I used to have a 998 Deluxe and he was awesome. He had this great loud throaty roar from an unmodified engine with 12 inch wheels and had hydro with amazing cornering and just enough power to keep up with traffic.

Then I had the Suzuki powered 850 and he was awesome as well. Big 13s with no suspension travel. Looked totally original other than the exhaust and the wheels. The number of times people would come up next to me at the lights and be all "ohhh such a cute little car" and then have the smile wiped off their faces as I took off was great..!!

Now I have a jap import 1.3L injected automatic with big wheels and big seats and big flares. She looks the goods and has such amazing street cred but only has 35hp so is slow as all hell but I love the fact she is super quiet and has air conditioning and doesnt get me in trouble from the police because she is too slow to race anyone or go fast around corners. I think she is my balance of form and features.

I have just noticed that people are trying to sell subframes and engines for conversions or whole cars with conversions and the interest is slim or slow at least. There was an original 850 powered "restored" van on carsales some months ago and it was inspected, tested and sold within a day and was sold before I could even call...

me thinks that we are getting wiser and starting to realise that they just arn't making them anymore,good models of all makes are getting more expensive every year XR to XW gt's went through the roof original or replica as did monaros,toranas cooper s and chevs,i tried to buy a hk earlier this year to put my spare 350chev and auto in $2000 in need of full resto(wasn't gunna happen) what happend to the cheapies on the side of the roads???? Thanks now vented

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Darren
00 triton d/cab
55 chev(oversize moneybox)
1963 850 (roundie)
77 clubby
95 zxr 750 + toys!!

I think it was a phase that has had it's peak as the 'it' thing to do.

I love my mini, it is mental and there is little else like it on the road and it brings a smile to my face and others just like every other mini.

I had a dad in his SS commodore with his son in the passenger seat next to me at a set of lights. When the light went green he gave it a boot full and i smile at the kid in the passenger seat, waved and went past them both. They loved it and were smiling and giving the thumbs up. That's a different scenario where in other minis i would have been left in the dust at the set of lights, but that would have been cool too because i was still in a mini

To each their own, i'll have one of each as well thanks.

There are still a lot of conversions being made in the background but as someone who has completed one i can say they are bloody hard work MUCH harder than a restoration, i have touched just about everything on this car.

Those who have been in a fast conversion would understand it, those that havn't wouldn't. Just ask Simon what it was like when we took Brad's mini for a spin before Ray bought it. I will never forget that school girl scream, giddyness and smile after that ride.

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

I'm getting my 3rd Mini early next year and I think that will end my Mini collection. All modified with roll cages, hot motors etc... They are a great car, after driving a un-modified 998 for 5+ hours on regular road trips I have decided that period mods, hot motors etc are the go - get a sensible car for the big trips. For me it has to be modified old school to keep me smiling - each to their own

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1964 Nb Race Car - big bore short stroke & lots of revs - Sold
1969 Mk2 Cooper S - First Car

As the heading of this thread says, things have changed over time.

My first car in 1965 was a secondhand Morris 850 in perfect original condition. But it wasn't quick enough so a Wade 240 cam, head job, 40mm Weber carby and extractors were fitted, along with lowering and Pirelli Cinturato's on widened wheels. I wouldn't do that today!!

A few of my Cooper S's were modified so they'd survive rallies, without any thought of originality. Holes were drilled, bits welded on and sections of body cut out. Minis were everywhere, parts were plentiful, go-faster bits were reasonably cheap, so that's what you did in the 60's and 70's.

Today I want originality. My Mini can't be as safe, as quick or as comfortable as a modern car so I don't even try. My aim is to make it what it always was - the most fantastic and enjoyable type of car I've ever driven. And I don't know why or really care. Any real Mini enthusiast will understand.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

I think its just the usual car thing. Young fellas ruin cars no matter what type. They have no idea and rice stuff up thinking its the cool thing to do, like putting big lairy racing seats in there car...?

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

Dont you have big bright lairy race seats in your car??

The modded or stock thing seems to go in cycles, ive seen it happen with so many street rods, the falcon hard tops, Early Toranas and even early falcodores, numbers dwindle as all the modded ones are abused and eventually wrecked, then the populus thinks "where have all those nice cars gone" and people with a few dollars put whats left of the dwindling stocks back to how they were when they left the factory.

In 40 years the same thing will happen with the new HSV and XR8 sedans, vt commos are going throo the abuse stage right now along with the xr8s

I wish i didnt wreck/ modify heavily over half the cars ive had in the past

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Master of the Moggie Army & Founder of Awesomestock2010

I think you are absolutely right on what you say, over the years I have modded and abused some really nice cars, XY GS Fairmont, Cooper S's, MG, EH Holden etc. Wish I still had them as original now.
My current daily driver is a VX SS 5.7 GENIII which I bought new back in 2001, I have not touched this one it is exactly as it was the day it left the factory. If only I had the foresight with the others 30 years ago.

I'm with this. My Mini shares a garage with a 147kW turbo 2L, and a mid-engined sports car.

If I wanted to be comfortable, modern and go quickly I'd drive one of those. Big carbies, more capacity and other period mods are the way to go.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

I love a hot mini, theres nothing like that feeling of wasting a modern car with a pushrod A-dinger in a 40 year old front wheel drive

but to enjoy a mini it doesnt have to be anything other than standard, and i think standard is far more rare these days.

i think if its a rare model it must be restored to standard
and if its common then modify all you want

sorry mini maxx but do you really want to see a restored wrx in 40 years!!!!back to therapy now

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Darren
00 triton d/cab
55 chev(oversize moneybox)
1963 850 (roundie)
77 clubby
95 zxr 750 + toys!!

I'd own one...A 2 door, ally bonnet 99 Sti please in white.

Dammit, there's people out there restoring chrysler regals..

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Im keen on a VG Chrysler Valiant Regal!!!

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras