Table of contents for May 2022 in Mini Magazine

There’s a lot of big talk in racing paddocks. Psychology plays a part in track-based success, and being able to psych out your rivals with horsepower propaganda can give you the edge when the flag drops. But when it comes to chasing after the hallowed title of ‘Fastest Mini in the World’, there’s no need for embellishment or exaggeration – check out the bonkers one-off racer on p.10 and you’ll see that this is a hardcore machine that speaks for itself. 380bhp, 610kg, eye-watering performance – plus it’s still front-wheel-drive, so it’s a proper handful! Speaking of proper handfuls, this month’s cover car is an exercise in taking tuning to extremes. Built in France with a Japanese engine, then shipped out to Las Vegas, this supercharged and rear-engined monster is…

There’s a good chance that we’re about to seriously skew some carefully researched figures here. A new study conducted by the car-buying boffins at Perrys has concluded that the average British motorist will own 13 cars in their lifetime, which frankly doesn’t sound like very many to us. But we’re looking at this from a statistically anomalous position, of course, as the average Brit isn’t a car enthusiast like we are – a lot of people see them as appliances and will happily buy a Corsa and then keep it for years until it dies. So, what can we learn from this report and how does it relate to our own experiences? Well, the highlights are that breakdowns and faults are the most common reasons for owners to want to…

ITALIAN STALLION Sale price: €12,500 Photos: Car & Classic ◼ If you don’t mind the steering wheel being on the other side, mainland Europe is the place to find genuine Coopers at the more affordable end of the spectrum. This 1969 Mk2 hails from Italy and, in its recent online Car & Classic auction, achieved a sale price of €12,500 – about £10,400 at today’s exchange rate – which sounds really quite reasonable for a restored and original-spec example with just 41k on the clock. According to the listing, the car has period competition history in the UK, and the body has been comprehensively restored including all new trim and a tasteful repaint. The interior has been fully retrimmed, and they say the car’s as solid underneath as it is…

Sam Snelling is certainly no stranger to a fast Mini, he’s been racing them in Class 1 Autograss for some time now. With a desire to build a rapid road-going equivalent, Sam was lured towards this 1991 Mini City which came with the bonus of a supercharger among other trick mods. Recently his plans have altered, and the supercharger idea has given way to a lairy 998cc turbo conversion, which we are sure will still produce the goods! Unsurprisingly, bodywork repairs have kept Sam busy and with very little previous welding experience under his belt, reaching this current stage is already mightily impressive. The sills, floorpan, scuttle panel and numerous other areas all needed work – little wonder he decided to make things easier by purchasing a bargain £20 spit.…

HIDDEN HORRORS? Q Everyone tells me that I’ve got oversills fitted and that they will ‘rot my car out faster than you can sneeze’, but why is this? They seem to be nice and solid and don’t have any holes in them to let water in. The previous owner told me that they’d been fitted properly. Joe T A Oversills were anathema to many Mini owners over the years. This is because the Mini was seen just as cheap transport for so long. As a consequence folks only ever did to them what was needed as a bare minimum to keep them on the road. As the bodyshell is effectively a monocoque type (no main chassis rails running front to rear), it’s strength is in the box sections created by…

I have just about given up with the Biota for the minute. I can’t use it in pretty much any hillclimb or sprint as its not eligible in its current state, so it’s waiting for me to try it out on a track. It’s likely to spin off and I would rather not do it at a local roundabout. I did however swap my short inlet manifold for the Weber with a customer’s long one as there’s plenty of room and I’m told this is best spec for what I want to do. What I am now concentrating on is the car that I think I will end up using for hillclimbs as it’s not so far removed from standard as to be eligible in the road going class: my…

If you owned one of the country’s fastest R53s, what would you have as your daily driver? An R55 Clubman perhaps, or maybe an F56 Cooper D… something sensible, restrained and well-behaved. Luckily for us, however, Eddie Oliver is absolutely none of those things. In fact, he’s a real character; an intense ball of energy, fun and cheekiness. It’s no surprise, then, that his choice of daily driver is also full of fun, cheekiness and energy. “Well, that’s one way to describe a 385bhp convertible MINI,” he laughs. Eddie’s story is much like every other MINI owner we’ve talked to – hooked on the first drive and totally obsessed ever since. His first was an R53 and that’s the generation he’s stayed committed to. “You couldn’t give me an R56…

