Innehållsförteckning för June 2022 från Mini Magazine

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Rover’s special-edition Italian Job Mini, so to celebrate the occasion we’ve brought together a pair of Flame Red survivors. You might have spotted on the cover that they have consecutive registration numbers – and, as you’ll discover in the feature on p.38, these estranged twins have a few tales to tell. Other features this month pick out a broad spread of builds from mild to wild, and the second part of our mammoth Mini buying guide commences on p.72. Now, perhaps it’s time to address the elephant in the room: the MINIs that have been appearing at the tail end of the mag recently. There are a number of reasons for this, with the values of classic Minis being one - the days…

Sale price: £10,125 Photos: H&H Classics If early-nineties Coopers are the type of Minis that flick your switch, then this one really is the Holy Grail find: a one-owner car, made available from a deceased estate, in all-original condition with low mileage. Crossing the block at H&H’s auction at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, this Cooper 1.3i has just 41k on the dial, and was bought new by the late owner from Tom Berry Motors Rover in Leigh, Greater Manchester. It’s evidently always been sympathetically looked after and used sparingly; witness the original dealer sticker and number plates for that money-can’tbuy authenticity. Flame Red paint with white stripes and black leather trim is a desirable combo, and the car comes with a substantial history file and service book. The…

Restoring a classic Mini can sometimes prove to be a seemingly endless task full of unforeseen hurdles. Incredibly, David Bromley could easily have avoided the unenviable commitment of taking on this neglected 1995 Rover Mini Sprite project at all as his dad had just bought him a fully restored VW cabriolet to drive around in. “The VW was a nice car, but it just wasn’t me,” David tells us. “I’d much rather be driving a Mini, even if it means a lot of hard graft to get there.” This is David’s first ever automotive project of any shape or form; armed with a bodged rolling shell, some tools and little else he really has been thrown in at the deep end. Fortunately his dad, Alan, who perhaps may also rather…

Restraint is something of a lost art in 21st-century society. This isn’t anybody’s fault, it’s simply a symptom of the slow creep of social media and the manner in which it’s shifting our patterns of behaviour. Self-promotion has become second nature, and the more ostentatious the peacocking, the more likes and shares can be harvested. But taking a step back from all that nonsense and stripping things back to basics can be a thoroughly refreshing endeavour, and it’s this old-school purity that Ollie Wiltshire has pursued with his wonderfully crafted Mini project. “I love to modify cars, but I try to keep the essence,” he explains. “Less is more. I’ve tried to keep this in mind when building my Mini – it looks relatively standard to the average eye, but…

The Flame Red is one of those special editions that proved so popular the first time around, it came back for a second go. Four specials had been launched at once in 1989, all based on the City: the Mini Racing, Mini Sky, Mini Rose and Mini Flame. The Flame and Racing were a little more expensive, but also more popular as they had an old-school Cooper look – they sold around 1000 units apiece, double that of the Sky and Rose. And in 1990, this success was bolstered by a redux: three fresh special editions arrived, all essentially identical except for the colour; the Racing Green was (obviously) green, the Checkmate was black, and the Flame Red? Yes, that was painted Flame Red. Spec-wise, these specials were again based…

When Lindsay Mitchell started MINI Girls UK, she didn’t realise the impact she would have on so many female MINI owners. Originally, it was really just a bit of fun. The story began in May 2020, when the pandemic was taking hold of the whole world, and the UK had begun to lock down hospitality; as a bar manager as well as a mum of five daughters, this had a dramatic effect on day-to-day life. Being a MINI owner herself since 2018 with an R56 Cooper S, Lindsay was used to going onto forums and Facebook pages, picking up tips and tricks as we all do. However, Lindsay noticed that as a woman asking questions, these were often answered with a sarcastic comment. While it may have seemed a simple…

