm getting closer to that possibility. I'd love to see people's reactions as I unfolded my fat arse from it.
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  #5  
Old 10-08-2008, 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by tc20 View Post
There a fun little car alright Carleton.

I wouldn't say no to a MINI, but i'm much happier with the original of the species (i mean my wife is much happier )

Was the Mini ever sold in the US?
Yes, they were sold here through a good part of the 60's before emissions and safety issues came into play.

I came across a Mini Moke (which would be a nice addition to my currently non-existent Mini collection ) at a car show over the summer that was for sale but I just didn't have the money for it. There are some Clubmans out there, too.
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Old 10-08-2008, 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by SwampYankee View Post
Very cool, tc! I've longed for a "real" Cooper since I was a kid but I'd take a nice Mini if I came across the right one. I'm getting closer to that possibility. I'd love to see people's reactions as I unfolded my fat arse from it.
Isn't always the way - you never see 110lb, 5'6" guys getting out of a Mini
Ah sure it all adds to the fun
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Old 10-08-2008, 09:48 AM
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Originally Posted by tc20 View Post
they're one of the few cars that just put a smile on your face the moment you get behind the wheel.
You got that right !!

One of the things I look forward to the most when visiting my wife’s parents in Derbyshire is scooting around the country roads in her Austin Cooper S (she left it there for them to watch over, though I wish she’d have it sent over here). I’m thinking it’s a ’64.

An absolute blast to drive. Can not be done without a smile on your face. Even if it is from the wrong side of the car and on the wrong side of the road!

Enjoy your new (older) toy !!
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Old 10-08-2008, 09:52 AM
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I HAVE to drive one of those. They look like a lot of fun. I would think the BMW version of the mini would be preferable to the original. Most of the people I've known who owned British made cars seem to spend as much time fixing them as they do driving them.
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Old 10-08-2008, 09:54 AM
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Congrats and enjoy the ride.
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Old 10-08-2008, 10:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Dee8go View Post
I HAVE to drive one of those. They look like a lot of fun. I would think the BMW version of the mini would be preferable to the original. Most of the people I've known who owned British made cars seem to spend as much time fixing them as they do driving them.
Yes you do. A real treat.

I’d imagine the older Austin/Coopers are a whole different car from the newer BMW variants though. Power management on the hills comes into play with the older ones. Not to mention, they are far more like a go-kart with a body.

As for English auto maintenance. I’ve heard that too. But you have to ask: Where they fixing, or just tinkering?
I don’t recall doing much fixing. DJ has an ’04 XJR that’s pushing 60K and has never needed anything beyond routine PM. We have a ’53 MG TD that runs on forever so long as you keep its carb happy. I have been into it a few times.
Now that’s a car you can always tinker with!
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Old 10-08-2008, 11:36 AM
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Originally Posted by WVOtoGO View Post
An absolute blast to drive. Can not be done without a smile on your face. Even if it is from the wrong side of the car and on the wrong side of the road!
Oh a real hoot to drive, i nearly find myself wanting to pull the handbrake to take every corner
In comparison, getting into the Merc is like driving a sofa...also cool, but in different ways.

And ahem, but i think you'll find the steering wheel is on the correct side

Thanks everyone for your kind comments.

Regarding the MINI (BMW version) i'm sure they're a good blast to drive too, especially the Cooper S version, but side by side to the original, its almost double the size. So not so mini after all
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Old 10-08-2008, 12:00 PM
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And ahem, but i think you'll find the steering wheel is on the correct side
Only if the correct side is the right side. The hardest thing to get used to was shifting left handed.

It is exactly like this one. These pictures look orange but the ad states red. If this one were in the US, I might even go have a look at it now that you’ve sparked my interests again. Not sure about all/any red tape to buy in Canada and bring it back here. I sold a sailboat to a guy up there and it was a real PITA for him as I recall. Not sure of the other direction. I know it’s been brought up here on the forum before.

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-classic-cars-MINI-COOPER-S-1964-own-a-REAL-mini-W0QQAdIdZ77849030
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Last edited by WVOtoGO; 10-08-2008 at 12:11 PM.
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  #13  
Old 10-08-2008, 01:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Dee8go View Post
I would think the BMW version of the mini would be preferable to the original. Most of the people I've known who owned British made cars seem to spend as much time fixing them as they do driving them.
Blasphemy! They're Mini's in name only, waaay too bloated and Americanized. The originals are so primitive and barebones. There are aftermarket kits to deal with any of those pesky British electronics.

Although if your talking a new diesel MINI Clubman I'm listening...
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Old 10-08-2008, 03:01 PM
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The first car I remember my mother owning was a Mini Cooper, Always failing to start and cutting out in the wet. Shifting into neutral and pumping the gas while pushing the starter was second nature to her after a while. Thereafter she had a Morris Minor. Not as unreliable as the Mini but not something I'd ever want to own myself. Those two vehicles along with my fathers Mazda 323 hatchback left me with a pathological hatred for small cars ever since.

- Peter.
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  #15  
Old 10-08-2008, 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by pj67coll View Post
The first car I remember my mother owning was a Mini Cooper, Always failing to start and cutting out in the wet.
- Peter.
Same with my mother's '67 MG which my father promptly sold once they got married. An amazing, and unfortunate, quirk given England's weather.

But as usual, I need to learn that myself.

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