Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2018 i Mini Magazine

Production might have stopped almost 18 years ago, but thanks to innovative owners such as Paul Young, we’re still seeing project cars taking the Classic Mini formula to new extremes. So what has Paul done to make his Pick-up stand out? On top of replacing the A-Series engine with Honda VTEC power, Paul has extended the cab for more space and even moved the petrol tank to behind the seats. The result will certainly split opinion, but it’s a beast of a Mini that you certainly won’t miss. Especially with those wide arches, one-off wheels and the bespoke interior. See what you think with our full feature. From one extreme Mini to another, with Harry Orridge’s Tweed Grey, 16-Valve future track star. A winner at Mini In The Park 2017,…

It is summertime, where drop-top motoring becomes more popular. Perfect time then, to be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the original Rover-built factory Convertible. This Mini Convertible wasn’t quite the first though, as the limited-edition, German-built Lamm Cabriolet came two years earlier in 1991. It was offered to test the market before the official Rover car, Lamm Autohaus, removed the roof prior to sale in the UK, and it was an instant hit with all 75 vehicles selling immediately — making it one of the rarest Minis ever produced. At launch, the Mini Cabriolet cost almost double that of the 1993 Classic Mini and was available in just two colours - Caribbean Blue with a Grey hood or Nightfire Red with matching hood, and featured new 12-inch diameter Revolution wheels…

Twenty-five Minis were registered to compete and these gruelling military roads certainly took a few victims with Peter Ellerby/Ben Anderson, losing 1st and 2nd gear half way round Stage 2! Clive King/Anton Bird and›Colin McDowell/ Brynmore Pierce had more bad luck, having to retire early, whilst Paul Price/Tom Bishop›retired after Stage 5 having blown their›head gasket. Shane Gamble/Bob Ward unluckily had a drive shaft go on Stage 3, resulting in Shane and Bob having to limp their Mini out of the stage. And the bad luck didn’t stop there, as Stephen Robinson/Daniel Nieroda were on their way to placing 3rd in MC4 on their first time out on Epynt, before this was taken away by gearbox trouble. Craig King/Clare Bird (son and daughter of Clive and Anton), teamed up for…

It’s amazingly been five years since Mark Forster and Pete Flanagan of the MkI Performance Conversions website decided to team up for an event. And their fifth Action Day took place on Sunday 6 May at Blyton Park’s circuit. After the previous four windy and chilly Action Days, this one made you almost melt to the Lincolnshire tarmac, freshly laid by the new owners of the circuit, Ginetta Cars. The show started on the preceding evening with a lovely talk by Broadspeed Mini racer extraordinaire John Fitzpatrick. ‘Fitz’ told the audience how he got hold of his first Mini in 1960 and started tinkering straight away. But when he arrived at a Birmingham forecourt to fill it up, the garage’s patron came out and told him with no mercy that…

Mark’s “Mini involvement”, as he calls it, started about eight-years ago, when his son Harry was just 13 and had a keen interest in old cars. Mark kindly offered to buy him a Mini if he did well at school. He did, and an Inca Yellow 1978 1000, which Harry still has to this day, soon followed. Harry went on to restore that Mini himself, keeping the colour but converting it to MkI look, with the lights and grille, he also converted the doors to look and operate like MkI doors complete with external hinges, handles and the sliding windows. Anyway, Mark got involved in sourcing parts via the internet, mainly eBay, and this, along with attending shows, was the start of both their Mini passions. This MkII wasn’t even…

With such a decorated motorsport pedigree, it’s little wonder that the pseudo-track car look continues to be such a popular style amongst budding Mini customisers. But while some will be happy to draw the line at some stickers and a noisy exhaust, Harry Orridge’s creation has the bark to more than back up its visual bite. Indeed, the 25-year-old from Nottingham has ensured there’s a whole lot more to this one than mere appearances. Working almost entirely at home with his dad, Harry has masterminded the transformation of a once-tired Rover Cooper into a twin-cam monster with genuine motorsport credentials. Oh, and did we mention it’s a show winner, too? “When we first saw the car it was on the side of the A46 on top of a van!” TOTALLY…

Grey paint all over my hands and the floor seems to be a reoccurring theme. While tinkering with the subframes, I took a good look under the floors of the race car and it wasn’t pretty. Clearly a previous owner had taken a few trips across the gravel traps for fun, as there was barely any paint left under there. Seeing as I’m probably going to do the same, a quick dab of paint would have probably done the trick, but I don’t like to bodge. Luckily the grey interior and underside turned out to be a RAL colour, which is easy to have mixed from most auto paint shops. Mixed with the U-Pol Raptor under-body stuff I mentioned last time, then applied with a solvent-proof roller (the first ones…

