how do you pop the hood on a classic mini ?

 

Depends... Later models had a cable release in the cabin. Older models have a hole in the front grille - there's a lever in the hole - push it to the left to pop the main latch. Either way, after the main catch is popped, then release the emergency catch, located on the right side - slide your hand over until you feel it and press back to release.

EDIT - here's the manual release in the front grille - it's the dark "slot" below the badge:

 

ok thanks i got it. i thought that was how but i was too afraid to push hard enough

 

Sometimes they're stiff - yes. Pushing down on the bonnet while you slide the lever to the left sometimes helps as well.

 

The latch should be lubricated (white grease) and adjusted properly. Be careful. These latches are famous for releasing unexpectedly if not adjsted correctly and allowing the bonnet to blow over your windscreen when driving. The result is a trashed bonnet and body damage.

 

Here something really cool you can do to eliminate the problem of a stuck bonnet latch. Remove it all together, put an "internal release" style grill on and hold the bonnet down with a boss brown leather bonnet strap!

 

If you find the bonnet unlatching and have adjusted the latch mechanism, try shortening the spring. I had that problem and shortening the spring by about two turns seems to have cured the unlatching problem.