I have to mostly agree with a reliable daily.

Back then, when minis were the norm they were the daily drivers for men, women, wives and a whole host of others.

The biggest problem for most was the distributor getting wet in the rain. Yes with 40 or 50 old years, many have been deconstricted and reconstructed but put back together properly they should be just as reliable.

The weakness are mainly the rubbers in the oil seals, the brakes and other hydraulics and also the build up on crud in the cooling system. Pay attention to those areas and there is no real reason why they cant be a daily driver even now.

They do require some regular maintainance but no more than any other car with a few miles on it. Lift the bonnet and check the consumables regularly.

Just like any other car they have a couple of archilles heels. The gearbox is not designed for dumping the clutch, wheelspins and chucking it back a cog at high revs. That does damage so dont do it.

Mike Byron

In the 2-3 years I drove my clubman daily, it never left me stranded on the side of the road. Not once did I have that car towed or have to call for help - And I had no idea about mechanics!

Worst event was the clutch went about 2km from home and the car stalled at the lights.
No worries, put the car in 2nd, when the lights go green hit the starter and cruise home in 2nd gear


edit:
Honestly, go for it.
It's great and rewarding driving it so often instead of wrapping it up at home and only getting it out once a month.

Sure, you might need to leave a little bit earlier than everyone else to get to work, but at least you won't be rushed

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You're so square
Baby I don't care

Many a good tune was played on an old fiddle!

Mine was a dialy driver for years, a hotted up Cooper S and it rarely let me down. Included Melbourne daily rush hour traffic, frequent interstate blasts, and occasional street drags (back in the day when these things were more tolerated).

Later I used my Mini van as daily driver, again no major break downs. As said, swap in a good electronic dissy, waterproof the igniton system, make sure the cooling system is in top shape and change the oil frequently.

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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)

I agree with the majority. Don't forget Issy's own words when he said he designed a car for the village nurse.. ie reliable.

IMHO the best thing you can do is treat it to regular use. The cars that play up are the ones that sit in the shed and are taken out now and again for a "club run".

When you start regular use you may come across a few teething problems (they're old cars) but get through these (usually minor issues) and you'll be fine.

If I had spent what its cost to keep the wife's 10 year old Subaru on the road the Mini would be gold plated by now....

Good luck, Ian

My 3 daughters have used minis as daily drivers for the past 15+ years.
They bring them to me when they break, which is very rare, and I fix them.
Eldest daughter used to drive 2 or 3 days a week from Wollongongto Sydney, which was about 100km each way.
Just need a weather shield over the distributor and they will go almost any where

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1969 Cooper "S"
1967 Mini Deluxe
1973 Clubman Van (the fleet spare)
1978 ex 1275 LS ("Wizard" Eaton Supercharged)
2015 HSV GenF GTS(occasional drive & tow car)
2019 MINI F55 Cooper S

I have been using my 1966 Morris 1100 as a daily drive car for over 12 years.
I think the most important thing is to work out a regular service schedule.

Follow the BMC schedules, lube everything that needs lubing, adjust everything that needs adjusting and do it according to the book.

Also keep the engine clean. The main reason the ignition systems fail when it rains is because the dirt on the engine becomes conductive when it get wet.

mine is an everyday at the moment, has been since i bought it 4 years ago, never had a major problem, just your usual little things

mines a 1275 twin carb, some kind of big lumpy cam (dont know what haha), no sound proofing at all either

but i love driving it so it doesnt bother me at all

I'm trying to get my wifes clubman finished some can start on my 65 panelvan. I have a company car but I'll be driving the van as often as I can ( 3 to 4 days a week Melbourne peak hour and I know with regular maintinence it will be fine.. Just listen to the guys, water proof the dizzy and make sure your cooling system is A1 grease and oil change as per the book and your mini will run for years to come.. It's not a race car unless it's built as one, they were bullt as a low cost fuel efficient small car and 50 years later they still are.

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If its got tits or wheels its gonna cost you

1973 Solid side Leyland Mini Panelvan 1100 in Hairy Lime(Elma)
1976 Clubby project in progress
1966 Morris Mini Deluxe in need of a full resto
1971 Mini K Garden Art

Go for it!

Drive mine every day. No fun sitting in the shed. Four years and my biggest issue was ran outa juice 100 yards from home.
The only secret to Mini driving is to drive smart.
Left lane if the hills coming,
Left lane if the petrols low,
Left lane if it's getting hot,
Left lane if you need to slam the brakes,
Left lane if it's raining,
Left lane if ya can't keep up,
See a pattern here?
With an 850 I know my limits.

You steer a modern car, but you drive a Mini!

PS: Carry a mobile phone.
Cheers
Alex.

use my 73 van every day also do a paper delivery every morning
as said look after it it will look after you.
keep up the service should have no problems
use it or lose it as the saying goes.

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65 panel van Sprog
73 panel van Iggy

wow thanks for all the replies guys lol. so the idea is drive it as a daily and enjoy it. I like working on cars any way so a little maintenance doesn't bother me in the least . I can safely say you have gotten me motivated to get my mini on the road and just enjoy it. thank again guys much appreciated

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Regards Kermit (TadPole)

I used to drive mine 400km each way every second weekend in Central Queensland. Get a plastic 1L milk bottle, cut the lid off and stuff it over the dissy.

Problem with driving one daily is pulling up at the shops / servo - everyone wants to chat about the car, or tell you that they owned one etc! So allow 20mins extra for each trip!

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

Better still is the middle aged women who walk towards the mini, stop and look at it from a few metres away and then smile to themselves before walking on by.

I sit there and say to myself "yeah I know and me too back then"

Mike

just had a look for some electronic ignitions. how does this one look http://www.minisport.com.au/prod1594.htm

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Regards Kermit (TadPole)

That electronic module can be had on eBay for $50 or less, just stick one in your existing dizzy and buy some new plug leads (and dizzy cap if needed). Your existing coil will be just fine too.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.