Your mini history

[u09521]

I liked the look of a MINI so I acquired a scrapped R50 Cooper from a salvage dealer with what looked like serious front end damage, but looking carefully it wasn't that bad. They get scrapped because panel-beaters just replace all the damaged parts and spend a huge amount of labour time and cost, hence uneconomical to repair. However when spending own weekend labour, repairing parts, and with great effort aquiring parts from scrapyards it becomes a proposition, plus its fun. Took six months to put it in roadworthy condition with the idea of making it into a hooligan weekend special. All in all it ended up at about 60% of the cost of a comparable used one. However it turned out so nice my son jacked it and I have hardly driven it in the last 5-6 years. It has now done almost another 100k km with a 19-24 year old driver. Only had to redo the left hand suspension front and back after it let go around a corner, mounted the pavement and spun through multiple trees and lamposts. These cars are damn strong!
Early on a colleague at work took pity on my not having the car to enjoy and gave me a bullnose for the price of the arrear license fees (R1200). Not a bad deal as it included a reconditioned motor and was 99% complete. Ended up doing a nut and bolt rebuild over 3 years. Only outsourced work was brake caliper recon, flywheel machining, head skim, and seat upholstery. Re-did the motor including grinding the head, 649 cam, 1.5 roller rockers, HIF44 carb and manifold, double chain, LCB etc. etc. Like to think car is like new and better.
Currently moved on to restoring and customizing some old motorbikes. Don't know if I could do all that work again to another Mini, but if the opportunity arose I think I would try one with the Ford Ecoboost 3 cylinder 1000cc 5 speed 123hp turbo. Haven't investigated too much but I think it will fit in the available space with modern performance and economy