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May 10, 2019 10:53:10 GMT
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I saw this yesterday at Pepper Hill Sainsbury’s carpark. Self employed, mobile mechanic driving it. Car made me stop him to chat and take a photo. Cheap to buy, maintain and modify. (Rose tinted glasses?) Just seems to have the right look to me. Rear seats removed, turning it into a small van really. I will start a separate thread on these in a moment as well, but suspect the older ones could be ready for some silly treatment and simple Retro usage. Not looked at them the same way I did at New Beetles a couple of years ago. This thread forum.retro-rides.org/thread/195962/cheap-beetles-option-lower-prices did generate a lot of conversation and opinions. But mostly, I got the feeling it made people think a bit outside the box, like Prozac the Berlingo Please do post up comments, links, pics of the silliness that can now be achieved with these cars. They are possibly not as cheap as New Beetles yet, but have gone below the £1000.00 mark. And for that, one could surely have some fun, even if just cosmetic stuff.
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May 10, 2019 10:54:35 GMT
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PS. No idea where this could go.......
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May 10, 2019 11:03:11 GMT
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May 10, 2019 11:11:32 GMT
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Not the one I posted.
However, I do like it. A LOT !!
Despite the rusted plastic.
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May 10, 2019 11:52:10 GMT
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Google-Fu is strong on this one. Of course there are no cheap cars in this set. But the ideas can be transferred and translated.
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May 10, 2019 13:06:48 GMT
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I spotted this one recently:- Probably not to everyone's taste but anyone who does something to a Mini (Austin or BMW) that's different to the white bonnet stripes and Union flag roof gets some points from me.
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May 10, 2019 13:14:04 GMT
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I did this photoshop wayback when - it's a mini with a Gen 2 Nissan Cube front end. To me it looks proper like a 'Retro modern' clubman. BMW should totally be doing this- mokes, clubmans, pickups. Instead they make parodies of parodies of parodies. I mean—union flag rear lights? C'mon! Clubman front? Yes Please! Ugh.
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May 10, 2019 13:58:10 GMT
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Clever bit of photoshopping! I suppose similar could be done with a Suzuki Jimny front end...
I've got a 2003 Mini Cooper, but the only real 'mod' it has is that I had to remove the exhaust back box this week, after the 16 year old original rusted through and left the (very heavy) box dangling. It sounds quite nice and sporty, so I may experiment with just extending the pipe.
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Frankenhealey
Club Retro Rides Member
And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death
Posts: 3,874
Club RR Member Number: 15
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May 10, 2019 14:41:03 GMT
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Clever bit of photoshopping! I suppose similar could be done with a Suzuki Jimny front end... I've got a 2003 Mini Cooper, but the only real 'mod' it has is that I had to remove the exhaust back box this week, after the 16 year old original rusted through and left the (very heavy) box dangling. It sounds quite nice and sporty, so I may experiment with just extending the pipe. Bit of deja vu here as my first Mini had the obligatory Sprite exhaust box with long centre pipe and a copper tip as it was supposed to make it more 'rorty'! Happy days gone by
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Tales of the Volcano Lair hereFrankenBug - Vulcan Power hereThe Frankenhealey here
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May 10, 2019 15:02:25 GMT
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Early BMW Minis are brilliant. I'll admit that when they were new I wasn't a huge fan, but having matured and actually driven some (and now own one) I'm a total convert. Easy to modify, fantastic fun to drive as standard, timeless looks.
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May 10, 2019 15:48:01 GMT
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I did this photoshop Clubman front? Yes Please! If they'd done that, id own it. When the BMW minis were first released I was going to mini shows quite regular. All I remember hearing was mini people moaning about them, the hate was almost unbearable. I liked them, but I daren't say it. When I was going to buy a car last year I almost bought a mini, but settled on a Cube because of its extra room and oddness. Sometime I wish id bought a mini, that yellow one is a great example of why.
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May 10, 2019 16:03:25 GMT
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I did this photoshop Clubman front? Yes Please! If they'd done that, id own it. When the BMW minis were first released I was going to mini shows quite regular. All I remember hearing was mini people moaning about them, the hate was almost unbearable. I liked them, but I daren't say it. When I was going to buy a car last year I almost bought a mini, but settled on a Cube because of its extra room and oddness. Sometime I wish id bought a mini, that yellow one is a great example of why. I think the main reason that the BMW Mini is so disliked in Classic circles is a 3-fold thing: 1. BMW themselves were incredibly heavy handed at its introduction with the small traders using the name "Mini". They were all sent a letter from BMW's lawyers effectively ordering them to change their business names or face legal action. Given that most of the small traders were enthusiasts themselves it cast a huge amount of bad feeling at nearly all Mini shows. Some gave up rather than change their name or fight an unwinnable fight.