Nostalgia is a thing of the past. At least that’s how it appeared to many during the 1980s. As the ’70s drifted away, off went Starsky and Hutch and The Bionic Man and whatever did happen to the Likely Lads? Glam Rock was wrapped up in Spandex and thrown in the bin and you couldn’t buy a decent pair of flares anywhere. As the new decade took shape no one in stonewashed jeans sporting a mullet would be seen dead in an Austin Maxi or an Allegro, never mind a Morris Minor. The modern young driver wanted something sharper. Offerings from the major manufacturers - including the new front-wheel drive Ford Escort, the Golf MkII and Peugeot 205 - certainly came with up-to-date styling and with fuel injection, they were…

• The Herts and North London region of the Mini Cooper Register is proud to announce that the talk by motorsport legend, Stuart Turner, raised an impressive £700 for the charity Race Against Dementia. The audience at the United Reformed Church in Potters Bar was entranced and entertained by Turner’s tales from a life of co-driving, journalism and team management of the factory BMC and Ford rally teams. The evening, which provided a unique insight into over 60-years of motorsport, included a special message from Sir Jackie Stewart who set up Race Against Dementia. Tales from his past were abound and included Steve McQueen and Ringo Starr along with Fangio, Clark, Moss, Cooper, Issigonis, Hopkirk, Aaltonen and Timo Makinen to name but a few. If you get the opportunity, we…

For some the love of Minis is very much a family affair, as we found out when we ventured up to Morecambe in Lancashire to meet father and son team Peter and Jon Wood. The dedicated duo certainly know their way around Minis, with Peter buying his first example in 1962 and going on to own several more including his beloved supercharged 997 Mini Cooper – a car that he bought brand-new in 1963 and still owns to this very day. Peter’s passion for engineering was first fostered in the early ’50s, when he gained his first work experience at Pye Motors, the local Rootes car dealership in Lancaster. After a stint of national service and a brief return to the dealership, he then gained employment at the Scotch Filling…

What can’t you do to a Classic Mini? Despite edging its 60s, owners such as Paul Young keep on striving to make something different and keep our favourite small car current. As you’d expect, this heavily modded Pick-up isn’t Paul’s first Mini. Oh no, as Paul’s very first car was a 1967 Mini which he bought back when he was 17, over 40 years ago, he tells me with a smile! “I left school, went to work with my dad at a local garage and trained to become a panel beater and sprayer. Amongst many other vehicles which I would modify with my friends, I always owned a Mini.” Paul worked for this garage for a few years, before going out on his own and setting up Panel Craft when…

COST X-Pin diff C-AJJ3385 - £177.00 – Mini Spares MED ATB - £714 Diff covers GW-DAM0133B - £50.00ea - Guessworks DIFFICULTY The various types of differential have been covered in previous technical features so we won’t go into huge detail again here. Basically, a standard diff is fine for a standard car and a crosspin diff is a sensible upgrade for anything modified or upgraded as they are much stronger and essentially bulletproof. Rebuilding a standard single-pin diff is as simple as changing the pin (and planet gears if they’re worn) whereas a crosspin diff is more fiddly. The Mini Spares X-pin diff we’re using has the extra pin crossing in an X instead of + shape as this allows a stronger alignment of the extra holes and avoids having…

Q I’ve noticed a grinding-type noise in fourth gear when I’m driving at lower speeds. As soon as I get up to 50-60mph the noise is drowned out by the engine. I find it strange that it only does this in fourth gear and not in any of the other gears, though. Do you have any idea what the problem might be? The car is a 1982 Mini 1000 HL Estate with the standard 998 engine in place. Rick Grimmer A Noises of this type tend to be caused by gearbox bearings or shafts becoming very worn or failing. The fact that it is happening only in fourth suggests it may be either the large single roller bearing that carries the first motion shaft, or the needle roller and/or layshaft…

“This is real world Mini physics which involves hot engines and cornering speeds” One of the first geometry changes that Mini owners do is to the camber. It’s very easy to change the bottom arms at the front and put adjustable camber brackets on the rear. The terms ‘negative’ and ‘positive’ camber refer to the way that the wheels lean. If you put a spirit level vertically on a car wheel, you will see that it will lean in at the top (negative camber) or out at the top (positive camber). A wheel which is vertical has 0° camber. What are the advantages of the different types? The different types are used to react to the way the suspension geometry changes and weight shifts whilst cornering. Negative camber is applied…

