Innehållsförteckning för February 2018 från Mini Magazine

It might be cold outside and many of you will have your Minis stored up ready for the better weather. But we’ve got the usual impressive selection of feature Minis this month. First up is Mark Harden’s new build. Mark’s no stranger to these pages; his (now departed) turbo’d Clubman a memorable feature car. The idea for Mark’s second, more grown up, build, was to make a more usable Mini. The result is this Connaught Green creation; packing 170bhp of Vauxhall power. There’s definitely more to this Mini than meets the eye, see what you think. Nicola Jeffrey’s Woody was her dream Mini, but it could have turned into a nightmare if husband and Mini Spares Director, Justin, wasn’t able to call on his Classic Mini colleagues to save this…

January 28 2018 British Mini Fair The largest indoor Mini event in the UK, organised by British Mini Club. Expect over 100 trade and autojumble stands, Pride of Ownership display, Premier Concours Finals, club stands and a charity auction. This is a great event for buying parts to finish off those winter projects! www.britishminiclub.co.uk May 6 2018 MkI Action Day Superb classic Mini track event, encompassing a social evening on the evening of Saturday May 5, with a full day of track action on the Sunday. A full itinerary, pricing and booking details will be available soon, and there will be a maximum of 60 track places available. The event will be raising funds for Cancer Research UK. mk1-performance-conversions.co.uk May 13 2018 British Mini Day British Mini Club’s first outdoor…

There are certain magazine feature cars that live long, and Mark Harden certainly had that box ticked with his maiden Mini build back in October 2009. With its awesome hard-as-nails looks and turbo motor, pictures of his now-departed Yukon Grey Clubman turbo are still premium internet clickbait, even more than eight years on. That left him with an extremely difficult act to follow, but the difficult second album has been a resounding success. And with 170bhp of Vauxhall X18XE1 power stealthily concealed under that standard-length front, there’s clearly a lot more to this stunning Connaught Green creation than first meets the eye. Having sold the Clubman in parts back in 2012, Mark went for a more mature vibe this time around. “The grey one was really stripped out and track-focused,…

I was sat in the bar after completing a mammoth task to the Stelvio Pass back in 2013 when I started thinking ahead to my next silly road trip. I decided it would be much easier for the language barrier I had encountered on the continent, to have a look around the famous Emerald Isle. I had the small matter of the hole I had poked into the doorstep of the Mini, which turned into a complete rebuild in 2014 (See ‘On the Job’, December 2014; issue 232). I had a few false starts in the following years until the announcement of the International Mini Meet (IMM) in Ireland 2017 came. Seizing the opportunity, and the cheap ferry tickets, I rallied round my usual comrade Glenn but he was unable…

COST From £25 on eBay or Mini forums for a donor gearbox. (Or under a hay bale in a barn...). DIFFICULTY The last Mini gearbox rolled off the production line some 17 years ago, and the last Metro (for so long the engine donor of choice) was made 27 years ago, so it is little wonder they are starting to wear out with replacements dwindling. Some later MPi ’boxes are prone to wear more quickly due to factory stocks of shims and thrust washers running out as production wound down. Instead of being able to assemble things to precise tolerances, a close-is-good-enough attitude prevailed with the inevitable consequences. On most normal gearboxes, second and third gears in particular wear out with that tell-tale crunch (or even worse a graunch) as…

“Ignition timing is affected by the fuel mix. A richer mix will burn faster...” Let’s start at the beginning. A petrol internal combustion engine works by getting a good mix of fuel and air, and compressing and then igniting it. This causes the explosion which pushes the piston down - of course the bigger the bang, the more power that combustion will produce. Looking at the ignition part of the process in particular, what we need is a nice strong spark at the right time. If you ignite the fuel too soon, then you will get ‘pre-ignition’. Push this far enough and you can damage the engine, if you ignite it too late, then you simply don’t make the most out of the fuel you have. THE RIGHT TIME? So…

Although I’ve now stepped down as editor of Mini Magazine, you certainly haven’t heard the last of me on these pages. The Mini fleet is just as big as ever, but it’s two cars that have been somewhat neglected in recent times that have come under the spotlight this month. First up is my Blaze 1275 GT project, which has been little more than a primed rolling shell for more than a decade. However, a convoluted deal with Ryan Cowley means it should finally get a coat of paint during 2018. The only flaw in this plan was that the Mini was in Suffolk, and Ryan is based near Tamworth. Thankfully though, my pal Paul Raynes offered to trailer it for me. Well sort of – we picked a freezing…

