Just dug out these pics of my dad's minis from the early 70's 
This is Dad's first car, his pride and joy in Feb 1970. It was an 857cc which went through several incarnations ending up with a Cooper lump, cut down suspension cones, sticky out wide 10" wheels and gumball tyres. This is the only photo unfortunately:
Check out dad's rock n roll do and mod suit! He da man!
This one is the beast. This is a few years later, maybe '72 or '73. That's my mum in the first picture and I reckon she's about 20 there. The Mini is fully loaded, dad was working in retail and spent every last penny on the car. It was running a 1275 cooper lump, home worked head and twin SU carbs. Don't know what the alloys are but they must have cost a bit at the time. Got to be one of the first ever body kits too.
The paint was brush finished in a revolutionary self flatting enamel paint that just needed a light rub when dry. Anyway, this car was well used and abused and dad got chased across London by the police, but with extra loud exhaust and no mirrors he didn't realise until they roadblocked him in Plumstead. Some cool little stories go with that little motor. I think it's final demise was through tin worm which gets most Minis.
Enjoy.
This is Dad's first car, his pride and joy in Feb 1970. It was an 857cc which went through several incarnations ending up with a Cooper lump, cut down suspension cones, sticky out wide 10" wheels and gumball tyres. This is the only photo unfortunately:
Check out dad's rock n roll do and mod suit! He da man!
This one is the beast. This is a few years later, maybe '72 or '73. That's my mum in the first picture and I reckon she's about 20 there. The Mini is fully loaded, dad was working in retail and spent every last penny on the car. It was running a 1275 cooper lump, home worked head and twin SU carbs. Don't know what the alloys are but they must have cost a bit at the time. Got to be one of the first ever body kits too.
The paint was brush finished in a revolutionary self flatting enamel paint that just needed a light rub when dry. Anyway, this car was well used and abused and dad got chased across London by the police, but with extra loud exhaust and no mirrors he didn't realise until they roadblocked him in Plumstead. Some cool little stories go with that little motor. I think it's final demise was through tin worm which gets most Minis.
Enjoy.
Some of you people have such cool parents! 