Innehållsförteckning för June 2024 från MiniWorld

As this is my 13th issue as editor of MiniWorld, it occurs to me that I’ve been in the role for exactly one year. It’s a quirk of publishing that many of the titles we think of as monthly are actually published every four weeks – and as there are 13 four-week periods in any one year, we end up with a schedule that brings a ‘bonus’ issue of your favourite magazine. Sadly, though, this also marks my final issue as editor. With an opportunity to pursue other projects (including being editor of a bi-monthly sister title to MiniWorld), and with only so many waking hours in any one day, sadly something had to give. Moving on from any magazine is never an easy decision, but this much-loved title is…

A car that’s been a MiniWorld project Mini for over 20 years – affectionately known as Sheldon – is about to hit the market. Former editor, Karen Drury, Sheldon’s current custodian, explains: “Over the years, the MiniWorld team has had many adventures in this unique Mini, but it’s now just as we want him to be. Our magazine project Minis need to evolve so that we can document changes via the magazine, and so we’ve made the difficult decision to allow a lucky new owner to enjoy using the Mini so that we can focus on other projects.” Sheldon started life as a 1990 Racing Green limited edition and was re-shelled in 2003, using the first ever bodyshell produced by British Motor Heritage, by MiniWorld’s technical editor, Tim Mundy. It…

Over the years, MiniWorld has featured many Minis restored by Steve Burkinshaw, a world-renowned expert on coachbuilt Minis. His latest project, however, involves the restoration of a lightly modified 1275 Cooper S – and Steve, along with Mick Cleasby, can take the credit for the immaculate result you see here. “For over 12 years, Mick has been my right-hand man,” says Steve. “He started his apprenticeship in July 1959 with the Morris dealership, Stewart and Ardern in St Albans, Hertfordshire, and over the years he went on all the factory courses that he was offered. Later in his career he ran his own company in Watford, reconditioning gearboxes and engines, but since his retirement in 2004 he’s been helping me two days a week. I should say that he is…

There’s certainly no shortage of classic Minis undergoing restoration right now, a situation that’s obviously the norm these days. And while many such cars get handed over to skilled specialists for them to work their magic, it’s always refreshing to see a neglected example brought back to life in someone’s private garage at home. Despite the common drawbacks of limited space and tools, a home-built resto can often provide an incomparable bonding process, especially if family members are involved. Splitting the costs between them, James Drury bought this 1979 Clubman saloon as a project to work on with his dad, Dennis, with both men going on to find the whole experience hugely enjoyable and highly rewarding. “My interest in cars stems directly from my dad,” James explains. “He used to…

2024 April 28 Mile of Minis Starting from MINI Plant Oxford at 8.30am, this fun road trip takes participants off the beaten track across Oxfordshire and into South Warwickshire. The final destination (currently under wraps) is described as “truly magnificent”. The event is a fundraiser for Buttle UK, and the cost of entry is £28 for a team of two. www.italianjob.com/mile-of-minis May 2 Mod ’n’ Mini Night At London’s Ace Café on the first Thursday of every month, from 6pm. All Minis and their owners welcome, enjoying good food and a great atmosphere. https://london.acecafe.com 4-5 Donington Historic Festival Another major event for historic motorsport fans, this year’s highlights will include the HRDC Dunlop Allstars (for pre-1966 sports, GT and touring cars), the Gerry Marshall Trophy (for pre-1983 Group 1 Touring…

30 years of Fastest Mini The Mini Spares Fastest Mini in the World (FMitW) race will be celebrating its 30th anniversary at this year’s action-packed event, taking place at the Mini Festival Brands Hatch over the weekend of August 3-4. The series has come a long way since its very first outing at Silverstone in August 1994, which saw 26 cars competing across four different classes. From the beginning there have been some amazing cars on the grid, including KAD and Jack Knight spaceframe Minis featuring highly developed A-series engines. These super-quick early machines were expertly piloted by Peter Baldwin, Bill Sollis and Martin Short, with Sollis picking up the first ever FMitW winner’s title. Every year since, the grid has comprised exceptional Minis with outstanding levels of motorsport engineering.…

NEC auction’s Mini sales The Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, which took place in late March, had some fascinating Minis going under the hammer as Classic Car Auctions (CCA) hosted its latest sale at the NEC. And among them was a ‘garage find’ 1970 Mini 1275GT with just one former keeper and an indicated mileage of 55,000. Now in need of major restoration and guided at £7000-£9000, the project GT ended up changing hands for £6188 including fees. Performing strongly on the day was a 1964 Morris Mini Pick-Up that had been carefully restored by a previous owner and was being offered for sale in superb condition, with impressive detailing throughout; its sale price of £21,375 (against an estimate of £15,000-£18,000) reflected the level of interest. Looking like…