So this month I have been trying to sort through boxes of parts. I was getting very frustrated as I was having trouble finding everything! ‘ROT’ seemed to be playing hide and seek! I was missing the wiring loom, heater and steering column and despite checking the workshop and home for them many times, I eventually found them on top of the paint booth! With all parts found I set about sorting through them. All the metal items such as the pedal box, heater and steering column were stripped down so they could be sent off to be powdercoated. Whilst stripping down the steering column I noticed a button on top of the cowling which was not a factory item. Upon inspection it was wired into the ignition switch as…

• Mokes were out and about in the English Midlands to participate in the UK Classic Car Drive It Day, which this year coincided with the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Mini Moke Club, in April 1983. Many original members and Mokes were present as the convoy progressed from pub to pub (so nothing has changed in 35 years!). Much reminiscing was done, with lots of old stories told, and most members wondering where all that time has gone! Still, on this occasion it was agreed that when you’re in a Moke, time is the least important thing on your mind! We hope there are many more years of Moking to come!…

There’s no doubt that Classic Mini values are on the rise, but are we really at the £40,000+ price point for the latest, unregistered, delivery mileage Sportpack cars? Well, yes it would appear that we are. As former Editor Ruggles saw one of the last 500 cars, unregistered with just 15 miles on the clock and finished in Solar Red, sell for an amazing £44,950! Described as being ‘stored correctly’, this surely isn’t a Mini you could use, but more of a static display vehicle. On sale at specialist car dealer Tom Hartley JNR, this car appeared to have sold as we went to press and no one at the dealership was available for comment.…

Once again the Mini Seven Racing Club put on the best races of the weekend on the new Clubmans circuit layout at Pembrey, South Wales. . The Miglias/Libres went first, and after 17 laps, pole-sitter Aaron Smith completed a superb display of defensive driving to hold on from a rejuvenated Colin Peacock in his fully rebuilt car, and reigning champion Rupert Deeth in third, with Rob Howard, Dave Drew, Dave Edgecombe, returning after a six-year gap, and Alfie Brown scrapping over the remaining top six positions right on the leaders’ tails. In Libres, newcomer Alex Osborne looked set for the class win before pulling off with mechanical issues, allowing Peter Hills to come through after a close duel with 2017 overall winner Peter Crewes, the latter then dropping to third…

UPGRADED MAYFAIR Name: Jack Waller Car: 1000 Mayfair Location: Maidstone, Kent • Jack’s Mini started life as a 998cc Mayfair auto when he bought it aged just 16! A lot has changed since then, as he converted the engine to a 1275 manual with twin carburettors and a custom airbrushed rocker cover. On top of the engine, Jack’s also fitted four-pot brake callipers, Hi-Lo adjustable suspension, adjustable camber, braided brake lines, a three-inch bore exhaust, bucket seats, interior lighting, engine bay lighting and loads of other upgrades — but he’s going to let the pictures do the talking. Jack admits that none of this would have been possible without the help of his dad. MKI BARN FIND Name: John Plant Cars: 1967 MkI Cooper Location: Halesowen, West Midlands • Amazingly,…

Rules are rules, and up till now to qualify for free tax your Mini had to be manufactured before 1974. With MoT exemption only applying for cars built before 1960, but that’s no longer the case. Already a complicated process, it seems that many early Minis qualified to go tax free, but we’ve not heard of many, if any, that are MoT exempt. Don’t get too Excited at the thought of no longer experiencing the anxiety of watching an MoT tester prodding and poking your pride and joy though. The first thing to mention is that if your Mini is heavily modified you’re going to struggle to get MoT exemption. Although some modifications are allowed. Anyway, I’ve tried to cut through the confusion to give you this guide. WHY ARE…

“The best option here would be to buy one of each of the gasket types to have on hand when you do the job” OIL LEAK Q I have a very large oil leak coming from my Mini City, which looks to be coming out of the end plate on the differential housing. Can I fix this with the engine in situ, as I’ve heard there may be problems with getting the right pre-load on the diff. Also, should I use any sealer on the new gasket? I’m worried that if the gasket is too thick, I may run into problems with the diff. Dan Escritt A The diff side plate seals and gaskets can be renewed with the engine and gearbox assembly still in the car. You will need…

We’ve all dreamed about having our own individual car. But some dream about designing and making their own sports car. In 1968 one John Houghton dreamed up a rival to the popular Lotus 7 using Mini running gear in a space frame with a fibreglass body. He aimed to sell 100 Biotas in 1969. He actually sold 31 by 1974, when the project died. Fast forward to the late ’90s and I had a local friend called Bruce Harding, who was into quirky cars, and particularly Mini-based kit cars. He found a Biota and restored it, which was a labour of love pre-internet. I helped him with some bits and stayed regularly in touch. He dutifully used it quite a bit, even going around the M25 trying not to get…