What is the differences in Minis..Leylan...Austin..etc..etc?

Who is the best parts dealer when it comes to panels?

Are there differenent qualities of panels?

Anybody got a bigger gas tank than 6 gallons?

What kind of milage are you getting with your Classic Mini?

It's official I will have the car inmy driveway tommorow.....the people I am buying it from were out of town so now after talking to them today....Tomorow is the BIG day!!!

 

The Mini was owned by BMC (British Motor Corporation) which went through several mergers and name changes and finally buyouts over the years - Leyland, British Leyland (BL), Rover, BMW etc. It was made in both the Austin and Morris version at one of the two factories that BMC owned, the only difference being the plant it was made, the badges, and small trim items such as the grilles, etc. Other factories made them throughout the world such as Innocenti and a few others. The quality of the panels vary - get the Heritage ones - they are made from the correct tooling.

I like www.heritagegarage.com and www.greatbritishcars.com for parts. They have the best prices and can get anything if you contact them. Mini Mania has one of the best stocklists around but they are a little pricey. Also check out Seven Enterprises, Mini Motors, and Mini City (do a google search).

 

So do I have an MK VI Saloon....when i look at some parts places there is a difference designation for diffferent years!

 

I have a 1978 Leyland Mini. It was the last year of production that was made in Australia. They followed the U.K. Minis on all major parts, but they had crank up windows, with outside hinges and lift up door handles. The inside panels seem to be different from the U.K. cars. They changed the Rubber vs Silastic suspension in different years from the U.K. cars.

I bought a MINI "factory" manual with the Australian supplement, which helps, but my wiring and dashboard are a combination of two different models even in the Austrailian book!

It gets interesting trying to figure out what parts to buy.

John

 

dave at gbcarparts.com (formerly greatbritishcars.com) is the best. his prices are the best. if he doesn't have something i need right away, i go to 7ent.com (seven enterprises).

my mini averages 35mpg or better. my tank which i believe is a standard tank is 7 gallons.

make sure you post some pictures when you get it! there's a thread in this forum for pics of your classic.

 

Factory manual? Where did you gt it? I love Factory manuals.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=47551

This is the link with Pictures of the car I'm buying.....It's a rust bucket but I'm going to bring it back to life.

 

Check your favorite vendor. I think I got mine at Mini Mania.
Prices at the flea market at a Mini Meet were actually higher than the new books.

John

 

John,
I have a 77 owners manual in really great shape. The usual book that comes with the car when it is new. PM me.
You can get factory manuals on eBay UK cheap, but the shipping adds up. I got mine for $20. They sell on MiniMania for $64. They pop up here and there

:smile:

 

So, is there a Mini Magazine that covers classic Mini's?

 

You might find MiniWorld @ Borders or B&N

It ain't cheap, but its good.

http://miniworld.co.uk/

 

MINIWORLD is carried by Barnes & Noble but runs about a month behind. Locally, Tampa, the August issue hit the stand the last week of July. [altho the Sept issue is out in the UK with Jason Newman's (JAX) custom classic on the cover, I hear ] Go to their website. You can subscribe directly and save money altho I hear the post isn't 100% reliable.


There's also the aptly titled MINI MAGAZINE http://www.minimag.co.uk/ available by subscription.

 

Other Mini parts suppliers:

djminis.com - Wesley Chapel, FL carries MiniSport products, body panels, used minis & parts, mechanical service & bodywork including restorations. Dion has an excellent reputation & is most helpful.

MiniCityLtd.com - Rochester NY been around forever, good people

BMC.on.ca - parts suppliers

I have bought panels from all three that were satisfactory.

Body panels are of various quality with "Heritage" panels being regarded as the best fit, but pricey. also,

Hadrian
http://www.carpanels.com/

 

The early history of the MG Rover Group reflects the way the British motor industry in developed in the early 1900’s. As many people tried their hands at manufacturing vehicles at this time, a wide range of independent vehicle manufacturers emerged. The majority of these lasted only a few years or were quickly taken over by other companies.
The Rover company developed through the grouping, regrouping, merger and take-over of many famous names in British motoring. These changes started almost from the moment the first British-built vehicle appeared on the roads (credited to Dr Frederick Lanchester who built a four-wheeled petrol driven car in 1895).

In 1968, the Leyland Motor Corporation and British Motor Holdings merged to form one large car and commercial vehicle organisation, British Leyland Motor Corporation. And in 1975, the company became British Leyland and in 1978 it was known as BL.

In the same year that the Rover 800 was introduced to the market, 1986, Sir Graham Day was appointed as chairman of British Leyland. He quickly named the company Rover Group and began a programme of moving the company and its products upmarket and away from mass-produced cars. In his role, Sir Graham set about completing a privatisation programme which saw many of British Leyland’s subsidiaries being sold. In 1988 the Rover Group was sold to British Aerospace.

In early 1994, the Rover Group was taken over by the German car maker, BMW. Following six years with BMW, on March 16, 2000, BMW announced fundamental ‘reorganisation plans’ that split the company apart and resulted in the sale of the key constituent parts of the group.

The new company, MG Rover Group Limited, was an independent, medium sized, British company that produced cars under the Rover and MG brands from the Longbridge Birmingham plant until lack of funds, and the failure of a deal with the Chinese forced the group into liquidation in April 2005

Prior to 1968 there were several mergers & acquisitions dating back to the 30's affecting various single make manuafacturers such as Morris Garage (MG), Austin Car Company, Woolsley, Riley, Swallow Sidecar Co (precursor of Jaguar), Standard Motor Cars, Triumph, on & on....

Anyway, Minis came in many variants and with various badges. Cars produced contemporaneously were very similar. There are several books that are good resources on the history of Minis. Most available online.

 

I'm seriously thinking of officially joining The Group, but first a couple of questions. Can anyone tell me what kind of mileage you're getting (both city and highway), type gas (regular/high test?)[QUOTE=STLMINI]

 

i get around 35mpg mix of highway/city... more city than highway. i use 93 octane.