“Hey James, got a car for you to cover…” With such an innocuous opening, our esteemed editor sent me to see one of the most bonkers modified Minis I think I’ll ever see. The headline figures say it all: 380bhp from a naturally aspirated V8 with a slender 610kg kerb weight. Just let that sink in for a moment: 380bhp. In a Mini. That’s still front-wheel-drive. As I said, bonkers. But also quite brilliant. To understand just how brilliant, we need to rewind a bit and talk about the fine chap who’s built this mechanical monster, one Harvey Death (pronounced ‘Deeth’, before you say anything). Harvey is a modest, fairly unassuming gent. When I first met him, I struggled to put the idea of a V8 Mini together with the…

◼ The classic car world’s two major umbrella organisations, the FHBVC and the HCVA, have both announced ambitious carbon offsetting schemes aimed at drivers of historic vehicles. The FBHVC scheme is operated in conjunction with Tree-V, and involves planting trees in order to capture the amount of carbon being offset. As plants absorb CO2 during photosynthesis, so planting forests is a means of directly absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Tree-V platform allows users to calculate the amount of carbon produced according to a car’s economy and miles travelled, which is converted into a cost figure, with FBHVC member clubs able to offset carbon footprints for individuals or events. Meanwhile, the HVCA scheme operates in conjunction with NET-HERO, entitled ‘Instant Offset’. This also uses an online calculator, with costs…

Due to the uncertainty surrounding Covid, please be aware that events are subject to change. Keep an eye on the organisers’ websites to stay up to date with any developments. 9th-10th April Goodwood Members’ Meeting Expect elbows-out Mini racing among much else, at Goodwood’s iconic and daffodil-strewn springtime race meet www.goodwood.com/motorsport/members-meeting 29th April – 2nd May Riviera Run Excellent Mini weekender at stunning seaside location of Pentewan Sands Holiday Park in St Austell, Cornwall. Entertainment, rocker cover racing, fancy dress contest, show ‘n’ shine, glow show, kids’ entertainment, local crafts, Mini traders, scenic Mini cruises. Static caravans and camping pitches available on site plus restaurants and watersports. Day visitors are welcome. (No dogs allowed on site.) www.cmcrivierarun.co.uk May 21st-22nd Retro Rides Weekender An absolutely unmissable event taking place at the…

Power corrupts, as the old saying goes. And absolute power? Well, that’s just fantastic. In the case of this lairy and violent Mini, it’s Japanese power doing the business - which might seem a bit odd for a French-built project that now lives in Las Vegas. But when it comes to the barely-harnessed lunacy of VTEC Minis, we should always expect the unexpected. The father of a thousand internet memes, Honda’s VTEC system is more than just a clever piece of valve timing, it’s a lifestyle. Much like forced induction is addictive, and people who experience turbos or superchargers for the first time immediately get hooked on boost, so it is with VTEC: once you’ve held onto that steering wheel with white knuckles beyond 8,000rpm, the howling motor sounding fit…

Running a bodywork repair and restoration business certainly has its advantages, especially if you’ve just lined yourself up with a project Mini. Fortunately for Simon Smedley, working in the trade meant he could really go to town transforming this 1995 Rover Mini Cooper into the immaculate street racer it is today. 53-year-old Simon is no stranger to cars of the older variety; through his business he’s restored numerous classics with the help of his talented team. He’s also repaired more accident-damaged modern cars than he’d care to remember, though that fascination with cars stems from his childhood years. “From a young age I spent many hours with my dad, George, tinkering with cars in his garage,” he remembers. “We’d often visit breakers yards searching for parts to fix them.” Leavingschoolin1984,…

