Your mini history

[DomMINIque]

So since the forum has been quite lately I thought we needed something to get it going again.

Post your mini history here,
When you started with minis
Why minis
Which models have you had
What have you got now 
What would your dream collection be

[Vinay-RS]

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.

I think my fascination with minis started with the old rally games - Colin McRae Rally. I remember that I really enjoyed driving the old rally cars (Ford Escorts, Lancia Fulvias, etc) but the Cooper S in the game was my favourite. It wasn't too fast, but it would take every corner at max speeds and it just handled so well. Following that I started reading up on the history of the little car and watching the Top Gear segments on minis and I was hooked.

My dream collection would be:
Caesar (1275 E) - obviously ,
Mk1 Austin/Morris 850 - Simple and perfect,
Leyland Clubman Panel van with a GT drivetrain,
Mk1/II/III Cooper S.

[Boyscout]

I bought two scrapped Minis in 1987 for R400. Out of the two I restored a MK2. first with the 998 engine and later a 1275 with all the bits. 544 cam, 45 side draft Weber, modified head, double valve springs, LCB, strap on the center bearing. It was painted yellow, had Yokohama 165/70/10 on the corners. Sold it a couple years later.

Then in 2012 decide to do it again, bought a so called 1275 Clubman which turned out to be a 1098 with a GTS engine nr. Stripped all the bits of the car as the body was bent. 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.

We just love Minis and most things British, had a run in with several Land Rovers as well.

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

[u09521]

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. They get scrapped because panel-beaters just replace all the damaged parts and spend a huge amount of labour time and cost, hence uneconomical to repair. However when spending own weekend labour, repairing parts, and with great effort aquiring parts from scrapyards it becomes a proposition, plus its fun. Took six months to put it in roadworthy condition with the idea of making it into a hooligan weekend special. All in all it ended up at about 60% of the cost of a comparable used one. However it turned out so nice my son jacked it and I have hardly driven it in the last 5-6 years. It has now done almost another 100k km with a 19-24 year old driver. Only had to redo the left hand suspension front and back after it let go around a corner, mounted the pavement and spun through multiple trees and lamposts. These cars are damn strong!
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. Ended up doing a nut and bolt rebuild over 3 years. Only outsourced work was brake caliper recon, flywheel machining, head skim, and seat upholstery. Re-did the motor including grinding the head, 649 cam, 1.5 roller rockers, HIF44 carb and manifold, double chain, LCB etc. etc. Like to think car is like new and better.
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

[theMINIguy]

My dad bought my first car for me in '87, an orange '74 GTS with a smoke machine under the bonnet. It was up to me fix the thing and get it through roadworthy.
That's where my love for Minis all started. I rebuilt the motor basically stock and got the car on the road. Later I stripped it down, did a colour change to BRG with a white roof, fitted new carpets, reupholstered seats, stripped motor down and followed Dave Vizzard's yellow bible to work the head. It ended up with a Jute cut 544 cam, lightened flywheel, side draft 40 weber and 11:1 CR. I kept the GTS crow's foot branch manifold but the rest of the exhaust was replaced with a straight pipe out the middle with one freeflow box in the back.
I fitted 7.6" discs and 10" Minilites and like a fool got rid of the 12" wheels and 8,4" break setup. (should have hung onto them for later).
Most of my mates at the time also bought/was given/inherited Minis and Greg Ramsay (R.I.P. buddy) formed an unofficial club called "Miniacs" to which we all belonged and went on hair-raising breakfast runs and had all sorts of fun... our Minis where all quick and we soon developed a rather bad reputation with MOCSA for being hooligans. Ah well.... the joys of youth.
I also acquired a mk1 that was in bad shape, didn't have the time to work on it then since I was at Wits Tech at the time so it ended up being sold.
I had a '78 1100 Clubman - sold. I have a '78 GTS - needs to be re-shelled or stripped.
I currently have a great little '78 Special DeLuxe that is a work on progress.
Once Mini's are in your blood I think your'e hooked for life.
I'd love to own a mk1 Austin Cooper S.

[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.

[Vinay-RS]

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.

Funnily enough, I'm just keen on tasteful mods that look like they belong and improve the experience. Not trying to fool anyone into thinking a humble 1275 E is an example of the famous GTS.

I'd love an actual tank, so that one could actually do longer drives in a mini. I mean a 35 l tank and one 25 l tank would make a big difference.

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 know the feeling. There is so much extra time when studying, but it never seems to go towards a project. Glad that you're getting back on the project progress path now.

[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.

Funnily enough, I'm just keen on tasteful mods that look like they belong and improve the experience. Not trying to fool anyone into thinking a humble 1275 E is an example of the famous GTS.

I'd love an actual tank, so that one could actually do longer drives in a mini. I mean a 35 l tank and one 25 l tank would make a big difference.

You know the funny thing is my current daily only has a 40l tank so the 35l isnt much of a difference to me. Although if you are still running leaded fuel I could imagine how the need for a larger tank may make things a little easier

[Boyscout]

@DomMINIque, I painted the Mini outdoors under a roof. The finish is ok but I could have done a better job if I had more time.