Was: 1985 BMW E28 520i / Now: Moggie is Now Go

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Mini Specials were built in Belgium 76-80 (ish) and not officially imported here. A few were imported and converted to RHD along with Metros. They were painted in regular Leyland colours and had the 1100 engine, velour trim, vinyl roof, those silver/black wheel trims and formica wood trim on the oval centre binnacle. Late ones used the Clubman dash. They all* had the thicker Clubman rear bumpers both front and rear iirc. Specs changed in line with UK Minis to an extent. I think the vinyl roof was standard.

Mine was GUR338Y and it was absolutely, irrevocably rotten 20+ years ago. It was merely an engine donor. It was silver with the vinyl roof that was pretty much structural.

Edit * Italian ones with overriders used standard bumpers.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Oh, and the UK 1979 Mini 1100 Special (that isn't one) is a different thing altogether.

Some interior pics would be good.

[panhard65]

I used to think all Mini specials were his but it was a proper model (I thought he had made it up to flog his ones). I scrapped one for a neighbour about 15 years ago and can't find the picture now. It was a Rose I think but can't remember now. Totally fucking rotten as it sat in his garden for years.

[SiC]

I quite like this, especially with those jazzy seats. I guess this is SPI or possibly MPI?

Edit: front mounted rad for MPI as The Rev mentioned earlier. So this is SPI.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 774664643/

[SiC]

This looks reasonable


Oh


Oh dear.


Looks like it's been parked only ever one way and facing the sea. I'll admit this one scales high on my "It is Fucked" scale. Presumably rust perforation on many of these panels?

Still fetching good money already. The price between utterly fucked, a bit hanging and good Minis doesn't vary a lot. Only when they're super mint do the price go to stupid levels.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265144636556

[Nibblet]

What's started the interest in Minis SiC? Besides, I thought you owned an 1100, kinda like a big Mini already.

[Bazfr69]

I quite like this, especially with those jazzy seats. I guess this is SPI or possibly MPI?

Edit: front mounted rad for MPI as The Rev mentioned earlier. So this is SPI.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 774664643/

Spi yes. The seats are extremely loud irl but I like them too tbh.

[Bazfr69]

Doh! Didn’t see your edit.

Mpi was 1998-2000 iirc.

[Bazfr69]

I’d be quite partial to a Paul Smith special edition if I bought another I think.

There’s a Mini Belfast that was sold in Japan in the late 80s too that I’ve never actually seen.

[SiC]

Going to hopefully see this tomorrow. Been for sale for 5 weeks, which is a very long time in the Mini marketplace. Only a 998cc though and City E. I'm thinking its because the listing is awful.

Looking at the reg shows it has MOT and not that bad a history. Got the reg from the etched in on rear glass picture. Nearly 100k miles though, so I will probably have to take a good look at the engine and possibly nearing a rebuild?
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... tory_share

Car was alright. However 15 minutes of Mr Billy Big Bollocks Bullshit was all I could stand. "What other classics you have? For sale?" "Not bother if don't sell as these are shooting up in price" "Mint car. No rust" etc.

It was his son's car but the son didn't even say a word. Felt sorry for him and if his dad would put off any potential buyer.