Mini Memories. What are yours?

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I've had about 25 of them. The first in '84, the last in 2000.

My folks had Minis in the 70's or before. Fatha Bluejeans had a maroon 1965 Austin Mini in 1969, chopped in for a blue/white 1967 998 Cooper in 1970. The next step would have been a Cooper S but Mutha Bluejeans fancied the new 1275GT. That arrived as an 18 month old example in 1972 and it was shit. Mutha's first car was a very tired 1961 Mini Minor in white via our mate who worked at the local BLMC dealer - he bought the shit p/x’s.
He resprayed it red from the roof down and when the 848 was close to death, dropped in a Morris 1100 lump from an MOT failure. Fatha fitted a new crated twin leading shoe brake kit.
FBJ gave up with BL in 1974 and bought a three month old Escort Mexico and MBJ took over the 1275GT.

I had loads of Minis from 1959’s to a 1965 Cooper S that still exists albeit in Japan. In the eighties, Minis didn’t have the wanky club scene bullshit image.They were a rite of passage.

My first road useable Mini was a 1977 Mini 998 van bought in 1984 for 75 quid with a fucked engine. The sills and subframes were also shagged.

I acquired a works Mini in 1985. A 1959 850 and the only one remaining. The first Mini to complete a Monte, in 1960. I rebuilt it as a Cooper, sprayed it red and white and drove it like a cunt. I sold in in ’87.

A 1964 1071 ’S’ owned 1970-72 by Francis Rossi of the Quo. It was a wreck but was restored around 1999.

The monotone white Cooper used in the 1967 film ‘Robbery’. JOF129E iirc.

- Loads of ordinary Minis. When I left home in November 1987 I bought a 1971 Mini 1000 from the paper, £40 with an MOT.


Would I have another? I doubt it. They are too much money now and the new spare parts quality is lamentable. Best left in the past.

[mercrocker]

Rev. makes a good point about the lack of "scene" before the late 80s. Minis were a truly Universal car, as likely found outside the bingo halls and domiciliary care calls as they were at Sixth Form colleges, racing circuits or the trendiest of night clubs.

Nothing was regarded as "iconic" "hip" or "legendary" about them, they just had a very widespread appeal.

[SiC]

Now it's discontinued, I wonder if the Fiesta may go like it in a number of years.

[SiC]

I've had about 25 of them. The first in '84, the last in 2000.

Weren't you a resident writer or something in Mini magazines I seem someone mentioning once?

[mercrocker]

Now it's discontinued, I wonder if the Fiesta may go like it in a number of years.

As a "brand" maybe, but we are talking so many disparate evolutions whereas the Mini remained fundamentally the same car. Despite all attempts on the part of Rover, quickly followed by BMW, the 21st century version has remained a completely seperate entity in most people's eyes....

[Warren t claim]

1977, summer night shift, I'm driving a Clubman Panda car to some shout, blue light on. Five other coppers on board. (Despite being 6'2" I could drive minis with my helmet on. That's how fucked the seats were) Flat-out round the ring road, down hill toward the roundabout.
I learn what brake fade is: hard pedal, normal braking to no braking in one brown-trousery moment.
Just keep it on the road, no one about thank fuck & I don't say anything, no one else does...

Another night & there's a bunch of pissed lads making noise in the street outside a rugby club. I'm on my own in the mini van, J plate, the oldest we've got. Doesn't go well, they're not interested in my advice and I decide to fuck off sharpish. Van won't start, lads gather round smelling revenge.
Cacking myself, crinkly grin to max I push my luck, "give us a push lads" and we are off. All that testosterone, muscle and lager shove the poxy van down the street and I get the best bump start ever. All the aggro is gone, we're all mates, good night, take it easy, job done.

Exhaust fell off not long after and I never drove it again

mini1.PNG (686.14 KiB) Viewed 346 times

Is this you back in the day?

[Asimo]

No, we only had vans and Clubman estates. And blue lights on top, not amber.

[Hooli]

Still can't believe you were a cop, you've always seemed honest on here.

[Warren t claim]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335014734621 ... SwEZlkvMRg

[mercrocker]

Shame that Seven has been plate raped. My 1959 was registered as an A30 Seven on the logbook too - it must be confusion with the fact that both the A30 and the original Austin Mini were known as the "Seven" when first introduced. Something odd about the rear shocks too - maybe van or Countryman items?