“ Having never even been in a Mini before, I couldn’t stop grinning after my first drive in this one – I now totally get why they’re so popular!” For Stu Morris, it’s been quite a journey to arrive at this point; after all, we’re not talking about a test-drive of a finished car sitting gleaming on a dealer’s forecourt. No, before he was able to enjoy his debut in Mini-driving adventurousness, he had to build one first. This, indeed, is his inaugural attempt at crafting a Mini – and it’s fair to say that he’s pretty much nailed it on the first try, hasn’t he? Interestingly, it all began a fair few years back with a search for a classic Fiat 500. Stu had been idly wondering about picking…

Springtime saw a new show held down in the South West. Organised by a new events company, Meilleur Mode, Cars on the Green promised to be a big season opener. With around 250 show slots available, a wide range of classics, rods, retro and modern cars piled into the grounds of the historic Downside Abbey, situated between Shepton Mallet and Midsomer Norton in Somerset. Show cars were parked on staggered grass levels outside the Abbey and up on a huge open field, which allowed lots of space to have a good look around the vehicles. Plenty of caterers were on site, along with a double-decker bus converted into a bar and a mobile barber if anyone fancied a short back ‘n’ sides. The sun shone throughout the day and made…

Brooklands Mini Day was back in its usual early-springtime slot for 2022; the previous running had been held back by Covid so didn’t end up taking place until October ’21, which meant we only had a few short months to wait before we were on the hallowed banking again. Shows at Brooklands are always fun, because the historic buildings act as such pleasant set dressing and you’re surrounded by massive old aeroplanes – and this year’s Mini Day was particularly good, because the turnout was simply stellar. A huge variety of Minis and MINIs turned up, a superb fusion of quality and quantity, and there was a great spread of scene icons and fresh builds. Plus, of course, there’s the opportunity to hare up the hillclimb, with its unexpected mid-slope…

“Nuts to your watches! You just be at the piazza at a quarter-to…” Relative time is a troubling concept, isn’t it? When Rover unveiled their Italian Job special edition Minis in late 1992, they were commemorating a movie that had been released twenty-three years before. Those Italian Job editions are now thirty years old. Probably best not to think about it, isn’t it? These special editions were an interesting proposition though. Back in the sixties, British Leyland wanted nothing to do with Oakhurst Productions or Paramount Pictures and refused to co-operate with the filmmakers, so the team ended up future-dating a bunch of 1967 Cooper S Mk1s to wear 1969 registration numbers (neatly ignoring the fact that ’69 cars should have been Mk2s). But come the go-go nineties, Rover bosses were…

It’s a brave new world out there. Every five minutes or so, the major automotive manufacturers of the world announce a new electric car, a new hybrid, or some dolphin-friendly way to get to work. We could debate over many pages whether that’s actually going to ever help the planet (seeing as even Volvo themselves say the environmental ‘breakeven’ point for an EV over a petrol car is around 90,000 miles) but that’s not the point. Many people are buying EVs because of the feeling it gives them – and all power to them. This desire to plug in, turn on and drop out has permeated the classic world though, with myriad firms popping up to rip out the humble A-series that resides within your Mini and replace it with…

ENGINE The Mini’s A-Series engine was used in a number of different capacities from 848cc up to 1275cc. This engine, especially in small bore sizes, is extremely robust and will take some serious abuse before it gives up completely. However, there are a few things to look out for. The usual questions regarding service history don’t really apply to most Minis as they will more often than not be maintained by their owners and so a fully stamped service book is less likely. You should however ask the seller when they last serviced it and how often this was done. Also ask what modifications have been made as most Minis will have been messed around with to some degree, whether that’s just a simple Stage 1 tuning kit through to…

Having done little playing with cars on a track in my own right for ages, I got persuaded by my friend Julian to take part in a sprint at my favourite track in the UK – Cadwell Park. This was in March before the weather was at all warm and reliable. The only car I had available was my ’65 racer which has sat unused since 2019 and there were indeed some actual cobwebs underneath it. It got an oil and filter change and a check-over. I have some 12-year-old Avon tyres and if ever there was going to be a test of their longevity, this was going to be it. At least a) I know my way round Cadwell so I know where it has its awkward bits, but…

