Innehållsförteckning för January 2021 från Mini Magazine

It may say January on the cover - blame the world of publishing - but this is, in fact, the last issue of Mini Magazine for 2020. And with another year passed, we thought we might take a moment to reflect. No-one would argue that 2020 is going to go down as one of the strangest years in living memory. There has been a lot of serious stuff to cope with, but thanks to the good sense of most people, life has continued albeit in a new way. One thing that has really surprised us is the number of project cars which have been brought to completion over the summer. The Mini specialists managed to keep their mail order services running throughout, and as a result, time on furlough for…

Along neglected 1965 Mini Cooper S has been sold by Charterhouse in Sherborne for £28,600. The Cooper S, which had lain in a Derbyshire garage for nearly 50 years, sold at the Charterhouse auction of classic cars on 23rd September. “Everyone loves a project, especially one which has been squirreled away for decades,” commented Richard Bromell of Charterhouse. The S is the latest in an increasingly long line of 'discovered' Minis, being offered at auction in an untouched state. Bidding is always fierce and estimates are usually long surpassed before the hammer falls. It is, though, rare to see Coopers finding the way across the auction block as demand is now so high for the sporting models. Incredibly, the Mini Cooper S was last on the road in 1973 when…

The British Motor Museum has announced it has been awarded £707,000 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure it has a sustainable future. The British Motor Museum is one of 588 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support – with £76 million of investment announced on Saturday. This follows £257 million awarded earlier in the week to 1,385 organisations, also from the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Stephen Laing, Head of Collections said "We are delighted that the Government has given the British Motor Museum a generous award from the Culture Recovery Fund.…

The Mini scene has had a lot to contend with over the last twelve months, but in spite of world events, owners have continued to build and share some stunning projects. We thought we’d take a look at just some of the Minis that have broken cover (and have been on our cover…) over the last twelve months. Sadly, there isn’t the room to include everyone – it’s taken the last thirteen issues to do that – but we couldn’t resist a little retrospective. Even under lockdown, and with the show calendar on ice, the Mini scene continues to demonstrate just how dynamic and diverse it is. We’ve seen an almost unstoppable stream of top quality builds revealed over the last twelve months, everything from pure restos, through trad tuned…

AMERICAN DREAM Name: Eugene Cottman Car: 1987 Mini Location: San Antonio, Texas • Eugene bought his E-reg Mini as a daily driver in late 2005 while living in the UK. He almost scrapped it because of issues with rust and reliability, but instead decided to have the engine refurbished, replace the rusty panels and have a respray. In 2008, he had an accident while driving in the snow and hit a telegraph pole! In 2010, he replaced the 998cc engine for a 1275cc bored to 1310cc. He also upgraded the wheels, arches, brightwork, lighting and ICE. In 2011, he finally got to enjoy his finished car, until he was hit by another driver resulting in a damaged driver’s side front wing and front suspension. When he moved to the US…

The good old, lusty, trusty 1275 A-series has always been regarded as the traditional route to big power in a classic Mini. But costs of such engines and tuning parts are on the increase. As we all know, big power invariably equals big expenditure. Or, at least, it has. Cue Specialist Components. “The sweet spot in the A-series range is getting a new lease of life” Although this Norfolk-based company is still a major player when it comes to engines based on the 1275 A-series range, it has recently been focusing attention on the humbler, underrated and in the main more cost-effective 998. This attention has resulted in the development of a very effective supercharger ‘blow through’ 998 kit. It’s a kit that offers the potential for plenty of usable…

Jack Ward’s daily is a modern Mini; a John Cooper Works. It’s a cracking car. Fun too. But the car that stirs his soul the most, his real passion, is the 1962 Austin Seven he bought in 2018. It was a purchase that actually came about thanks to the ever-active and friendly Mini Cooper Register. “When I bought my first modern Mini, I joined the Mini Cooper Register,” explains Jack. “I like to be involved in things and I currently hold the post of Youth Co-ordinator.” “Going on the regularity runs, and to shows and events with the Register, piqued my interest in the classic Mini. Yes, the runs were enjoyable in the modern, but people seemed to be having more fun in the older cars. I felt I was…

