Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2026 i MiniWorld

Do you remember what it was that got you into Minis in the first place? Perhaps you had one as your first car, or your parents had one when you were growing up, or there was someone in your neighbour hood with a particularly desirable example. Maybe you were glued to the TV watching Paddy Hopkirk bouncing through the snow, or were caught up in the glamour of The Beatles and Twiggy and Peter Sellers’ Minis. It might have been The Italian Job. Whatever it was, it’s more than likely that you have a story. Because that’s what makes these things so beguiling and enchanting – the Mini is not just a functional means of transportation, it’s something with character and a soul. This is very much in evidence with…

The desire to own a classic car sometimes stems from childhood, usually the family car of the time, or it could be memories of your first car. If a particular car is fondly remembered it is always interesting to see if that car is still on the road, and if it is, in some cases to try and re-acquire it. From the number of posts that appear on social media it seems this is something that is becoming increasingly popular. I have every sympathy with this; I tried very hard to find a Mini which was owned by my father for many years, and said Mini was also the car that I initially learned to drive in. When I tried back in the 1990s it was not so easy, and…

We all dream of coming across abarnfind Mini that has the potential to become that perfect project, but the chances of discovering an undisturbed 1959 Austin Seven these days are realistically pretty slim. Incredibly, Tony Colley’s luck was in when a family member happened to mention they needed rid of an old Mini during a garage clearout, a car that hadn’t been touched for forty-seven years! Turning such a rare opportunity down was not an option. Like so many of us, Tony’s connection with Minis stems back to his days of learning to drive. “My first car aged 17 was a 1972 Mini Clubman estate,” he remembers. “I bought it from my workmate, Les Watson, to practice my driving skills.” Tony still holds fond memories of that first Mini experience,…

We always love to hear stories of nostalgia at MiniWorld, especially when it involves purchasing examples of the cars we loved back in the day. At 79 years young, Keith Charles worth is of an age to remember the debut of what was set to become a British icon back in 1959, and within a few years he’d purchased an early 1961 Mk1 Mini for himself. “I was 18 at the time and it became my first car,” he recalls. “Sadly, it didn’t last long and had dropped to bits by 1968!” Fortunately this experience didn’t put Keith off the brand, and he went on to buy a shiny new Minivan from the dealership for just £500. And if that deal sounds a bargain today, his other 18-month-old Minivan would…

Goodwood has confirmed that the 83rd Members’ Meeting will take place on the 18th-19th April 2026 at the historic West Sussex venue. The exclusive spring gathering promises two days of world-class racing, demonstrations and celebrations, culminating in a renowned Saturday night party. The 2026 edition will feature a packed program of 13 races, spanning everything from pre-WWI machines in the S.F. Edge Trophy through to classic tin-tops and GTs, as well as motorcycles and open-wheeled Formula Three and Formula One cars. The racing action will be complemented by on-track showcases of historic and contemporary competition machinery, reinforcing the Members’ Meeting’s unique role as both a celebration of motor sport heritage and a stage for modern engineering. Tickets are now on sale for GRRC members. Further ticket details, including sales for…

Just as Chris Dillow was finishing his GCSE exams in 1999, and with a little money in his pocket from a part time job, he heard of a Mini for sale via his best friend. “I used to see it darting about,” he says; Chris had long been a Mini fan and jumped at the chance to buy it. “Since then, I have done anything and everything to it.” Originally a Mini Designer special edition, the car had already been modified, so no shouting at the back. “It had 13” wheels and black arches, and a union flag roof.” Over the next few years, the Mini was cleaned up and a big stereo installed. “It’s quite a way from what it is now,” laughs Chris. “Comfy seats and the like.…

As with so many automotive innovations, the light alloy wheel was born from motorsport. A few exceptions apart (like Bugatti), racing cars used wire wheels up until the 1950s. These were relatively light and allowed the air to flow freely for ventilation and cooling of the brakes. But wire wheels had their disadvantages also. They were nowhere near as stiff as a steel wheel, were more vulnerable to dirt and debris, and were easily prone to damage. Just one bent or broken spoke could cause an imbalance. By the mid- to late-1950s, racing teams began to look for alternatives in the shape of the lightweight wheel cast in magnesium or aluminium. Team Lotus was at the forefront of the developments with its one-piece ‘wobbly web’ design, with no openings and…

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Minis in the Mountains Nestled in the heart of Snowdonia, the picturesque village of Betws-y-Coed played host to a gathering that celebrated one of Britain’s most beloved motoring icons – the classic Mini. The event, aptly named Minis in the Mountains, brought together enthusiasts from across the UK to share their passion for the small car with the big personality. The idea for the event came from three lifelong Mini enthusiasts – Sam, Nath, and James. Bonded by their shared love for the characterful little cars, they envisioned a meeting that would combine the scenic beauty of North Wales with the community spirit of Mini culture. Their brainchild soon became reality, with Betws-y-Coed chosen as the perfect backdrop for the seventh running of this event, winding roads, dramatic mountain passes,…

I was six years old when a Mini first stole my heart. A neighbour in our Exeter cul-de-sac drove a 1974 1275 GT in Mushroom with red vinyl seats, and twice a week I’d squeeze in for the school run with friends. For a boy who’d later grow to 6’6”, the idea of ever owning – let alone comfortably fitting inside – such a famously small car seemed laughable. Yet the Clubman GT had me hooked. With its distinctive square-nose front, longer, flatter, and unmistakably 1970s, it felt different, modern, and just a little bit rebellious compared to the traditional round-nose Minis everyone knew. That childhood spark never quite left me. At university in the late ’80s, a battered 1979 Mini 1000 kept the flame alive. It was shared among…

I have bought a 1275cc engine to fit onto the existing transmission in my 1976 998cc Mini. The engine is to be tuned with a modded head and carb and exhaust upgrades. I am thinking of using the 998 flywheel housing together with the 998 clutch and flywheel which I will have lightened and fitted with a new clutch plate. Will this sufficiently complement the mods or would it be better to buy new lightened flywheel components? Graham Martin The engine should fit onto your 998 transmission without problem but it is essential to ensure that all is in excellent condition – if the gearbox has a significant mileage under its belt, it would be wise to have it rebuilt to avoid future problems. The 998 flywheel housing can be…

Back in 1973, a young architect, Dr Michael Burgoyne, ordered a new Mini as an everyday car. Minis were in his blood – a keen rally driver, participating in many rallies including the Mull Rally along with his twin brother in their 1960s Cooper S. After making a cheque out to British Leyland Export Sales Division for £746.47, Michael went down to the factory to collect his car at the beginning of May. Because of his work, Michael was due to export the car over to Jerusalem, so he didn’t pay tax on the Mini. When the time came to go to Jerusalem in October, the Yom Kippur war broke out so he was unable to export it; meanwhile he was being chased by HM Customs and Excise for unpaid…

The name Broadspeed is probably not the first that trips off the tongue when the subject of the Mini is raised in motor racing circles – but if I tell you a Broadspeed Mini was clocked at over 205km/h (127 mph) you might take notice. I did! This feat that brought the title of Fastest Mini in the World was achieved in 1967 at a race meeting at Australia’s iconic Bathurst race track with Laurie Stewart at the wheel. The event – the challenging Bathurst National Open Meeting, held annually over the Easter long weekend. There used to be two important meetings at Bathurst each year; the Easter meeting and an October meeting – the Gallaher 500 endurance race for production cars where at least 250 had been built and…