2. In an effort to try to sell their new cars (and you can't blame them), BMW themselves turned up at a few of the bigger shows, effectively gatecrashing with a big "Look At Me" stand and completely missing the point of a Classic Mini show - it was all about the classic, not a vaguely familiar shape in the form of a new car.
3. Better off owners of brand new cars when they first came out started entering them into the Concours areas and just gave their BMW a polish, expecting to simply be accepted.
I am not a fan of the BMW Mini - I think they got the styling wrong, especially around the back and (especially now) it's too big. I can also not forget nor forgive their treatment of the traders as stated above. A retro vehicle? No - only a facsimile of a retro vehicle. But still, almost 20 years old. I love nearly all cars. Just not these ones.
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May 10, 2019 19:08:31 GMT
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Thank you for all the replies. And then f course opinions and social cmmentary too. But love or loathe them, they possibly offer an alternative to a Polo, Corsa or Fiesta. A few more high end examples.
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May 10, 2019 20:42:40 GMT
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If they'd done that, id own it. When the BMW minis were first released I was going to mini shows quite regular. All I remember hearing was mini people moaning about them, the hate was almost unbearable. I liked them, but I daren't say it. When I was going to buy a car last year I almost bought a mini, but settled on a Cube because of its extra room and oddness. Sometime I wish id bought a mini, that yellow one is a great example of why. I think the main reason that the BMW Mini is so disliked in Classic circles is a 3-fold thing: 1. BMW themselves were incredibly heavy handed at its introduction with the small traders using the name "Mini". They were all sent a letter from BMW's lawyers effectively ordering them to change their business names or face legal action. Given that most of the small traders were enthusiasts themselves it cast a huge amount of bad feeling at nearly all Mini shows. Some gave up rather than change their name or fight an unwinnable fight.
Very good point. Id forgotten all about that.
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May 10, 2019 21:02:51 GMT
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I can’t really comment I don’t like them for looks But then I never liked the mgf..until I came to this forum a good while ago and read about them here....so quite possibly these could be a good buy now to modify
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Last Edit: May 10, 2019 21:03:48 GMT by Mercdan68
Fraud owners club member 1999 Jaguar s type 1993 ford escort
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May 10, 2019 21:36:15 GMT
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Oh Grizz A guy at work just said I can have a low mileage 03 plate for a hundred quid the original plan was to MOT it then sell it for a quick profit but......now you have really got me thinking cos at that price it really doesn't matter what I do to it. I do like the simple mods like slightly lower and nice rims.
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1984 Rover SD1 Vanden Plas 2600 Auto 1985 Rover SD1 2300s Auto 2005 MG ZT 1.8 Manual
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May 10, 2019 21:37:39 GMT
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I was wondering, has anyone ever fitted a Rover K-series engine in a Mini R50? Rover originally intended to use them, until BMW went into a deal with Chrysler to make the engines in Brazil (which seem pretty good, from my experience).
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May 10, 2019 21:48:01 GMT
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Ok, these Mini things I'd never had any time for (just like the newer VW Beetles), but looking at them for under £1k, well, there may be the chances of some juices flowing?!
Can anyone explain the engines to me based on their experience, which is the best for which purpose etc. as I haven't got a clue about these Minis? Including if they're BMW engines or they nicked them off some other manufacturer?
Seems there's a 90bhp, a 116bhp, a 190bhp etc. etc.
Also, what are the good specifications to get?
Thanks.
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May 10, 2019 21:53:38 GMT
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They are a BMW/Chrysler-developed engine, as used in the Chrysler/Dodge Neon. It is similar to a Triumph Dolomite Sprint engine, in that a single, chain-driven camshaft is used to operate 16 valves.
The MINI ONE (90bhp) is the same engine as the Cooper, the only difference is in the ECU program, and you can easily get the ONE remapped to match the Cooper!
The Cooper 'S' is of course, supercharged. I gather there's quite a bit of work involved uprating a Cooper to Cooper S spec - not just a simple case of bolting on a blower.
From my experience of owning a 2003 Cooper for just over a year (purchased for £900), they seem to be mostly reliable, certainly fun to drive, and mine returns around 35 mpg on average. Mine has the 'Chilli pack', which includes such niceties as air con, automatically heated door mirrors, half-leather seats, trip computer, etc.
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Rob M
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,915
Club RR Member Number: 41
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May 10, 2019 22:14:05 GMT
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When they first came out I thought they looked bloody brilliant and actually captured the 'what a mini would look like 10 years from now' thing of the original superbly. Maybe we forget that the original Mini was all about capturing sales from people who bought Bubble cars, clever design on four wheels, a 'proper' car for those that could only afford three wheels on their wagon. Its styling icon status happened somewhat later! I agree with the Comments regarding BMWs disgraceful conduct when they introduced the car but it is still a great car in its earliest form. I have never driven one but was taken out in a very early Cooper S by a Mallorcan lady when i lived out there. Bloody hell, what weapon it was!
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