I'm interested in this style mini but don't know what it is. Can anyone give me a ballpark of year and model type?

Sorry, only have this pic.

Thanks,

Mark

 

I could be wrong... but it looks like an Austin Mini 1960s

 

Anyone who tells you they can ballpark the year and build of this car from this picture is smoking something which should be shared.

There's a rollbar, this car has been modded/rebuilt and could be any year or even ALL years.

The square tail lights and lack of exterior door hinges suggests its at least an MKIII (1969) or younger, but since its been modded, there is no guarantee.

The flared wheel arches weren't standard in Minis until the MKV (1984), but have been added to MANY older cars during modding. An article on MiniMania's site calls the Mini the "Mr Potato Head" of the car world, and its true

 

Thanks all... I really appreciate it. Apparently I need to do more reading up on all the different models.

I want something like this to convert to a track car so my quest begins.

Thanks again,

Mark

 

You're welcome, anytime. The white backup light also indicates 1976 or younger. Actually, the article is good reading ...

http://www.minimania.com/ArticleV.cfm?DisplayID=1804

It sounds like an interesting project. Keep us posted when you get going on it.

I'd bet this car is titled as a 70's or older car, but wouldn't be surprised to find its actually much younger.

 

You would be wrong.

My guess is it's early to mid 90's Sportpack Mini, but more pictures would definitely be worth more than 1000 words.

Unless a car of that era is already in the USA (illegally) I would not buy one from overseas and have it imported here. It is not more than 25 years old and could be seized at customs.
Also, good luck troubleshooting problems with fuel injected Minis. They can be difficult to diagnose even in England where they were built.

 

This Mini started out life as a 1959 Mark 1 Austin 850. Note the sliding door windows, external door hinges and small tail lights.

When I acquired the car in 1975 we swapped the fore and aft undercarriages, suspension and drivetrain from our wrecked 1966 Mark 1 Mini Cooper S 1275cc racer. (The '66 S body was destroyed. Shame too.) We didn't race this one, well just a few unsanctioned gymkhana's.

Enjoy the search and read a lot.

 

qsk,

You'd say that was a mid 90's mini? I sent an email to the site but hadn't heard back yet.

Explain to me why the car has to be 25 years old. I read something about it being considered a classic but I'm not understanding why customs would seize it.

And last but not least, you're saying to stay away from fuel injected minis?

Thanks for your time,


I'm not sure why I seem blown away with all the different models but I definitely have some reading to do.

There is a member on the forum that had a old mini with a CBR 1000 engine in it for sale. I wanted to take a look at it thinking it might be great fun at the track but I hadn't heard back from him neither.

Just out of curiousity, do you have any suggestions for a classic mini that I would want for the track? I'm taking a guess here but I'm thinking by the time you convert everything over enough to track the car, it's nothing more than a chassis with a fiberglass kit on it.


Thanks


Mark

 

Mark,
First off, looks like that Mini that you posted, in my opinion, is probably mid 80s to late 90s model. My last Mini (1989) and my current Mini (1990) have the same taillights, pop out rear windows, etc. Just about any Mini can be chopped up and accomodate 13 inch wheels with sportpack arches like that one has. Once the Minis went to front 8.4" disc brakes in the mid 80s (I believe), 12 inch wheels were standard but that car has some deep dish wheels that are at least 13s.

There is a sticky on the top of the Classic Mini section that covers all import laws. Customs is pretty hardcore and if you import a car that is a "re-vin" they can seize the car and either ship it back (on your dime) or crush the car. Honestly, I thought about trying to buy a re-vin and have it shipped here but to me, its just not worth the risk. If you buy the car from a US buyer, then you're not breaking any law. Legally, its what the paper work says it is when it came into the country.

So 25 years... thats 1985 and older. I mentioned I had a 1990 above. At some point, my car was imported with papers off a 1979 Mini. Well, at least I think its a 1990. If you are wanting the look of the Mini you posted, try and find a re-vin Mini. Typically they are posted as 1979/90 (registered 79, in reality its a 1990, etc). I think we'd all hate to have you pick up a nice, unmolested Mini and cut it up. You are probably like me in that I can really appreciate the older Minis but I do like some modern amenities and an updated look (ICE, interior, nice wheels/tires, etc).