Photo shoots don’t always go according to plan, but this was an exception. We’d headed to rural Herefordshire to meet the owner of one of the world’s earliest surviving Mini Pick-Ups, an affable enthusiast called Chris Spaett. The sun was shining, the countryside location was perfect… and the sight of a particularly well-restored Mini commercial being driven with gusto as it headed towards our camera was a real joy. It was one of those memorable days. Of course, any well-preserved Mini Pick-Up is a vehicle worthy of a feature. They’re hardly commonplace even on the Mini scene, but this one’s particularly interesting thanks to its age and history. “I’m only the third owner to date,” explains Chris, “and I’ve got lots of paperwork as well as old photographs of it…

There can’t be many UK-based Mini enthusiasts who haven’t at some point paid a visit to what’s now known as the British Motor Museum, based at Gaydon, Warwickshire. First opened in 1993 by the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust to house its collection of preserved vehicles, it has gone on to be further developed and massively extended over the years. If you’ve not been for a while, here we’ll reveal some of the Mini highlights from one of our favourite automotive venues. But of course, there’s nothing better than seeing them for yourself; so whether you’re planning on going to this year’s National Metro & Mini Show on June 2, or you fancy making a special trip to this easily accessible (just off the M40) venue, make sure you add…

A charity fundraising gathering of all Minis (classic and modern) is taking place on Saturday, June 15 at Tower Fields Sports Ground, Finedon, Northamptonshire, with all proceeds being donated to Horses for Good – an organisation that rehabilitates rescued horses and uses equine therapy to help children and adults with mental health struggles. The admission cost is £10 per car (no matter how many occupants) and is strictly by ticket only. For ticket booking information, search Facebook for ‘Minis at the Tower’, join the page, and then see the Eventbrite link in the Featured section at the top of the home page. The organisers tell us that ticket numbers are limited, so early booking is advised. If booking as a club, you just need to nominate your own event leader…

The three-day Classic Car & Restoration Show, held at the NEC, Birmingham in late March, proved to be another resounding success, attracting just shy of 27,000 visitors to enjoy the demonstrations and live projects of over 160 exhibiting car clubs. The team from Practical Classics magazine completed the assembly of a just-restored Mini Countryman throughout the show, while visitors were also treated to interviews and expert panels featuring Ant Anstead, Richard Hammond, Paul Cowland and Gary Mavers. Dominic Chinea from BBC’s The Repair Shop, Sheldon Nichols of Dream Car Fixers and Derek Matthewson from Bangers & Cash: Restoring Classics all made their Restoration Show stage debuts. The Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership competition saw 20 finalists’ cars on show, with David Shepherd-Jones’ superb 1970 Mini Clubman being awarded third place.…

Prices include VAT R1 conversion kit The latest exciting news from Mini Sport is the launch of its R Division’s new R1 Motorbike Engine Conversion Kit, created to transform your Mini into a high-performance powerhouse. Designed for seamless integration, the kit provides everything needed to install a Yamaha R1 engine into your Mini, boosting its power to 150-172bhp (at up to 11,000rpm) without any body modifications. The end result means you’ll experience lighter, faster and more thrilling drives via a kit that, according to Mini Sport, “redefines motor racing cost-effectiveness and performance”. Check out the website for the full spec. £5650 +44 (0)1282 778731 www.minisport.com Chrome handle set New from Mini Spares are these chrome door and boot handles, which come supplied as a set with the same key numbers,…

Restoring a car, whether a ground-up restoration or a running project, is not an easy task. From a working point of view, the degree of difficulty will depend on the skill and knowledge level of the restorer; and from a rebuilding perspective, it will depend on parts availability. Read any general article about restoring Minis and it will say anything from “parts availability is excellent” right through to “absolutely everything is available”. The first statement is very true, especially when compared to most other classics… and the second would be great if it were true! Mini parts availability is indeed excellent, and we are lucky to have some great specialists, some of whom have parts remanufactured. But for the parts that are not available, it’s necessary to either find them…

Since early 1959, rumours had been circulating at the BMC Competitions Department workshops in Abingdon, where cars were prepared for rallying. It seemed that a new small saloon was on its way, likely to launch at that year’s Earl’s Court Motor Show. Designed by Alec Issigonis as a town car, the newcomer would be 10 feet long with front-wheel drive and a transverse engine layout. Hardly the most likely machine to join the Works team, was it? Nevertheless, arranged through the good offices of Neville Challis, the department’s super-efficient stores manager, the first 848cc Mini was delivered to the Competitions Department in mid-1959, much to the amusement of the Works mechanics. How could they make this little car capable of withstanding the rigours and traumas of an international rally? Nicknamed…