Just clearing the shed and writing my for sale advert adding mistakes and humour for a laugh, just read it back and wow how my years with minis have made me laugh and cry, years of crawling under cars building them, stripping them back buying wrecks for one part striping them and selling it on,

Gone are the days when you buy a car from Trading post for $50 getting what you need and selling it on again - before EBAY, internet, and forums

Before the hoarders came out and took every little thing from the paddocks and old sheds, to hoard and collect so no one can have them, to build a collection of parts to look at on the shelf and brag

Wow has it all changed, love seeing young blokes buying up cars today and doing what we did , sadly lads a $500 mini with 12 months rego on side of road are long gone, $40 tyres brand new, wow .69 cents for petrol, I laughed every day when I had to put that price up, and that was expensive

I’m not quitting just clearing out, cars are finished and like to see what I have left help a young bloke out, the kid that bought my clubby seats was WOW he filled his milk crate up with bits he thought it was XMAS, grabbed his brown clubby seats and said what about door trims, out they came and I said have em mate, $50 dollars buy all of that

His face was worth millions to me, his littlie clubby will be his million dollar ride for years to come, its not perfect built with parts will spend more time under it then driving it,


Just sitting enjoying my tea thinking, rocking, looking at the shed, my cars are warm, finished and proud, how many are bare and cold today, waiting for some new life, how many shelves are full of parts we could never really use

Spare a thought for those young blokes and girls who would love a mini

It’s not really a goodbye at the end of the day for me, its good bye to memories and fun filled days of chasing parts and building cars,

I know there is many older folk on here who know what I mean, and young fellas, build your dreams do what you like HAVE A BALL, because its days like these that will be memories for ever

God how good are Minis, thank you Sir Alec

Monte

1987 - 20??

Nice story Monte, thanks for posting.

Been in this Mini game for 20 years myself and I am looking forward to what will come in the future as well.

New parts being manufactured that are unique to Aussie manufactured cars is not to be sneezed at, bundles of new and unique performance parts taking advantage of modern technology to keep a smile on the face of a 50 year old car's driver.

cheers
michael

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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

Just adding, I just Minnie Cooper, lol dad called me this morning called regards parts

They just came, woo hoo the legend is living on, Minnie is a 12 year old girl, wanted a mini, dad found one at a job site, $200 later Minnie has a Mini Clubman 1971, sifted through some parts loaded up some milk crates and Minnie is now owner of some good stuff Dad is over the moon, ''Wow thanks for being so helpful'' she was wrapped another smile worth millions and anothe Mini on the road

Dug through the crates of gearwith her young Minnie was up to arms in parts asking loads of questions you would expect from a older lad, you go girl,

Dad will have her on the road in no time,

My Day is getting better the sun is out and I feel warm in side


I still cant beleave someone would called there daughter Minnie Cooper but she was a lovely girl with passion born into her

Some nice thoughts there. Having been into Minis since 1966 there's lots to remember for sure - like when Minis were to be seen everywhere on the roads and you just had to personalise yours to stand out in the crowd on the drive to and from work.

My son was recently watching an early 1970s movie on TV and was shocked to see just how many Minis appeared in the street scenes. "Was it really like that?" he asked.

On the other side a lot of parts that we could only dream about then or were considered too exotic and out of reach are now readily and comparatively inexpensively available (four pin diffs, cross flow heads, and so on).

I was a poor struggling student in the 60s and could barley afford to keep my car on the road let alone modify it. No cheap online buying, no instant access to information or forums to help with mechanical solutions.

Everything's much easier now, but I guess there are a lot of other pressures and demands on people now that weren't around then (for example universities were free and you could rent a house for $18 a week). Times change but our keenness for Minis survives.

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Slide
1965 Mini Van (1360)
1970 Mk2 Cooper S (1310)
1978 Rover SD1 V8 (4.6)
1996 Land Rover Discovery V8 (4.0)

Well said Monte,The times they are a changing...
If you were in Vic I'd be there in a flash

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Pete...
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1968 Deluxe 1275
1969 Deluxe 'Scruby' 998 Looking for a roof skin...

Good day very happy, still loads of parts left but meet some nice young mini owners, good on em

Caught up with a old mini mate too,

We were lucky before the net, cause then we actualy went round to folks for a run lol, iinstead of chatting online, we drove to sydney for parts,

I recall going down on a saturday morning for my parts run, would stop at Thornliegh, pop over to Mini Kingdom and then on to Mini Car Clinic, buy up all my goodies and reurn home broke but busting to install the go fast parts onto the mini

I remember walking into Mini Kingdom when John had that early 1990's Rover Mini Cooper in Red and White wow that was like seeing a spaceship it was so flash and BRAND NEW - what ever happened to that

monte

Wow, what a nice story. As a young bloke it heartens me that there are still some solid connections with the older generation. Im fortunate that one of my dads close mates is much like you. Even the advice he gives or little hints and tips can make my whole week.

Thank you

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1963 850 - laid up
1970 Morris mini K van - eating up the kms!

Id wanted a mini for ages growing up in the 90s, Whenever I would see one in the trading post or on the road side Id always ask dad if it was worth getting and he always said that there are hundreds of minis around and just wait for a good one to come along.

Then when I was old enough to drive I couldn't find a mini worth having for anything I wanted to spend.

If only wed been wiser back when a Coopser S was just another old used car.

Well the parts have picked apart whats left is scrap, sorted out last of it tonight, good to see old friends come and collect and some new mini owners building there dreams all in all good to see parts going to good homes, wrapped the last few parts tonight

Whats left will be loaded into trailer tommorow off to sims

I will honeslty say will miss the hunt, the chase and buying bits but after seeing a shed getting empty its good to move on

For those who have taken something thankyou

For some goodies that are left ebay will be the option on them,

Enjoy living the dream guys and girls

Monte