My original Mini - My Project Log

[Tumble]

Ah the joys of classic car ownership Feel sorry for you matey, really do.

[DanceswithUnix]

This also reminds me of my youth

People used to tell me that Mini parts were cheap. Yes, but does it have to require quite so many, quite so often?

The carb was sticking (again) and the engine was getting tired so I was looking at getting an engine rebore to 1380cc when I said stuff it and bought a car that wasn't stuck in the 1940's.

[Luckygiant]

Wish I had the knowledge to do this sort of thing.
I'd love to roll in an old car with a new engine

[royi]

My wife tried to pass some mini parts for a friend through Heathrow. At first they guy in the x-ray stopped here asking "what is this about?" but as soon as he learned it was mini parts, he had a huge smile on his face, letting us pass through with no extra questions.

[Million]

Epic thread, I've just read it from start to finish with great pleasure then great sadness. On the up side, now you have room in your boot for... well, you have room in your boot!

[Sputnik]

The carb was sticking (again) and the engine was getting tired so I was looking at getting an engine rebore to 1380cc when I said stuff it and bought a car that wasn't stuck in the 1940's.

It still amazes me how long BL/Austin rover used the 'A' series engine for. They used it for about 50 years in different sizes and configuration and in almost as many types of car too.

A very communistic approach to building cars, I'm surprised the company lasted so long considering they never produced a decent car (in my opinion anyway)

[DanceswithUnix]

It still amazes me how long BL/Austin rover used the 'A' series engine for. They used it for about 50 years in different sizes and configuration and in almost as many types of car too.

A very communistic approach to building cars, I'm surprised the company lasted so long considering they never produced a decent car (in my opinion anyway)

Yeah the A series did last a long time, even in an era when engines designs did hang around.

FIAT twin cam & single cam engines were around from the 1960s until late 90's.
The Alfa V6 in my car was around from the late 70's until a few years ago.

Ironic though that the A series engine design lasted half a century, yet the engines themselves fell apart at about 50K miles IME

Edit to add: Just looked up Ford engines on Wikipedia. Looks like their Kent inline 4 lasted 40 years which is pretty good, but still not quite up with the A series.

[joshwa]

Well, I used the car for about a year as a daily commute - then sold it for about £1300 (which is more than I paid for it, around £530?). But do miss it :|