Rugd1022 Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 9 minutes ago, Northmoor said: Unbelievable it may be but I have never driven one and only been driven in one a couple of times (by a school friend who like many 18y.os thought he was the next British Rally Champion). I do wish I had bought a Mini City or Mayfair (or older) back in the late 80s when you could pick up drivable ones for a few hundred quid. Now people want £2-3k for MOT failures. There are a surprising number of unmolested Mini Cities and Mayfairs still knocking about, due mainly to the type of genteel owners who bought them new, and priced accordingly now because of their good condition. They tend to get snapped up by people wanting a good solid starting point for customising etc. The same goes for the Mini 30 editions in cherry red or black, there are still plenty of good ones about. Despite the recent overall drop in classic car values, Mini pricing still seems to exist in a 'bubble' where the value of Coopers and Cooper Ss has dragged up everything else, especially early vans, woodies and 1275GTs. A mate of mine came round in his tatty but rather lovely brown '79 Clubman 1098 last night and we were chatting about the low mileage '65 Cooper project he sold eight years ago, lo and behold the guy he sold it to down in Guildford has restored it and just put it on the market... https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1735822?fbclid=IwY2xjawEgL1dleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHbrjBIs0DFWSPjERcyOnHKxEm3SF7IB72OEH09awa9Mg4YWzzMD2vzHG-Q_aem_o2Mh8tHjtw7VSqICoGCgVQ The first owner took it off the road in 1973 when it failed the MOT, it sat in his garage in Hillmorton, Rugby until 2003 when my mate who lived close by bought it, he intended to restore it himself but other cars 'got in the way' so he decided to let it go in 2016 and the chap from Guildford bought it. I said to him last night how nice it would be if one of us bought it and brought it back up to Rugby, but he's just been made redundant and I've got no space left in me garage! 8 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted August 7 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 7 (edited) 1 hour ago, Oldddudders said: Original-shaped minis are still about. An E-prefix model came past us as we were walking to the pub the other night. Our 1960 example, a complete bitsa built by a neighbour, seemed great fun and served us well as a second car in the early 80s, having helped Deb pass her test. But they do indeed look 'mini' these days! Unlike the new ones, which are anything but! I parked next to a Countryman the other week and I reckon it was slightly bigger than my Skoda Yeti in at least one direction. A bit of Googling revealed the latest version is over a metre longer than the original Mini estate. Probably not much bigger inside, though, as it seems to be carrying a 3-piece suite when you get it.😄 Edited August 7 by Dunsignalling 3 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westernfan Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 These seem to be becoming popular as modern a classic. This one was on ebay and reached 6,600 when the auction ended and failed to make its reserve. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted August 8 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 8 With hindsight I wish I’d never sold my nova Cossack back in ‘94! An awful car but on the same hand great! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastairq Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 Indeed, the Niva was a useful basic do-anything tool. Such a pity the consumerist autoworld today hasn't anything like its ''basic-ness?'' 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Hroth Posted August 8 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 8 (edited) On 07/08/2024 at 13:08, Dunsignalling said: Unlike the new ones, which are anything but! I parked next to a Countryman the other week and I reckon it was slightly bigger than my Skoda Yeti in at least one direction. A bit of Googling revealed the latest version is over a metre longer than the original Mini estate. Probably not much bigger inside, though, as it seems to be carrying a 3-piece suite when you get it.😄 Apparently it is possible to assemble an original mini shell inside a "New Mini". Obviously the seats need removing first! As for size, its not just the new mini thats bloated. Some Fiat 500s seem even larger... Edited August 8 by Hroth 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastairq Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 I've mentioned it before, but the last Ford Mondeo had a slightly larger footprint than the 60's Ford Mustang. Yet the Mustang [at least, my old '67 model, no longer with me!] was a good 11 inches wider inside..... 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westernfan Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 4 hours ago, big jim said: With hindsight I wish I’d never sold my nova Cossack back in ‘94! With respect, it's "Niva" The Lada Nova on the continent was what was called the Lada Riva in the United Kingdom because Vauxhall were already using the name Nova. The Niva Cossack was good, although I prefer the Niva Hussar with its 1.7 fuel injected engine. Also, it has a better designed tailgate which reaches to the bumper as opposed to the Cossack which has a rather high sill. (See pics below.) COSSACK HUSSAR 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted August 8 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 8 2 hours ago, westernfan said: With respect, it's "Niva" Damn auto correct 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted August 9 Share Posted August 9 Interesting piece on old reg' numbers here on youtube... 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyPenguin Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 On 08/08/2024 at 12:10, westernfan said: These seem to be becoming popular as modern a classic. This one was on ebay and reached 6,600 when the auction ended and failed to make its reserve. Is that more than they were when new ? 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastairq Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 (edited) https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208098606800 https://lada4x4.co.uk/lada-specs-%26-pricing Edited August 10 by alastairq 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1 Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 Blimey! I thought they supposed to be cheap! steve 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 Got my Mk2 Cooper back from the local Mini guru this morning, it flew through the MOT and now has a new fuel pump and 'hi-lo' adjustable suspension, the drive home elicited lots of giggles, BMC gear wine and broad grins! Parked outside the workshop was this slightly tatty but still rather swanky Daimler XJ Coupe... 