MiniWorldの January 2021 の目次

It's time to settle down with a cuppa and a mince pie and indulge in reading about some fine Minis on the pages of this issue. You can find out about the restoration of James Griffiths' stunning 1275 GT and Nigel Wakeford's retro-styled Mini is almost more a work of art than a car. I have a soft spot for hard-working Minis and the Moke ambulance in this issue is a fantastic example. Elsewhere it's time to gen up on your technical knowledge with Tim Mundy's guide to Mini braking systems and I'm sure you'll enjoy Mark Chadwick's trip to the Isle of Wight in his Rover Mini. If you have not yet started your Christmas shopping then turn to pages 26-27 for inspiration. I hope you enjoy the issue…

MiniWorld subscription The Mini fan in your life will love a subscription to the original and best-selling magazine for the Mini. Every issue is jam-packed with Mini goodness and a new issue will be delivered through their letter box every four weeks. £21.99 – UK six issues (direct debit) £29.94 – UK six issues (credit card) £58 – UK 13 issues £78 – Europe & North America 13 issues £85 – Rest of the world 13 issues https://shop.kelsey.co.uk/subscription/MWO Cooper 60th art print Artist Bex, of ArtbyBex, has collaborated with rally and racing legends to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Mini Cooper with a new artwork print limited to 60 pieces. Each print is hand-signed by Mini motorsport legends Rauno Aaltonen, John Smokin’ Rhodes, Brian Culcheth and Paul Easter. £…

The Moke has always been one of the most versatile vehicles for adaptation, having the modular design of the Mini combined with about the most basic chassis available. Over time we have seen Mokes converted to fire engines, TV camera platforms, pick-ups, tippers, postal vans, 4WD, military use and much more. The pictured Moke is possibly the first to be converted as a fully-equipped ambulance. However, this is not some recently restored relic from the past but a long-standing and valuable member of a private ambulance fleet in Tasmania. At first glance it might seem a bit farcical but this Moke is very well set out for functionality and is ideally suited to its role as a first response unit at special events. It is owned by Tasmanian company Ambulance…

The Mini Thirty is widely regarded by Mini fans and collectors as being one of the best limited edition Minis. Built to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Mini, in 1989, it had a very impressive specification which included alloy wheels and body-coloured mirrors and arches. Inside, it had part-leather seats with Lightning cloth and 1959-1989 tags plus a "sumptuous cut-pile carpet in deep Cherry Red," acccording to the brochure. The steering wheel had red-leather trim and ICE comprised an "electric stereo radio/cassett e player." The Thirty was available in either Black or pearlescent Cherry Red paint which the brochure stated was "the latest in paint technology." Another timely att raction of this Mini was that it was eco-friendly: "Rest assured that Mini Thirty cares for the environment too; it's…

Watsons Specialist Car Centre in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, is teaming up with Jensen’s Retro Café in Huddersfield to build and raffe a Mini to raise money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Geo€ Watson is well known on the Mini scene for racing and rallying Minis and developing conversion kits for Honda and K-series engine swaps in Minis. He says that he has built over 300 conversion kits over the years which have been shipped to Mini fans around the world but this Mini build will be extra special as it’s for a fantastic cause. Jensen’s Retro Café has a classic car and motorbike theme and provides hungry customers with old fashioned fare. Proprietor Suzanne Wigley-Foster has found that raffes are a great way of raising funds: "When COVID happened in March…

New driver Thank you so much for including our letter in the October 2020 issue of MiniWorld. We gave our son Josh the issue as part of his birthday surprise. The entire Crawford family was super excited to see it. Josh passed his G1 driver's licence test yesterday (on his 16th birthday) and drove his classic Mini the 72 kilometres back from the drive test centre. Thank you for your part in making Josh's day great! Richard Crawford Congratulations Josh! [KD] Where is she? Hello, I'm looking for my first Mini which was also my first car. Registration is D644 JNX. I hope she's loved. Kelly Ewing If you own Kelly's old Mini, and you would like to get in touch with her, then feel free to email us at mw.ed@kelsey.co.uk…

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After reading your 998 build feature with Rob Walker a few years back I have decided to build a similar unit to revitalise the ageing Stage 1 998 currently in my Mini. I will be building the bottom end to the same spec as yours and using a Kent 948 cam. I am having the original head modified to Stage 2 and have obtained a pair of 1¼” SUs and manifold which I am in the process of rebuilding. I will be fitting a new RC40 system and the existing gearbox is to be rebuilt. Will it be OK to use the original pressed type rocker gear from the engine or should I fit some A-plus gear? Dan West You can’t beat a well-tuned and set up 998 for a…

With a depleted motorsport calendar, the return of autotesting in Northern Ireland, by Larne Motor Club at Dundrod Industrial Estate, off ered a welcome few hours of normality for competitors. Although the championship itself was parked early on in 2020, the event on 3 October was able to take place in line with government guidance at the time. The contest proceeded without spectators, albeit with temperature checks, social distancing and drivers competing on three test zones in small groups. Champion of the sport, Robin Lyons, in a Mini ‘special’, scored a start-tofinish win, with a saloon-spec Mini driven by Jonnie McDaid following, just over 19 seconds back at the Dundrod venue. It was in the classes geared up for owners with production cars where the entry thrived, with Minis proving…

Long-term Mini fan Shaun Stephenson bought a one-owner 1980 Mini in April 2014 as the basis of a modification project. The Pageant Blue Mini, which was originally destined for Ireland but instead went to the island of Jersey, returned to the British mainland in 1998. Incredibly, it was in very good condition. “I missed out on buying it on eBay and then saw it advertised in the local paper, which was a real bonus,” recalls Shaun. “It was very clean and had only been owned by one family who never used it in the wet, snow or dark, or even if there was a slight chance of rain, so the shell had all its original panels and sills and had never been welded.” Shaun’s plan was to create a retro-styled…

Greg Burrus 1989 Japanese-spec Rover Mini The earliest I remember having an interest in cars was 1978. We were living just outside of Detroit, USA, as my father worked for General Motors. From my view in the back seat of my parents’ 1975 Chevrolet Vega wagon I saw all the shiny new vehicles driving around town. The 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car was my favourite to spot and it was those early years in Michigan that cemented my affinity with cars. I began tinkering on cars in high school and enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment such work gave me. Years later I left an unsatisfying job and enrolled in an Automotive Technology programme and, after graduation, was hired as the mechanic for a small town’s police department. Keeping police cars…

Every year my wife Emilia and I like to get out and about in our Mini Cooper, Popsie, and head off on road trips in the UK and the continent. This year was going to be no different and, like so many people, we had plans for a whole stack of adventures. With bookings for road trips to the IMM in Germany as well as two other trips – one to Normandy and the other to Brittany – it was going to be a good year. Well, of course the world suddenly changed in March with the arrival of COVID-19 and all thoughts of travelling were off. For many weeks we were locked down at home while the Mini collected dust in the garage, the battery slowly flattening itself. Even…