Being Keith Dodd’s daughter, Nicola grew up around the Classic Mini. Her dream was to own a baby blue Woody, although it’s taken her 27 years to achieve it – she’s been working for the family business since 1990! “It had been bodged up to sell so we decided this Mini needed to be saved” BOUGHT UNSEEN It was husband Justin that spotted this Morris estate first. “I saw it advertised on eBay in early 2015 for about the right money, so I rang to seller.” It was advertised as complete, but wasn’t a runner. “The engine was installed but not plumbed in and the bodywork was described as good - it just needed finishing I thought,” Justin explains. Sold by a guy on behalf of his mate, this Woody…

• The Department for Transport (DfT) has released its long-awaited definition of a Vehicle of Historic Interest (VHI), this is important as it will define classics that will be exempt for taking an MoT test. More importantly, it also defines how modified classic vehicles should be dealt with. To sum up, basically it means that if your Mini was manufactured or first registered over 40 years ago, from 20 May 2018, it will be exempt from needing an MoT – but you can still have it MoT’d if you want to, and won’t be forced to register your it as a VHI (Vehicle of Historic Interest). Also, if your 40-year-old Mini has period mods or is a coach-built special you will be able to register it as a VHI -…

The Mini illumination Convoy has gained popularity each year and in 2017 saw 60 cars register to take part in the free event. Not only is it a chance for Mini enthusiasts to meet, but it also raises funds for Cash For Kids, a charity for children who are disabled, disadvantaged, or suffering from abuse and neglect. To make the event even more spectacular it was themed ‘A little party never killed nobody’. The showroom was dressed, Mini staff dug out their best Halloween costumes and had their faces painted by Katie Louise Make-Up Artistry, and participants were encouraged to not only come in fancy dress but also accessorise their cars, with prizes up for grabs! A variety of modern and classic, stock and modified Minis gathered outside the showroom,…

RUSTY BORIS Name: Callum Bartholomew Car: 1987 Mini Advantage Location: North Wales • I bought my 1987 Advantage, which I called Boris, when I was 16. I owned him for about two-years before I started getting adventurous with his look. At the start of 2016 I came across a product called ‘RustyPaint’ on Facebook. It is paint that you roller on to your car, sand, and then magically it would rust! At first I didn’t want to paint any of the panels that were already on the car as I didn’t know how successful this paint was going to be, so I ordered a fibreglass bonnet and boot lid to test it out. Then, after painting the boot lid and bonnet I finally plucked up enough courage to do the…

When it comes to Minis, the multi-point injection (MPi) models are the automotive equivalent of having your cake and eating it. Launched in late 1996 and subject to the most dramatic updates in the car’s entire 41-year history, the MPi boasted unprecedented levels of refinement and safety, together with plush interiors and more optional extras than you could point your Mini-branded battery-operated razor at. Putting rust issues to one side, here was a Mini that still had plenty of the fun factor, but with no need to mess about with frivolities such as rotor arms or dizzy caps. Thanks to their comfort and usability, it’s little wonder that MPi Minis remain popular as a first foray into Mini ownership. And that’s exactly the situation for both examples you see here,…

ARCH EXTENSIONS Q I’m looking to replace the black plastic arches on my 1994 Mini Cooper with some Group 2s so I can fit the chrome trim along the whole length of the car. Some say they would screw on the standard holes left behind by the Rover arches, but when I did this around 20 years ago to a late ‘80s Mayfair I’m sure I had to drill new holes. Can you shed any light on this? Mel A The answer here is that there are a number of different types. The original Group 2 arches were used by the BMC Works team in the 1960s. That’s a fair amount of time before the plastic arch extensions were developed for fitment to the Italian-made Innocenti models – and later…

had an up and down season with small grids being common. I did the Mini Festival at Brands at the last minute and tooled around at the back with the amateurs. The gap between me and the more ‘Pro’ drivers has become more noticeable, with the lap record for historic Minis shaved by half a second. Suspension and tyres have come under scrutiny too, and I’m still stuck in the ‘basic’ class. For instance, the tyres are around £150 each and the idea is to have them cleverly shaved and change them after limited use, whereas I put new ones on the back till they’re ‘worn in’, then put them on the front and use them till they’re hanging! Always a favourite, I did the Gold Cup at Oulton with…