Cool Britannia: a title we truly deserve and, as you’re reading Mini Magazine, you’re obviously cool and therefore acutely aware of the magnificent icons us Brits have bestowed upon pop culture. As well as the Mini, fish ‘n’ chips and Cockney rhyming slang, many influential musicians hail from our little island - including the legend that is David Bowie. I won’t explain Bowie and his otherworldly accomplishments because you should know who he is and consequently the magic he has created. If not (I won’t be mad, just disappointed), go forth and educate yourself, then come back to this column…At 15 years old Bowie formed his first band, The Konrads, playing family gatherings and weddings. During this time David is believed to have worked at the British Motor Corporation, as…

MED ENGINEERING BILLET OUTPUT SHAFT COVERS £165 (pair) MED has developed an uprated output shaft cover kit, CNC machined from billet alloy and complete with new seals, 1.25” internal bushes and fixings. The original covers can often become warped with age, or damaged from over-enthusiastic levering to remove the pot joints. These will suit all Mini output shafts apart from original 1960s Cooper S Hardy Spicers, although MED also produces adapters for LSDs and standard diffs if you wish to use Hardy Spicer couplings. ● www.med-engineering.co.uk MINI SPORT COOPER 4-POT 8.4” ALLOY CALIPER CONVERSION £751.50 These Cooper Car Company calipers are precision CNC manufactured in the UK from aircraft-grade aluminium billets, and finished with a high-temperature coating in Brilliant Red with a reflective Cooper logo on the front face. Hand-built…

Can there be such a thing as having too many Minis? For years, I haven’t thought so. And evidently I still don’t, for having sold my Japanese-import Mayfair (more on that in a future issue), I went out and bought another Mini to replace it in a matter of weeks (more on that in a future issue, too). Anyway, there is a snag to having an oversized fleet, in that you end up making a little progress here and there without properly finishing anything. So while I’ve been collecting bits for the new purchase and generally chasing around all over the country, I still haven’t got the Innocenti sorted. As I write, it’s almost back together. I just need to fill it with oil and coolant, sort a few wiring…

Classic Minis unite families-fact! Paul Gershon is proof, as he’s the first to admit he loves them and his son Troy also shares the passion. Paul’s had two, and he and Troy have been on the Italian Job charity run not once, but twice. Think back to our February 2020 issue – remember the Solar Red Cooper Sport that was in prime position on the front cover? That was Paul’s too, as he explains: “I’m a dealer, I’m very passionate about old cars and I’m very particular about what I do.” He still has that Cooper. But how did Paul go from the sportiest Mini to the most rugged? Well, he admits he was a fan of the Moke, but it wasn’t until he came across this yellow one that…

Everyone has their own unique reasons for preferring particular motoring formats and approaches. Some like to waft about the place in opulent splendour, insisting upon softly-sprung barges swathed in buttery-smooth leather. Others like gnarly, snorting off-roaders jacked up to the nines, ready to assault the scenery in a firestorm of man-versus-nature. Cravat sporting boulevardiers wouldn’t dare to be seen in anything other than an elegant, sylph-like roadster. And folks who hanker after hot hatches? Well, those things are addictive - these are cars for people who like to pretend to be sensible, but are in fact slightly unhinged. They’ve characterised a particular kind of driving thrill since their inception in the mid-1970s; sure, a rear-wheel-drive coupé with a bruising straight-six would offer transitory mirth, and a low-slung roadster would entertainingly…

◼ There’s a new gig at Caffeine & Machine, and it sounds like something that should strongly appeal to the Mini owner’s clubs, forums, Facebook groups and suchlike out there. It’s called Club Culture, and it’ll be happening on the Monday and Tuesday evening slots between 5-10pm. The concept offers up 80 premier parking spots, a dedicated private booking link, and a personal booking contact to organise and accommodate club needs; tickets are £10 each, and as part of the booking, each member receives a 50% concession per car redeemable against food and drink. For those readers who haven’t made the trek to Caffeine & Machine, here’s the story in a nutshell: sitting just outside Ettington, Warwickshire, the venue offers something unique in the field of our favourite activity (i.e.…

