Ahhh, the hydro ute......i've been searching the web for a year and have not found a site dedicated to this particular mini.... Even mini-show photos have not produced anything ......other than this one....
Pretty crappy picture, but its the only one in my 3000+ collection.....
I remember looking into this a long while back, when planning my roadster, cos i wanted to have in-cabin adjustment of ride height....
I was reading up on another hydro mini, it was a tray top mini ute with twin rear subframes and 6 wheels. The hydro system was borrowed from a Citroen DX16 and adapted to the mini's hydro syspension system, and was apparrently pretty easy to install... i bet it wasnt cheap though... It was featured in Mini World, November 1998, Page 6....
You could make a crude version using a standard mini hydro setup.... replace the original filler valves with some solenoid valves,, a pump to pressurise it, and a tank for the fluid reserve.......perhaps????? This could give you the ability to ride high or low, or lean to one side.... you couldn't lift just the front or back though..... and definitely NO HOPPING..... it'll go BANG!!!!!!
The major downside is the mini suspension design - bump steer. Changing the ride height will change the toe angle on the front wheels, causing excessive tyre wear and poor steering control..... but who cares when you can go hydro
