Innehållsförteckning för June 2018 från Mini Magazine

There’s no doubt that Mini owners are a committed bunch, with Mark Hogg being the perfect example. His Vauxhall-powered retro-look ’70s saloon project had endured more stops than starts, until it was completed back in September 2016. I’m pleased he persevered, as the result is stunning with many unique parts. I just hope that he gets out to enjoy it! Graham Parrish always wanted a Cooper, but it wasn’t till the late nineties that he managed to buy his standard SPi Cooper. However, when he found the performance wanting, he turned to the rejuvenated Downton brand after picking up a copy of this very magazine! The result might look standard, but this Mini packs an impressive 90bhp punch. Everyone loves a Mini Pick-up! But, with their current value, restorable Classic…

The historic remains of the Brooklands racing circuit was the place to be for Classic Mini owners on 25 March, for the annual Mini Day. Sadly, despite promise of sun, it didn’t materialise, but I was grateful it stayed dry - especially when you consider that the whole site was under a blanket of snow thanks to the mini beast from the east weather, just a week before. Still, Mini owners are a hardy bunch and as expected there was a great selection of Classic Minis on show from owners and Mini clubs. As well as the Minis on show, which were stretched around the remains of the banked track, there was also a good selection of traders present, and of course the chance to wander around the always interesting…

HELLO MAGMU Name: David ‘Dai’ Lawrence Car: 1990 Mini City E Location: Hampshire • David bought his Mini in 2013. Originally silver with a black roof and a black and red leather interior, he amazingly did the deal over the phone! But luckily it was love at first sight once he’d seen the City in the flesh. Sadly, the reality of buying a Classic Mini sank in a couple of weeks after his purchase, with rust on every panel and a less-than-perfect engine. So David started with a full engine bay overhaul, much needed service, new steering wheel and alloy wheel refurbishment. The engine then received a fresh coat of paint before the head was removed, skimmed and re-fitted with new valve seats, guides and valves. The carburettor received a…

Like so many other owners we feature, Mark Hogg was a Mini fan from a very young age. The first he can remember was his gran’s green Mini from when he was about four-years old. Then his aunt had a yellow Mini when he was around six. “I asked her to keep it for me till I was old enough to drive - I think she scrapped it a short while after that,” he recalls. Yellow Mini or not, Mark remained interested in the marque, but it wasn’t until he passed his driving test that owning one would became a reality. “One of my dad’s colleagues had a really nice convertible project on the go (it had been a Mini Magazine feature car in the past). He gave my dad…

“Reliability has to be the main agenda here, so our advice is to give the engine a full and proper rebuild” RUSTY BORES Q I’m looking to give my Mini 1000 HL Estate a power boost for longer journeys, and have sourced a low-mileage 1275cc engine from eBay for a reasonable price. When I removed the head, the head gasket looked brand-new, but there was some emulsified oil around the back studs, so I removed all the studs and cleaned the block face. The crank tail is very good and three of the bores look good too, but there is a patch of light pitting in one of them. Will this need reboring or is there anyway I can hone it out without dismantling the engine? If it needs a…

I’ve never properly fessed up about what was no doubt my fault when I killed off the motor in my ’65 racer last year. I selected third gear without using the clutch in haste and then the teeth went for a ride around the bottom end! And to add insult, one of the screws that holds the starter motor together had come out and gone around with the flywheel till it got mashed! Being hardened steel it did a good Kamikaze job, requiring a new flywheel and backplate. Luckily, I had a spare comp clutch plate as Lockheed have gone bust one time too many and there is a current shortage of what was the OE-produced item The cam got killed too, and is one of the posh bits that…