Send ‘Your Minis’ pictures to minimag.ed@kelsey.co.uk FIT FOR PURPOSE Name: Paul Standing Car: Rover 1275 Location: UK ◼ Paul’s mean and menacing Mini is a great example of a car that’s built to be used and gets enjoyed all year round. It’s a bit of a mish-mash of styles and eras, and of course we mean that in the most respectful way – he’s cherry-picked his favourite bits from across the Mini generations to make it just how he wants it to be. “It’s a slightly ratty little runabout as I prefer to drive it rather than polish it,” he explains. “The suspension is converted to coil springs, and it’s running a 1275 with a fast-road cam and twin exhaust. There’s a Mk1 front and Mk2 rear lights, and of…

In the modified and custom car scene, there are certain ways of doing things. At least, that’s what people will tell you. VXR Vauxhalls need to be Arden Blue, Mk1 Escorts need to have bubble arches and Cibies, Mk4 Golfs need to be aired out over wheels that are worth more than the whole car. These are the perceived immutable constants of modern modding. What a load of cobblers. If you’re building your car to impress other people, you’re doing it wrong; sure, it’s nice to receive admiring glances and friendly compliments on the showground, and winning the odd trophy is a wonderful reward for your hard work, but when you pull it all down to brass tacks, you’re the one who owns the thing. The only person you need…

Mini history tells us that Issigonis didn’t so much design the Mini as drape a minimal amount of metal over the components he wanted to use to create the shape and style. And for a car that was literally sketched out on a napkin you’d have to argue he smashed it out of the park, with a look that endured for decades afterwards. That must have made the thought of a restyle, something mooted by BMC’s management in the mid-’60s, something of a daunting challenge for any stylist to pick up their pen and make improvements. But in 1967, Roy Haynes, fresh from his success at Ford with the Mk2 Cortina, was quickly poached and drafted in to give the Mini a fresh new face for the exciting decade ahead.…

Mini TECH The essentials for keeping your Mini on the road. BEFORE STARTING The first rule of working on cars and using tools of any kind is don’t be stupid. Make sure personal protective gear – goggles, gloves, ear defenders, masks and a set of overalls - are hanging on a hook in your garage and use them wisely. If you’re working with power tools, protective gear is essential. Never attempt to work under a car without supporting it securely using suitably strong axle stands. If you haven’t got a fire extinguisher, buy one and keep it near to hand. The bottom line? If you’re not completely confident of your own ability to complete any task safely, don’t even start it. Leave it to the experts. COST £31.20 per side…

The ERA Turbo sits in an interesting position within the classic Mini oeuvre, being an aftermarket conversion that was officially available through Austin Rover dealers. The concept was very eighties in its execution: forced induction and lairy bodykits were the order of the day in the hot hatch world, and the formula transplanted neatly into this elegant little saloon. Developed by English Racing Automobiles, whose motorsport prowess stretched back to 1933, the starting point for the ERA Turbo was to drop a Metro Turbo engine into the Mini shell. This wasn’t a straight swap, requiring some mods to the cooling system, and the chassis came in for upgrades too. With the 94bhp motor enabling a 0-60mph dash in sub-10 seconds and a three-figure top speed, adjustable dampers were added along…

Various plots and schemes have been bubbling away for the Clubman. If you missed the announcement last month, we’re going to be running this as an ongoing project through 2022, making a few tweaks and upgrades and gently turning the coolness dial up to eleven; what’s more, you could win this car… tickets are on sale now (web link at the bottom of the page), and all proceeds of the giveaway will be donated to CALM, the Campaign Against Living Miserably. They’re leading a movement against suicide, running a free and anonymous helpline and webchat service from 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year, for anybody who needs them at thecalmzone.net. So, this month it’s been all hands on deck readying the Clubman for the first big show. At time…

On July 7 2001, MINI dealers opened for business within BMW retailers across the UK, with the 90bhp One and 115bhp Cooper models available to buy. Lucky early adopters took delivery of their cars and many quickly followed. They were attracted by the New MINI’s mixture of cheeky but sympathetic styling, build quality, impressive safety features and low running costs. The latter was helped by the ‘TLC’ package, which covered all servicing charges for the first five years or 50,000 miles, and could be transferred to the next owner. There was soon a long waiting list for new cars, with residuals very high and second-hand examples being sold for more than a new one! Sharp steering and playful handling were key highlights of the Cooper, but with 115bhp it offered…