> A highly modified classic mini is a visceral experience, even when operating within the speed limit and especially on 10 inch wheels.
A stock 1000cc with nothing more than a tweaked cam profile plus LCB exhaust was equally exhilarating when I had it 20+ years ago. Loved that car. Didn't love the drum brakes and scary-fade-going-downhill as much though!
Properly envious that you still have a functioning 1275 - expecially an S (if you mean Cooper S?) and not just the GT.
Yeah its an Australian Cooper S, I got it in 96. To be honest the tech really hasn't changed that much since. I suppose the electronic ignition is the biggest change and I changed to an HIF carb - modded to vizard spec of course. The clubman 998 I have is drum all around, and I agree! The only saving grace is due to their narrow width you can hopefully squeeze between cars waiting at the intersection when they inevitably fail.
I learned to drive in a Mini Mark IV. After passing my test I had all sorts of near misses with it. One particularly hairy one was coming round a bend to find traffic queuing at a junction, I locked the wheels and hit the curb, spinning 180 and finishing inches from a wall, no damage.
A stock 1000cc with nothing more than a tweaked cam profile plus LCB exhaust was equally exhilarating when I had it 20+ years ago. Loved that car. Didn't love the drum brakes and scary-fade-going-downhill as much though!
Properly envious that you still have a functioning 1275 - expecially an S (if you mean Cooper S?) and not just the GT.