Hi all:

I recall reading a while back that Chile was one of the countries where classic Minis were manufactured at one point. Can anyone here verify this, and perhaps shed light on which models were made there and when?

Thanks much!

 

According to a brief mention in the Chris Reese book, Chilean minis have fibreglass bodies w/out external flanges or roof gutters and were not made beyond the Seventies--no mention of engines or other specs. And, I might add, Rover decide to relaunch the mini in South America for the Nineties and produced another fibreglass model, made in Venezuela. Again, this info. comes from the Reese book. The 1990s Venezuelan model was a collaboration with Facorca of Caracas, Ven. and used a 998 engine from Longbridge. They are apparently known as MiniCords and were marketed throughout S. America and the Caribbean.

Hmm, might not be a bad concept, a shell that doesn't rust!

 

Here is an interesting web site with MiniCord information.

 

I was in Portugal and saw one for sale , but couldn't figure how to get it home ...