The Mini’s status as global icon was no doubt helped by its assembly at factories all over the world, but some of these operations are far better known than others. Most classic car enthusiasts worth their salt will probably know that Minis were assembled in the likes of Italy, Australia and South Africa, but Chile, Venezuela and Yugoslavia too? Perhaps not... It’s a touch ironic that one of most mysterious locations is one of the closest to home – namely Ireland. As well as being importers, the Irish also assembled from CKD (complete knock down) kits from the UK. However, with no build records and no colour charts thought to remain, information is thin on the ground. And with a number of locally-sourced parts including the paint, trim, glass, batteries…

• The British Car Auctions (BCA) sale at BCA Nottingham on 15 March attracted a large crowd of buyers to bid on an eclectic mix of cars. The sale took place during Nottingham’s regular monthly Top Car Sale, which is staged on the third Thursday of every month. With the classic car market going from strength to strength, BCA offered a selection of cars ranging from 1950s saloons to more modern sporting, executive and luxury models. All the cars had one thing in common – the potential to acquire classic status in the future. A 2000 Rover Mini 1.3 Classic Cooper with 49,000 miles made £6,400. Stuart Pearson, Managing Director of BCA Remarketing, said: “Our sale attracted a great deal of interest from trade buyers and private enthusiast. We were…

TRAX, the UK’s ultimate performance car extravaganza, returns to another famous British circuit this summer. The new-for-2018 event - TRAX Donington - which takes place at Donington Park on Sunday 1 July, the day after Japfest Donington, will fill the venue. Headlining TRAX Donington’s attractions will be the track time, which offers visitors the opportunity to take their own cars out on to the Donington Circuit, one of the most famous race tracks in the world, for a 20-minute track session starting from just £25. With all manner of skills catered for, from novice to advanced, this is a unique opportunity for visitors to test their driving skills surrounded by fellow enthusiasts. A huge and diverse range of car clubs will be exhibiting at this year’s event, showcasing the very…

A record 28,151 enthusiasts - an increase of over 3,000 compared to 2017 - headed to Birmingham’s NEC for the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show, with Discovery, to see over 1,000 cars - from rusty heaps to concours stunners. They were treated to amazing vehicle displays and live demonstrations from 159 classic motoring clubs. This event is as much about restoring cars as it is displaying pristine examples. And the Club displays were testament to that. Over on the British Mini Club stand, a MkII shell restored by CRM Auto Solutions had made it to the event despite being painted just three days earlier, and there was room for another of Trevor and Janet Ripley’s significant early Minis. 300 BXM is believed to be the first Mini to…

In the ’80s, David Allen was a young working guy with little money to spare. Minis were his passion and he became quite an expert in fixing, replacing, buying and selling parts! He even had a couple of his friends drive one of his Minis all the way to France, stopping to take pictures right by the Eiffel Tower! David also went to a lot of little car shows and car boot sales back in the day, before the internet! These were the places to pick up Mini parts and learn more about them from other enthusiasts. At one point, David had a garage full of parts and spares, much to his wife’s despair! But with a growing family the Minis had to take a bit of a back burner…

Back in 2007, Stewart’s son Aaron was 16-years-old and enduring that endless year of waiting until he would be granted the freedom of the road. Aaron wasn’t interested in the usual faceless modern hatchbacks to which his peers aspired, though. Here was a young man who was already showing individuality, taste and style beyond his years. Stewart takes up the story: “Aaron said he wanted to buy a Mini and asked if I would help him restore it. I had never owned a Mini or worked on one so I was going into it the project as blind as a bat.” The car chosen for this workshop adventure was a 1978 standard 850 with the usual list of new panels required; floor pan, sills, a complete front end and even…

FUEL FILTER BRACKET £23.40 If you’ve ever had to change a fuel filter on an injection Classic Mini, you will know that it is necessary need to remove the whole bracket in order to remove the filter as the securing bolt is on the wrong side for easy access. This is because the bracket was originally used on other models (Rover parts bin special!). To make life easier, Mini Spares has redesigned this bracket so it splits in half: the bolts are on the correct side so that there is no need to remove the whole bracket from the subframe when changing the filter! Part number WJU10142. • 01707 607700 • www.minispares.com BREATHER ROCKER COVER £140 This polished aluminium rocker cover with breather vents is now available separately from MED’s…

