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General MINI TalkShared experiences, motoring minutes, and other general MINI-related discussion that applies to all MINIs, regardless of model, year or trim.
Are there no more 1st Gen Minis left in the South West?
I've mentioned it before; that having driven my Mini across 5 states in the past month, I've only seen maybe 4-5 Minis of relatively all years & models. But very few 1st Gens.
Now, I've built some rather radical styled cars in my day and probably received more attention than I would have liked - but now I'm in a reasonably, modestly modified 04 R53 and everywhere I stop, (Texas, ABQ, Santa Fe and NE AZ), I receive no less than 3 admirers at a time asking: "Wow what kind of car is that? - I've never seen one. It must be an old classic?"
Honestly, I couldn't be more flattered (if not proud), to be fortunate to own a 1st Gen...
But I can't help but ask "Where are all the 1st gen Minis hiding out here in the SW??
If you're out there - Wave, honk, flash your high beams...throw a gang sign... anything - We are indeed a rare breed. Just let us know your out here!
Gen1s are slowly disappearing. I'm in the Dallas area and I have yet to see another MC40, for instance, in six years of ownership. Most are R56s, + etc. I belong to a club -- Mini Coopers of Texas -- and there's not another R53 member. Most disappointing is that most members don't even work on their own cars. Self-wrenching has become a thing of the past. On this forum you have probably noticed a huge decrease in the number of R50-52-53 posts. Most posts are now looking for R56 advice and most questions are for 2012 and newer.
Perhaps other than in California where numbers sold were much higher, likely remaining 1st Gen aren't daily drivers thus not frequently on the road. In my rural easternmost AZ location, this is jeep and truck country (I own both), where owners tend to leave their vehicles parked outside despite harsh weather conditions with combo of mileage and corrosion dooming those to rusty yard sculptures rather than being scrapped. Not me - a big garage is a high priority!
I see a few here and there driving around ABQ, but mostly I see R56 or newer. I assume the R50s and R53s are mostly in a landfill at this point.
Sadly; I have to agree with you chrunck. I had spent the last 12 years in the SE Ga & Fl area scouring the salvage yards picking the bones off the remnants of poor 1st gens meeting their (IMO) unfortunate, neglected, otherwise untimely demise. In the last 2wo years there have been fewer and fewer to be found. I have to believe that the remaining are either kept as weekend drivers or all others have already met their final fate in the jaws of a crusher 15 years ago.
1st gen MINIs are old enough to vote, and in many cases old enough to drink! There's still a lot of them in California though. Just last week I saw a cool R53 JCW with the R56 JCW front brakes and the GP2 wing. And there's 4 MINIs of various generations on my block.
Good work keeping your 2004 on the road and looking great!
While I'm still out here in the "Land of Enchantment" still hoping to see more 1st Gen Minis -
My expectations have been disappointing to say the least. This part of the country is hard on cars.
I've been out here in the 'Querque area for only 6 weeks now and already my once near pristine condition, 21 year old Mini is taking a beating from the environment.
From horrendously patched roads, scorching sun over cloudless skies to unrelenting windswept dirt. I'm now in need of top strut mounts, tires and worst of all a new windshield.
It's easy to come to realize why some of our 1st & 2nd gen Minis don't survive beyond 15years out here in the desert. Enough complaining...
Where The Minis are ~
I recently took another 200mi round trip drive North up to to Los Alamos and back to ABQ.
Upon entering Santa Fe; I was amazed to have seen at least 4 or 5) 1st gen R50's/R53's, 1) red R52, 1) 1st gen R55 and of course quite a few Countryman within the first half hour after arriving. All surprisingly in well kept condition!
After spending a few hours cruising historic Santa Fe, old Route 66 and the Santa Fe trail, I continued on upwards to Los Alamos...
On my way back down the mountain road from Los Alamos, I tripped an SES @115mph and pulled over to run a quick OBDII scan ('Bank~1 - Lean Condition').
As I sat on the side of the road; a few moments later a woman in a green 2021 electric Mini pulled up behind me. We chatted for a few minutes before I almost forgot to snap a photo.