The Golden Jubilee of his Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Wadddaulah, Sultan and yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, on 5 October 2017, marked the 50th anniversary of the accession of his Majesty to the throne of Brunei Darussalam. The Golden Jubilee celebrations were a momentous occasion; marked with a number of popular activities including a meet and city convoy by the Mini Owners Association. This event was supported by QAF Auto’s MINI Brunei and started from the Park View Hotel Jerudong, with all members of the Mini Owners Association gathering between 8-10am for breakfast. More than 50 Mini Owners Association members and their Minis made the trip from all over sultanate then drove to the capital city to congregate, share and showcase their cars with fellow enthusiasts. This event…

“It needs everything doing; I don’t think it’s been on the road since the early 1980s” PROJECT PROFILE THE OWNER NAME: Ian Chilcot AGE: 38 OCCUPATION: Security LOCATION: Herts THE CAR: CAR: 1961 Morris Mini Super START CONDITION: Rolling shell with panels removed CONDITION NOW: Shell on a spit TIME TAKEN SO FAR: Owned four years but work only started in spring 2017 – two children under three taking up my time! I try to dedicate an hour a week, even if that is reading, searching for parts, cleaning bits, etc. ESTIMATED TIME OF COMPLETION: Not any time soon! All Ian wanted originally was a cool car to travel to university in, but he couldn’t afford a hot hatch or the insurance. So, he decided he rather fancied a Classic…

Sharing your life and home with a partner who has been Mini-obsessed since his youth is bound to wear off after a while! Eve Joslin’s husband, Simon, is a well-known Mini enthusiast, collector and restorer, having bought, restored and sold countless Minis. Simon is driven by finding something that needs a bit of work and bringing it back to life. So when AJB 4B – a completely restored replica of ex-Works Mini AJB 44B – came up for sale in 2016, Simon didn’t necessarily think he’d add it to his collection. But there was no harm in looking… AJB 4B was well known in the Mini scene at the time, with the reputation of being among the best of the Works replicas out there. When they met seller and restorer,…

The Japan Mini Day celebrated its silver jubilee in 2017, with the second of its two major 25th anniversary events taking place at Lake Hamana, Hamamatsu, on 5 November. In contrast to the April’s track-based gathering at Tsukuba, this was a much more traditional affair, with a great array of static highlights and some fantastic cars on display. Organised by the J-MSA (Japan Mini Specialist Association), the event attracted Minis from far and wide, with many camping overnight. As ever, specialist Minis traders were present to sell their goodies, while a flea market offered show-goers the chance to pick up a few bargains. For example, plenty of cool Japanese market wheels were up for grabs, many of which would’ve been unfamiliar to UK-based enthusiasts. Further highlights included a special display…

MINI MKI BOOT LID Closed or Open Frame £229.24 The correct boot lid could be the finishing touch for that MkI or retro rebuild and now you can buy closed, double-skin or open frame single-skin versions from Mini Sport. This reproduction boot lid features a shaped pressing for the number plate and lamp. It can be ordered from Mini Sport as part number 40-10-70-3A for the Closed Frame, or 40-10-70-2A for the Open Frame. • 01282 778731 • www.minisport.com ENGINE STABILISER BAR AND BUSH KIT £4.60 All of the torque action from a Classic Mini’s engine is controlled by the stabiliser arm (or steady bar). If you’re still using original type rubber bushes in your bar then think again; they only have a limited life. Modern polyurethane bushes are far…

My Mini life started in 1992 shortly before I passed my driving test at the age of 17. The car in question was a 1973 Mini 1000 in a slightly unfortunate Mustard hue. It was my first car, and I loved it. But that love wasn’t to last. My first accident was about a year after passing my driving test. It wasn’t completely my fault; you see old Mini’s had drum brakes, which were pretty ineffective. A car in front of me braked, but my Mini didn’t. An old chap’s Opel Kadett was my brake in this instance, and he had a Mini 1000 embedded in the back of his once immaculate Kadett. As he got out to survey the damage, he walked around the cars. To add insult to…