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyPenguin Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 3 hours ago, Rugd1022 said: Got my Mk2 Cooper back from the local Mini guru this morning, it flew through the MOT and now has a new fuel pump and 'hi-lo' adjustable suspension, the drive home elicited lots of giggles, BMC gear wine and broad grins! Parked outside the workshop was this slightly tatty but still rather swanky Daimler XJ Coupe... Love the Mini. However, a really pedantic tester could possibly have failed it (unless lighting regs' are not retrospective.) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted August 10 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 10 4 hours ago, steve1 said: Blimey! I thought they supposed to be cheap! steve When 99% of anything rots away, what's left becomes "collectible". Trouble is, any that get used as daily drivers or parked within ten miles of the coast will meet the same fate as the rest. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted August 10 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 10 (edited) 7 hours ago, GrumpyPenguin said: Love the Mini. However, a really pedantic tester could possibly have failed it (unless lighting regs' are not retrospective.) If they were retrospective, it would need to have had a high-level brake light fitted as well as the rear fog light I presume you are hinting at? The MoT requirement is TTBOMK, that all original lights must work, and any subsequently fitted must be positioned in accordance with the Construction and Use Regulations (or whichever EU-based standards replaced them) that applied at the time of alteration. John Edited August 11 by Dunsignalling clarification 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted August 10 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 10 1 hour ago, GrumpyPenguin said: Love the Mini. However, a really pedantic tester could possibly have failed it (unless lighting regs' are not retrospective.) 48 minutes ago, Dunsignalling said: If they were retrospective, it would need to have had a high-level brake light fitted as well as the rear fog light I presume you are hinting at? The MoT requirement is TTBOMK, that all original lights must work, and any subsequently fitted must be positioned in accordance with the Construction and Use Regulations (or whichever EU-based standards replaced them). Older vehicles are only required to comply with the C&U regulations in force at the time of registration. Any upgrades such as flashing indicators once fitted cannot be removed once installed however. 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted August 11 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 11 Duly clarified. Talking of "in force at the time", the other night on TV, Drew Pritchard and his mate did over a 1976 NSU Ro80 (P-reg), and gave it black number plates. I understood they were only legal on cars registered up to the end of 1972. John 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doilum Posted August 11 Share Posted August 11 5 hours ago, Dunsignalling said: Duly clarified. Talking of "in force at the time", the other night on TV, Drew Pritchard and his mate did over a 1976 NSU Ro80 (P-reg), and gave it black number plates. I understood they were only legal on cars registered up to the end of 1972. John Recent change in rules. All " historic" registered vehicles can carry the black and white plates. 3 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobby Posted August 11 Share Posted August 11 Quite, and it looks daft on many cars from the 70s and early 80s. I'm a fan of keeping things original and seeing black plates on cars which would have had white/yellow plates when new just looks wrong, including that one that Drew did, but having said that much of the stuff he does to his cars offends as well! 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted August 11 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 11 (edited) 23 minutes ago, Hobby said: Quite, and it looks daft on many cars from the 70s and early 80s. I'm a fan of keeping things original and seeing black plates on cars which would have had white/yellow plates when new just looks wrong, including that one that Drew did, but having said that much of the stuff he does to his cars offends as well! What else do you expect of someone who regards black Porsches as the epitome of "style". 😁 Edited August 11 by Dunsignalling 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyPenguin Posted August 11 Share Posted August 11 12 hours ago, Dunsignalling said: If they were retrospective, it would need to have had a high-level brake light fitted as well as the rear fog light I presume you are hinting at? The MoT requirement is TTBOMK, that all original lights must work, and any subsequently fitted must be positioned in accordance with the Construction and Use Regulations (or whichever EU-based standards replaced them) that applied at the time of alteration. John I was in RMW mode when I commented ! Not the rear fog but the front auxillary lights, they need to be switched in pairs & have similar beam pattens. When your Mini was built it was the common (& legal) way that auxillary lights were fitted - fog to the nearside & spot to the offside & switched separatly. Just wondered if some/all regulations were updated. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doilum Posted August 11 Share Posted August 11 There were also complicated rules about the definition of " fog" lights which governed the maximum and minimum height at which they must be mounted and the conditions under which it was permissible to use them. Back in the day when we had " proper" fog , the idea was to use the low mounted fog lights instead of the headlights to reduce glare. There was a range of small oblong " square eights" lamps fitted as standard to some high end cars. I had a pair on an old mk3 Spitfire. There were also rules for spot lights, more correctly described as driving lights , which had to be wired in tandem with the main beam headlights. It was of course obligatory for Escort owners to fit a pair of each mounted two up, two down like the works cars. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted August 11 Share Posted August 11 Some more BMC / BL based nostalgia... 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now