Classic Mini (non BMW content)

[DREWHALL]

Vic yours is so classic. All these Minis make me want one even more.

[clutch-monkey]

I've looked into it, and bought the "how-to" guide for research and parts hoarding....

yeah, there's a guy here with his own kit, will fit it for you $4k AUD drive in, drive out. 120-130 hp and smooth as any modern engine.
i was tempted, but going the traditional route for now.

FWIW, a clean stock Mini generally runs from $7-10k in the states.

:???:

[VicSkimmr]

Yep.

http://www.minimania.com/Cars4Sale_list.cfm

That's where the vast majority of people sell them. If you weed out the rust buckets, the BMWs and the Minis with engine swaps, you should end up with a pretty decent list in the $7-10k range.

[fryerfighter94]

literally 2 seconds of searching

http://www.minimania.com/web/id/9099/Cars4Sale_Detail.cfm

but ya hes right

[ldsbeaker]

yeah, there's a guy here with his own kit, will fit it for you $4k AUD drive in, drive out. 120-130 hp and smooth as any modern engine.
i was tempted, but going the traditional route for now.

:???:

Don't get me wrong, mine is a 1275 auto (sigh), and it gets up pretty well. Pretty much tops out at 75 (at least that's as fast as I want to take it), but 75 in such a small car feels pretty damn fast, plus the holes you can shoot in traffic? Unbelievable.
I swear, it's like the Italian Job everytime I drive that thing. Awesome.

But who wouldn't want to double their horsepower? Especially for the price.

[clutch-monkey]

auto? not the two speed? hell, i'll GIVE you a manual gearbox to correct this injustice :)

but yeah i find i can never get frustrated in slow traffic - any speed feels like you're making great progress in a mini haha.

[ldsbeaker]

auto? not the two speed? hell, i'll GIVE you a manual gearbox to correct this injustice :).

I think it's 4 speed?
That would be great...
EXCEPT

Yup you guessed it. The engine and transmissions are "match and marry". In other words, you can't just mate up a manual transmission to an "auto" engine. (I can't remember if the subframes are like that, too)

FML

*on the good side, auto Mini are pretty rare, but mine's freakin' frankenstein.*

[VicSkimmr]

Mine tops out at about 65 on a good day :( I'd love to have a 1275 (actually I'd love to swap an R1 engine in it), but it's too classy to mess with it. I'm planning on shaving the engine bay and leaving it as is.

[clutch-monkey]

I think it's 4 speed?
That would be great...
EXCEPT

Yup you guessed it. The engine and transmissions are "match and marry". In other words, you can't just mate up a manual transmission to an "auto" engine. (I can't remember if the subframes are like that, too)

FML

*on the good side, auto Mini are pretty rare, but mine's freakin' frankenstein.*

haha you can convert to manual from what i understand, skimming topics on ausmini.com, but you're right from what i recall there is some dicking about.
hell i have spare subframes too.. :D

Mine tops out at about 65 on a good day :( I'd love to have a 1275 (actually I'd love to swap an R1 engine in it), but it's too classy to mess with it. I'm planning on shaving the engine bay and leaving it as is.

yeah, i'm currently rebuilding a 1275 to the cooper S police spec. if i had an 1100 i'd probably do a smallbore twincam conversion, but 1275's are getting harder to find these days so yeah..
still a shell as i get everything together.


sister has a '94 rover mini.

[blitz355]

i want one so bad.

[VicSkimmr]

Oooh I like the Mk I bumper treatment on the Mk III :D

[ldsbeaker]

Man! That's two guys FROM AUSTRALIA who can help me out.
Geeeez, why do I have to live so far away?

hmmm... Just how available are parts? Mine's RHD, so no worries there...
It would probably cost twice as much as the cost of the parts to ship it, right?
Maybe we can work something out?

[freeride53]

that looks so cool!

[clutch-monkey]

Man! That's two guys FROM AUSTRALIA who can help me out.
Geeeez, why do I have to live so far away?

hmmm... Just how available are parts? Mine's RHD, so no worries there...
It would probably cost twice as much as the cost of the parts to ship it, right?
Maybe we can work something out?

haha yeah, i spend most of my time calculating if it's cheaper to ship stuff from the US or UK, local stuff is usually a touch more expensive, depends on exchange rate.

http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=61903&highlight=auto+manual

$1500AUD for manual 1275 and gearbox, plus ~$1200 shipping..?

[Dermeister3]

WOW i wish i found these cars instead of E30s. hehe jk.

i would have LOVED to drive to HS in that everyday. one SEXY car.