Your mini history

[DomMINIque]

I've had a mini since Jan 2014. It was/is my first car - Caesar - The red 1275 E. Standard car, with a stock 1275 motor and some minor mods so far.
I hope to make other minor changes, such as fitting an original radio and pod speakers and one day getting some discs and a booster. Maybe get some other GTS bits, like the 3 clock binnacle and the twin carbs. Twin tanks sounds cool too, but I don't want to cut a hole in the body.

You after a GTS replica Vinay? 
I know one of the UK suppliers has a dummy filler cap for the right hand side if you just want the look.

Got a good shell from Rui and built the current car. Did all the work ourselves. Painting, interior was done by my Wife. Completely overhauled the engine, now a 1310, new brakes all round, new brake pipes etc. used now as a daily driver.

I would really love a South African 1000 S, and a '59 848, A Cooper S won't hurt either.

Boyscout how did the paintwork come out? Did you spray it inside a garage?

Thats quite a rare wishlist you've got there, impressive.

I liked the look of a MINI so I acquired a scrapped R50 Cooper from a salvage dealer with what looked like serious front end damage, but looking carefully it wasn't that bad. 
Early on a colleague at work took pity on my not having the car to enjoy and gave me a bullnose for the price of the arrear license fees (R1200). Not a bad deal as it included a reconditioned motor and was 99% complete. 

Currently moved on to restoring and customizing some old motorbikes. Don't know if I could do all that work again to another Mini, but if the opportunity arose I think I would try one with the Ford Ecoboost 3 cylinder 1000cc 5 speed 123hp turbo. Haven't investigated too much but I think it will fit in the available space with modern performance and economy

I know a few classic mini guys have Binis but your story is quite interesting as you started out with the Bini and went back in time.

There is a build thread on turbominis and the uk forum with a guy putting an ecoboost motor into a clubby and it seems to fit surprisingly well.

All very cool stories!

Now mine

Bought my first mini '74 bullnose deluxe shortly after my 21st birthday with the intention of rebuilding it with all the spare time I had at varsity which never worked out so it sat under the carport for the year. Shortly after my 22nd birthday another mini came up for sale with a pretty decent shell. Roughly about the same age, although I'm not exactly sure. So I went off and bought that one with the idea of creating a scrap to drive to the shop and back while I was busy rebuilding the other one. 

I can't for the life of me remember why minis but I think they are just awesome looking little cars. 

My dream garage would be:
A turbo a series roundnose
A rwd SA mk3 for daily use
A awd honda clubby estate for family days.