Hinckley-based A-series tuning specialist MED has planned a new project Mini to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2021. Having built an Appendix K historic race Mini in 2015, before supporting several drivers in the Mini Miglia and Mini Se7en series, MED now turns its attention to a fast road car build. The car of choice is a tidy Speedwell Blue MkI Morris, which started life in Rhodesia as a Complete Knock Down export. The 1963 Mini had been sat quietly waiting for attention in Scotland since 2014 at The Mini Works. The original Rhodesian-made tyres are still fitted, while the original 850 engine and Magic Wand gearchange look to be the correct matching-numbers pairing. “When we started looking for a new project, we fancied an external-hinge car of some description,”…

As if Andy ‘Ace’ Harrison wasn’t busy enough working on bespoke cars for customers and the general running of Acespeed… he’s been beavering away behind the scenes writing a book to celebrate 25 years of Acespeed! The book features a foreword from professional racing driver Sam Tordoff. “Lots of people dream about racing cars and Andy has been making those dreams come true for 25 years. Companies like his are the backbone of motor racing. I congratulate Andy on his years at the helm of Acespeed Historic Motorsport and I look forward to joining him and the team on the track for many years to come.” The book offers a fascinating insight into Andy’s past and how his love for Minis grew, as well as taking us through the developments…

With a national championship trophy on his mantelpiece Tomas Pujman recalls a couple of things from his childhood that are relevant to his current status. One is that his father, Libor’s, garage was always full of various Skodas and Ladas being prepared for the next event. The other is that they were both big fans of Rowan Atkinson’s Mini-driving character. Rising costs and a busier business meant that Libor took a break from motorsport… which ended up lasting nearly two decades. A couple of years ago though, thinking he was starting to get on a bit, he decided it was about time to do something he’d always wanted to do; build his own competition car from scratch. “There is plenty of fun in rallying an old Skoda,” Tomas explains. “But…

When we first stepped inside Nick Storey’s workshop, we could have chosen a number of Minis for this feature, there’s so many of them. At first glance there appears to be a few recognisable Mini saloon shells among numerous familiar oddments, but a closer look reveals this place is a true Aladdin’s cave for any die-hard Mini fan. The more you look around, the more rare spares (and cars) you see and we’re assured this unique collection of shells and parts are all destined to see the light of day again as Nick rapidly makes progress completing his various projects. “I first got into Minis when I had a 1960 Austin Seven given to me for my first car,” Nick recalls, “sadly I crashed that one, but I’ve always had…

Someday. You’ll not find it on any calendar. It always comes next week, between Monday and Tuesday (or is it between Thursday and Friday?). It’s going to be a very busy day. We all have something which we’re going to finish on Someday. For Andy Shaw, Someday has finally arrived. “When I was seventeen my first vehicle was a Minivan. It was a typical teenager’s motor. I paid £150 for it and it leaked to the point where every time I drove through a puddle my feet were wet. I sprayed it red, put a set of 10 inch Revolution alloy wheels on it and kept it going for two years,” says Andy, describing the first of a very long list of Minis which he has owned. “In 1990 I…

“A zero emissions classic may be the only option in the near future” During its 40 year production life, the Mini remained close to Issigonis’s original concept. In terms of looks, and indeed, the engineering under the skin, very little changed. Stylists had little room to play, and engineers responded to the demands of legislation, but other than that, the A-series engine that the car had been designed around sat in the engine bay from day one, and powered the last car off the line in 2001. Twenty years after production ceased, the world is changing rapidly. The drive towards zero emission vehicles is unrelenting, and although electric vehicles are nothing new, the technology is at last advancing to a point where it enables battery powered cars to be a…