Sale price: £14,000 Photos: Car & Classic The Mini 40 is becoming an increasingly sought-after special edition. The final birthday special, just 800 of these were built in 1999, offering a supremely luxurious specification. The interior boasted a full-width alloy facia, leather seats, leather dash-top and gaiters, a CD player, and all manner of pleasing plushness. Outside, you got Sportspack arches and 13” alloys, twin spotlights and a big-bore tailpipe (plus, of course, the obligatory Mini 40 graphics) to create a fusion of luxury and sportiness. A sort of greatest hits of Mini attributes across the ages. And yes, the Mini 40 badge on the bonnet was gold-plated! Three paint shades were offered, and the Mulberry Red (with Grenadine interior) we see here is arguably the more desirable. And with…

Videogames and chips. They’re essentially the cornerstones of a youth well misspent. Although for most people, while these cultural tropes may be formative elements of their existence, they don’t form a structural part of their life’s future direction. But Lee Jones isn’t most people. “At 14 years of age I sold my Sega Mega Drive and bought a crash-damaged 1984 Mini City for the princely sum of £90,” he tells us. “Then I got a job at the local chippy to raise funds to restore and modify it.” It’s a strong start, for sure, and swapping Sonic for spanners set him off on a twenty-five year Mini odyssey. “I drove the car for about a week when I passed my test, and then someone offered me a silly price for…

AUTO FINESSE PRESSURE SPRAYER £24.95 The Auto Finesse Pressure Sprayer is a professional product specifically designed for quick and easy atomisation and application of spray-on liquid products. Equipped with a large 2-litre bottle, this item is ideal for decanting products from their trade size 5-litre containers, or for obtaining the perfect dilution of any wheel, prewash or all-purpose cleaner. The Pressure Sprayer also features an adjustable spray pattern, lockable trigger and tough construction designed to stand up to the rigours of day-to-day industry use. www.autofinesse.com PIONEER FULL HD DASH CAM £69.97 The latest model to join the Pioneer dash camera line-up is the VREC-130RS, a front-facing entry level model that offers a generous level of camera features within a minimal amount of windscreen real estate. Measuring around 6cm square yet…

In the name of proper consumer testing, I’ve been giving the Clubman a bit of a workout for you. It went up to Mini Fair at Bingley Hall, it went down to Mini Day at Brooklands, it’s buzzed back and forth to Kelsey HQ in Maidstone, it’s been getting a lot of regular exercise across the Surrey Hills and beyond. For all those of you who have bought a ticket to win this car, I can assure you that it’s running wonderfully and is an absolute hoot to drive. We’ve been drawing up some proper plans for the next stage of modifications too – the vinyl wrap, the exhaust system, the brakes, various other bits and bobs, it’s all starting to get a bit exciting. Watch this space. And I’ll…

Following the beaten track is OK. No-one will judge you for taking the safe route in life – after all, that’s how the species advances, right? By looking after itself? But there will always be mavericks. There have to be. If you’re following a clearly defined woodland path, sensibly following the blazes painted on the trees to show you the way, it’s worth considering the person who painted them there in the first place. That forest didn’t grow to accommodate mankind, we had to force our way through. Once upon a time, somebody stepped away from the path and delved into the undergrowth, keen to see where the adventure took them, to go where nobody had been before. In the case the appropriately named Super Cooper you see spread across…

Some of you may generation MINI specialists in Sussex, and UK administrator for Club53. I founded SMOG (Sussex Mini Owners Group), and my name is My MINI 1600 GT story starts where my life story almost ended. Against my better judgement - early 2020 in heavy rain - I popped out to meet a friend for coffee in build no.1: a mint condition, low-mileage, fast road Dark Silver/White 2003 MINI Cooper S. Wrapped in bucket seats, cocooned by a bespoke JTD half roll-cage, short-shifting the BKL ’box on my way home, soon to be saved by said seats, cage and - some believe - loved ones up above. Still unexplained, my ‘avoidance of a large object, like a car, in your lane led to the incident…’ The incident in which…