She had admittedly mentioned she was probably the only one (that she'd had seen) in the Los Alamos area to be driving a Mini.
Now - That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!
whilst I may not be one for car gatherings; It is always been so cool to see a community of the like come together in commeradery!
Awesome pics@bluonyx
With regards to the (perhaps needless) continuation of this thread...
I've seen many many impressive looking, well kept and modified 1gen Mini's posted on this forum by NAM contributors. With much envy I might add. These 1st gens are quite unique
I can only imagine that these eyecatching little cars bring with them a lot of attention to their owners whilst "out in the wild".
That being said; I too have experienced many instances where people have been drawn to my 22y/o R53. It's hardly, by far not a show car. But I have done my best and taken pride in trying to take good care of this little supercharged classic over the years..
So far the interaction between admirers walking by has been nothing but friendly and positive.
Up until now....
A few weeks ago, I had to replace my failed and broken exhaust manifold/CAT. After doing so; I could not believe the difference in performance and throttle response that was achieved. My CAT must have been failing gradually over the years until it finally broke.
As a result; the Mini had decreased in economy and hp. Upon replacing the CAT -The Mini felt like new!
Soon after - I decided to take a mini roadtrip. I wound up taking a 300mi journey on my least favorite hwy: I40 West from ABQ, NM to the AZ border...
Several miles traveling up I40 W just outside/East of Gallup, NM, driving in the fast lane at 85mph, I was passed by a 4Runner clipping along at 100mph. My view was blocked momentarily and wound hitting a "road gator"/a 3 foot long piece of tractor trailer tire tread.
I immediately took the next exit to assess the damage - on route 66 and what is referred to as "the Continental Divide". Which is an impressively long mountainous ridge stretching across the NM border. I wound up exiting off at a Reservation and drove down this seemingly desolate road to a gas station just below the Continental divide out in the middle of nowhere.
The New Mexico "Continental Divide" / Route 66
Road gator damage to my lower air dam. 'Could have been worse I suppose...
As I was assessing the damage done to my lower front air-dam and bumper from hitting that tire tread - a couple of guys from the reservation walked up to me to ask if everything was ok. After a brief discussion about hitting the tire tread; I naively asked them if there was a trail or roadway leading closer to the Continental Divide. They quickly realized I was not from around there. After seeing my GA license plate, their demeanor changed and the conversation change to the potential threat I may encounter by the "not so nice" locals. They were serious. If not emphatic. Soon after they left (went back to their SUV) - As I was just getting ready to leave, when I was suddenly approached by a couple of tough looking locals commenting about my Mini with a less than genuine (kind) inflection in their tone. As they were uncomfortably close to me, one of them blocking entrance to my driver door, the other guy said "Man that is a sweet looking ride, dog. How fast does it go? - Lemme take it for a test drive - dog". I paused there for a moment not sure how to respond or what my next move might be - I smugly responded by saying "Yeah - Not a chance. But thanks for the compliment". Just at that moment the 2wo guys that initially approached me, emerged from their parked SUV and walked up to us. We all stood there in silence for a minute. Until one of the two guys from the SUV (who'd initially approached me and asked if everything was ok), said "Hey man, everything ok here?. These dawgs bothering you?". Before I could speak, I Looked down to see him holding a firearm at his side. The other largest of the two guys from the SUV looked at the other two wouldbe carjackers and said "You aint tryin to take the man's ride are you?" the other guy from the SUV raises his hand and nonchalantly rubs his cheek with the barrel of his gun giving clear indication to the wouldbe carjackers of what they would be up against. The one carjacker that asked for a "test-drive", quietly responds by saying "Nah, it's all good we was just liking his ride". The two carjackers turned and walked the other way. While the two gun toting samaritans looked at me, one saying "See what I'm sayin' to you dog?" . We exchanged fist-bumps and without another word went our separate ways.
Them heading back into the reservation and me headed East on I40 - as far and as fast away from Gallup as possible.
Before g-g-g-getting out of Gallup; I did manage to get this snapshot with my Mini and the Continental Divide in the background.
Happy Motoring. Try to keep it on the down-low. Be safe out there!