The heading says “Our Minis” but what helps to keep me amused is that I get to see other folk’s cars that drop by the business and I can enjoy them without scraping knuckles or applying for a new overdraft. Within the space of one week I had someone turn up with a 1275GT on a trailer that he was given for free (on the understanding that he restored it). This sounds amazing as the car in question is about 90 per cent original. However, mechanically it all exists, but the body! We tried to open the bonnet. It opened – but just the outer skin – the frame stayed shut. With the doors shut you could see the road underneath and inside the car as such a gap had…

Customers can now order Swindon Powertrain’s ready-to-fit electric Classic Mini Kit and explore optional EV upgrades, including a 12 kWhr battery pack, motor controller, onboard charger and DC-DC converter. Swindon Powertrain is now offering a stand-alone electric 80kW continuous (120 kW peak) Classic Mini Kit, which can be used in isolation or in addition to a range of aftermarket Swindon Powertrain EV components such as 12 kWhr battery pack, motor controller, onboard charger and DC-DC converter. Suitable for classic Mini enthusiasts, specialists or EV conversion businesses that want to electrify a classic Mini, order books are now open with prices for the Classic Mini Kit starting at £8,850 + VAT and deliveries commencing from December 2020. Created in response to growing customer demand to electrify classic cars and original Minis…

Wheeler Dealers series 17 will return to the UK for the first time in five years. The new series of Wheeler Dealers will continue to be fronted by Mike Brewer, and by a new mechanic, Marc ‘Elvis’ Priestley, who joins the show as Mike’s new co-host. Marc previously worked as a Formula One race mechanic for McLaren, and following his stint with the iconic racing organisation, has co-hosted a number of shows including Wheeler Dealers: Dream Car and Driving Wild. He is regularly seen on screen as a commentator and pundit for Sky Sports. Filmed near the renowned Bicester Heritage Site, a former RAF base known for its historic motoring excellence, Wheeler Dealers will have access to the numerous automotive workshops in the locality. After a memorable few years on…

When Anthony Herbert was very young, long before he could even start learning to drive, he developed a real fondness for cars... and the classic Mini in particular. And it’s a fondness that has endured to this day. “I’ve always had this thing for cars,” he enthuses. “In my youth I watched lots of car videos – a number of these happened to feature Minis, including some that had been built by Z-Cars. That’s how I got the Mini bug!” Although he has a stable of high performance cars – including a fearsome Ultima RS V8 – Anthony has recently been fully indulging his Mini passion. At present, he has a Z-Cars Mini which is in the final throes of a three-year build. This promises to be a boundary pushing…

“We’d imagine the quality varies massively - you only get what you pay for...” THIRSTY WORK Q Could you help me with some advice regarding fuel pumps? My 1978 Clubman had quite a lot of work done to the engine before I got my hands on it. The engine is a 1275 (over bored, I believe, to 1380cc) with 11 bolt head, 1.5 or 1.7 roller rockers, polished and ported head and a performance cam. I don’t know what else might have been done. When I bought it, it had twin 1.25 inch SUs which I have now replaced with a Weber 40 DCOE. The problem I have is that I am not sure the electric fuel pump that was fitted with the SUs is capable of providing enough fuel…

I’m happy to report that the welding on my Cooper is complete. With the final few brackets, fuel line studs etc all welded on the underside, I can now turn my attention to slightly more fun activities - paint! Prep has already started and hopefully this time next month I will have at least a partly painted shell to show you. It’s always good to see a project start getting some colour and it always feels to me like I’m on the home straight once the shell is painted. So with one project starting to really take shape I did what any right thinking person would do, and started another one! I’ve had this blue Sprite sitting in my storage unit for a while, so I dragged it into the…

So in the last month it doesn’t feel like I have made much progress, but in some ways, I have… I’ve been mostly concentrating on the inside of the shell and finding more patches of rust, which is always a nice surprise. Luckily I haven’t found anything too major. I’ve had to do a couple of little local repairs on the lower bulkhead/ front floorpan which seemed to go with ease. I then finished making panels for the inside of the door frames which was also fairly simple (it’s easier with the right tools like a sheet metal bender). Next on the agenda was a job which I’ve never really felt comfortable doing and that is repairing the metal around the front screen aperture. Taking my time with it has…