Saturday 17 March saw the first round of the HRCR Mini Sport Cup kick off with the AGBO Stages, organised by Owen Motoring Club. Once again returning to Weston Park, Shropshire, the Championship got off to a fantastic start with 31 Mini crews competing on the day, making this possibly the largest single-make, stage rally Championship in the world! The bitter weather and frequent snow showers courtesy of the mini ‘beast from the east’ caused issues for all the crews competing - leaving the stages wet and slippy, resulting in a loss of traction and poor visibility! However, the Minis battled through, and it was the 2017 reigning champions who once again came out on top - Ray Cunningham and Jared Gill had a flawless run, and proved they were…

May 2-3 2018 Mini Barn Bash Weekend at the Stonham Barns retail and leisure complex in Suffolk with the Ipswich and Suffolk Mini Owners Club. Highlights include a ‘Classics on the Quay’ treasure hunt for on the Saturday, plus a barn party with entertainment and DJ. Sunday is Suffolk Mini Day, with traders, club displays and club games and more. www.ismoc.co.uk May 5-7 2018 Riviera Run Mini weekend run to the Pentewan Sands Holiday Park in St Austell, Cornwall. Entertainment includes Rover cover racing, a fancy dress contest, club games, a show ‘n’ shine, traders, and a scenic Mini Cruise. www.cmcrivierarun.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…

Graham Parish has been around Minis for most of his adult life, in fact a couple of his friends even used to race them when he was about 18 - with Graham going along to support. He recalls: “I remember going to Lydden and Brands Hatch, my elder brother had a 1969 Cooper around that time and my brother-in-law, who’s sadly no longer with us, had a 1962 997 Cooper. We all had Minis in those days, another friend had a Mini Van.” Graham’s own Mini ownership journey started when he passed his test in 1973, with an 850cc 1961 Austin Mini. A ’78 1000, with an ’83 1000cc Mayfair and a ’68 Countryman followed. The Mini ownership bug has even spread through Graham’s family, with his son currently owning…

“Sadly, the days of scrap yards full of old Minis and Metros are long gone” Whether you’re a DIY hero or only just starting out with the Mini’s A-Series engine, when it comes to rebuild time, finding a decent block is an essential first step. Sadly, the days of scrap yards full of old Minis and Metros are long gone, so you’re more likely to find an old engine sat in the corner of someone’s shed than in a running car. The price can vary wildly along with the quality, not to mention the honesty of the seller and previous engineering work! Buying an engine without seeing it running is always a gamble, but choose carefully and you’ll have a decent starting point. Here’s an insight into what to look…

COST Thrust washer (part DAM3181) - £12.30 C-shims – 74p + Gaskets as required from suppliers – Mini Spares, Mini Sport, Mini Mail, etc DIFFICULTY As the end of our gearbox rebuild looms ever closer, this instalment sees the completion of the internals, with only the differential left to assemble and install before it can finally be bolted underneath an engine and put into service. Installing the laygear isn’t a particularly difficult task, but measurement of the endfloat and the thrust washers needs to be as accurate as possible. The same goes for the measurement of the bearing retainer gap and shims, you only want a preload of one thousandth of an inch (or 0.0254mm) on the main double roller bearing, which isn’t very big at all really. The use…

The Mini’s handling is legendary, but there are still any number of ways that this can be improved and there is a dazzling array of bits and pieces ranging from a few pounds to thousands, all of which can improve or indeed worsen the driving characteristics of your car. Before we get into all the technical ins and outs though, it’s worth taking a step back to understand how a car handles and to work out what we want to achieve. The Mini was never designed to be a racing giant killer and rally legend, it was built for normal people, not motorsport Gods. Issigonis had a lot of competition experience but this new little car had to be easy and safe to drive for people with even the most…