Years ago, there was this big rush towards modified Minis... 200hp at the wheels monsters with aftermarket Suzuki and Toyota engines, 4WD, etc etc etc.

Now adays, all the projects seem to be running down the restoration route... you know the whole "I found this car in a scrap yard all rusted out and now i have replaced all the panels and painted it and its new." route.

What seems to have changed? Is this product of the cash needed or is it a new rush of people coming onto the scene doing different things??

Thoughts? Opinons?

I tend to think there is a recognition that mini's - especially oz built ones - are dwindling in numbers and they are coming are of an age were they are just starting to get their worth.

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Still a fair bit going in all camps....

but when I was younger didn't care about this originality obsession... just make it go (and go fast) and being my everday driver - things to make it comfortable and play some tunes definitely on the list....

Am now getting older, the minis are my weekend toys and becoming more caught up in keeping "as it was"..
.. but have ended up with several cars so have some to play with and others to be kept original....

and that AWD Crv based conversion is so tempting if I was to go to the "darkside" ...

I know what you are saying but it is not limited to minis alone no one wants to destroy a classic they are worth to much

I'm not interested in the whole high powered craze anymore. I've got my bike for that. I just want my little Mini that runs well and is reliable that I can drive around knowing the brakes and everything else work as best they can.

Besides I think a good restoration would cost more than major power upgrades....

Greetings All.
An interesting question. I am one for originality. Mini's are getting "Thin on the ground". Line up a new Mercedes, a new Commodore and an old Mini, and most people will only see the Mini.
keeping an old Mini as it was built is harder to do and people recognise that.
Maybe I'm getting senile, but if you spend thousands of dollars trying to keep up with modern cars, then why not just buy one. My 850 puts out 34hp. With it's twin SU's and a prayer, it now puts out about 35hp! It's never going to keep up with modern cars!
I remember something my dad said thirty odd years ago:
QUOTE:
It took Holden Engineers, Designers and experts years to perfect their suspension, and you young idiots change it! (he was right,ya know!)

Anyhow, I'm wofling on. Restore them, don't ruin them!

Alex.

Sounds like I might have to start buying the occasional mini world again. I got sick of looking at all the body kits that seemed to adorn every mini in that magazine.

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

I'm relatively new to minis but am definitely in the restoration camp. I am gradually returning my 1275LS from a blue paint job and timber dash back to the original Nugget Gold etc. When it is finally finished that'll be a day to smile from ear to ear.

I'm not in favour of alternate power plants and honestly if you want a car that will do nicely in a drag race, get a dunnydore or Ford Whatsit.

I reckon minis are fun to drive without having to do 120mph all the time. Zipping around corners is great and I always get good conversations on the back of owning a mini.

I dont quite get the bodykit thing on minis. personally I reckon they look better standard with flares but each to his own I suppose.

Anyway, you get the gist.

Oh and my parents named me after my great grandad Alec. I like to think dad had a secret love of the mini and its creator. One can only hope

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Cheers
Alec
1275LS - July 78 - XNFAD18Y/102918

Personally i'm in the originality camp, although i dont mind some mods.
To me the ideal mini would look completely original, but have a slightly zippioer A-series engine.

I like, and can appreciate originality, but am not really one for the restrictions of concourse.

Give me a mini that looks stock, but has a nice stroker motor, and I'm happy as can be!

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You're so square
Baby I don't care

I'm still of the same 'camp' as i've always been. Give me an A series. Mod the car how you like, but make sure it can be all put back to how it left the factory. Give me period stuff, too.

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It took 'em 40 years to get brakes that sort of worked and to get a suspension that wasn't used in the horse and buggy days.

I never used to like 'fast' Mini's, even though I'd built a Mini that made decent grunt and can keep up with most modern traffic easily. That was until I had a ride in a 'fast' Mini and it changed everything. It really adds a new dimension to the whole thing. Just think about it, a Mini that not only goes around corners but can come out of them with pace. So many people back in the 60s and 70s tried (and some succeeded very well) to make Mini's go fast and nowadays it's even easier with the options available so why not take advantage of that?

Each to their own, I love all Mini's but never discount a crazy fast, modified Mini 'till you've tried it as you probably won't want anything else after that (which is a risk indeed).

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1964 Morris 850, 1330 Supercharged - 81.8hp atws.
1975 Leyland Mini S 1100S powered - Nice and reliable.
1977 Leyland Mini LS - Project LS-T

Easy answer - get one of each

When I bought my mini, I was thinking of putting discs in, then a worked 1275 etc. etc.

But since I was (and still am) a student, I started with a stage 1 kit and a good tune of my 998. And now, I'm actually pretty happy with how it is. I might open up the head a little and skim it to increase the compression sometime in the future (insurance would kill me if I did that now), but apart from that, I'm leaving it as is. Big hills are a pain, but other than that, I'm happy.

I always figured that bog-standard minis are good to modify - it's a shame to see a cooper, GT or 850 irreversibly modified.

I had a very FAST Mini back in the 70's that shocked a few V8's and XU1's,
only downside was I was for ever fiddling with the tune, in hindsight it was probably a bit too modified for a road car, lots of fun though. Wish I still had it today.