As for putting it on the track? Be prepared to spend some cash. Not sure how deep your pockets are but check out www.superfastminis.com. You supply the donor car and about $10K and they'll throw in a Honda engine. Thats enough juice to smoke the tires with no problem. If this peeks your interest, check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuMvzbnx0_s

Good luck! -Ryan

 

The "style" of this car is Sportspack. If it's original, it's not legal to be imported (as was mentioned earlier) because it would be too young. However, many of the late 70s and early 80s Minis have had Sportspack accessories (specifically the larger wheels and wheel arches) added to the car to give it the sportier look of the newer Minis. As was already mentioned, this car has a rollcage in it, which hints that it's had modifications done to it. The rollcage is likely just the tip of the iceberg of modifications that may have been done on this car. Until we get more specifics from the seller, it's anyone's guess.

 

If all you were going to do is race it and not drive it on the street you can import anything you want. But, if that's what you want to do you'd be better off buying one that's already built for the track, and then customize it to make it yours

The other reason to stay away from FI on the Classic cars, there are two types - single point and multi point. Especially on the MP, there are no computers, sensors or even people who can work on them here, and they're bloody expensive to fix. Most folks who have SPI here convert it to a carb, because it's fairly easy. It's not easy (or even possible?) on MPI.

 

WOW, you guys have been a SUPER wealth of information. It's obvious at this point that if I insist on making one my track car, I should really find one already done.

Guys, I REALLY appreciate your knowledge and help... I'll just keep my eyes open to see if I come across one.

Thanks,

Mark

 

That could be any model from 1979-2001 as it has a reverse light built in rear cluster It has sport pack arches and 13" wheels circa 1995-2001

Is this your mini or you just trying to find out infomation on the type of mini........

 

This is NOT my mini, I saw it and absolutely love it. I want an older mini for a track car so this was my attempt to narrow down the years. I can't believe that it's actually that new.

I'm gonna keep looking...


Mark

 

Also Mark, something to ask yourself... are you wanting to race the Mini or just have fun with it on a track? If its racing, then yeah, you need something fast. If its fun on the track you are after, even a 998cc Mini is a load of fun. If you haven't driven one before, I would highly recommend you doing so. The 998s or even the 850cc models arent fast but they are when you are taking those corners! Its similar to driving a go-cart and even at 65mph, its a load of fun!

 

Ryan,

I agree, I'm sure it's a blast but after tracking the '09, I'm afraid the 998cc might feel underpowered. (I may be wrong but...)

Mark

 

I hear ya on that one. My first classic had the 998cc and it was a decent amount of power because the car weighed next to nothing, i still wanted to go faster. The Classic I just got had the 998 in it and before it even came to my house, it went for a 1275 swap and paint. Still waiting to get it back but I sure hope the 1275 will be quick enough. I might have to make some additions too with some go-fast parts as well.

 

I had an 848. It was a ball to drive. It couldn't get out of its own way (neighborhood dogs could actually catch it) but it was just a blast to pull a rear wheel off the ground in a gymkhana. It always made you feel like a character from the movie "Le Mans" but then you realized that Ford Falcon 3spds were leaving you in the dust. No matter, back to rowing the gears, and the Abarth exhaust made the most wonderful music ever created.

And all without exceeding the motor's 4800 rpm redline.

But it was fun with a capital F.

 

In Ethiopia (back in the early '70s) I had a '62 Morris Mini 850 (I've owned 6 "Classics" over the years). Bone stock. 10" wheels. Even that awful 3 foot long shift rod. Also in our crowd was a '71 Datsun 240Z and a Fiat 124 Spyder (I don't recall the year), a Diahatsu 360 (Max) and a couple others.

Anyways, we would race down the mountain (twisty road heaven) and across the desert to the Red Sea.

We would draw lots to see who got to lead down the mountain. When I won the draw the rest of the crew would stay with me for a few klicks but eventually the little 850 would start to pull away in the twisties and I would lose sight of them in the rear view mirror. I would hit the desert running hard and flat out but the 240Z and the 124 would eventually catch me about a third of the way across the desert.

But they NEVER caught me on the mountain. Never. That 850 stuck in the corners and it was a blast. Not very fast, but it stuck and was flat (mostly).

The PRIMARY rule of our little game of "catch me" was that you were absolutely forbidden to cross the center line. With 500ft to 1500ft drop offs, it was certain death if you met someone coming the other way on the wrong side.

The little motors in the little cars. Anybody can go fast on the straightaways, but to stick the corners at speed....ah now that's fun!!

 

Great story.... sounds like a lot of fun back then.


Thanks for sharing...


Mark