MINI... Cooper that is
Before I had a drivers license, I fell in love with the Mini. Made in England by various manufacturers in the 1960's, there were several different styles and models. I recall names like Austin Mini, Morris Mini and the Mini Cooper S.Weekend activities in Miami always had something interesting and when a parent volunteered to drive kids to see car races... there were more kids than room in the car and usually the older kids got first choice to go. On my first trip to see a race, they had the mini-class and a handful of Mini Coopers were on the track. Small, low and fast. If you have seen any British spy movies, a mini was usually the getaway car of choice!
I wanted a Mimi and every weekend I'd scan the Sunday newspaper looking for a used one. Typically, they were already sold before I could get there to make an offer.
One problem with Mini's were emission controls... they didn't have any!
Imported to America prior to regulations, the older cars were exempt from having add-on devices to pass the pollution standards of the newer vehicles. As far as I know, no new Minis were coming to America. If you had the money and connections, you could import a used one under the 'grey market' and get around some of those regulations.
As a touring musician, I was 'star-struck' when I traveled to Canada and saw Minis everywhere. By then, emission control standards were getting difficult so It wasn't practical to bring one to America. Life changed for me and I purchased a Honda. :-(
One of the amazing things about Minis is their engineering. Up until that time, car engines were inline... the cylinders were arranged front-to-back. When you revved the motor, the car often shook sideways from the torque. The Mini engine was transversely mounted (as in sideways) so the torque pulled forward and the side tilting was eliminated.
Mini production halted more than a generation ago and only in the last decade did BMW bring a redesigned Mini to market. While it shares the name and some visuals, we all know it's not the same car.
My car is in the repair shop this week and the rental company offered me a Mini. It's the Countryman, a longer hatchback model. While I've only put 20 miles on the car Wednesday, I've got 3 outside appointments today and expect to have the car for the weekend.
What do I think so far?
Solid, quiet interior, lots of gadgets. All wheel drive so I wasn't able to screech tires on the takeoff!
My immediate dislike are the small rearview mirrors. Fashion over function. I consider them a safety liability as the view is limited. Also, the short doors make getting in and out a time consuming squeeze.
Comments (11)
My first real car was a blue Austin Mini Van, the next car a rather sad, beaten up Mini Cooper which my father and I rebuilt and sold for a hefty profit.
The Mini was the start of my lifelong passion for cars and racing them,
The transverse engine is the norm these days, from acorns mighty oak trees grow.
Paddy Hopkirk, the God of Mini Cooper rallying and racing.
for lengthy Florida vacations. The gal across the street from me loves hers though and her tiny purses.
One day in 1974 a couple of engineers from the EPA came to our dealership to get some baseline exhaust emission readings from some of the new import cars in our showroom. This was when the Gov was just setting up exhaust testing. While they were there I happened to have Ed's 1275 full race Mini engine on our engine dyno so I asked one of the engineers if they would like to stick their probe up the exhaust pipe while I was making a 7000 RPM full load run on the dyno. I thought the guy was gonna wet himself he was so excited. After the test I asked him "Well, how did it go?" He said it was so clean he couldn't even get a reading. I wasn't surprised considering how perfectly tuned the engine was.
It's got quirks in the personality I dislike.
But, I will say compared to my Veloster, it's quick and easy to be doing 60 in a 40 zone and not realize it.
Maybe the best feature I have found is the hatchback.
It lifts with a touch to reveal a flat cargo area.
Very convenient when loading and unloading.
Yesterday it was groceries and today model helicopters and flight gear.
Unable to find the dipstick, I closed the hood.
If you've seen anyone racing with a Mini Cooper, they often pull on the hand brake to control the car in tight turns. Finesse as the driver can pull as much as needed for the effect.
The mechanical hand brake has been replaced by a switch. It's off or on with nothing in between.
#2 was Toyota pickup then all ford 2 dodge and one chevy car and I still own a heavy chevy k 20 pick up 1983 4 wh drive less than 90,000 miles. mint fresh paint and gets about 4 to 6 miles to the gal.