I HATED The Original MINI - Can This Beautiful Radford De Ville Recreation Change My Mind? (Review)
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- Опубліковано 1 лип 2024
- I've always loved the BMW era MINI, but have never been a big fan of the original car, mostly thanks to a very unpleasant experience as a younger man. However, when I saw this particular car I thought I had to give it a go.
This is a tribute to the De Ville cars of the 1960s, created by Rolls Royce dealer Harold Radford. Based on a 2000 Rover 1275 MINI, it has a bespoke interior and exterior, but is largely standard underneath. How will I get on this time?
Thanks to Total Headturners in Essex for supplying the vehicle for review
www.totalheadturners.com
#MINI #Cooper #DeVille
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/ jayemmoncars - Авто та транспорт
I've never owned a mini. But it's the o nly car that I've ever driven, where I had to pull over and compose myself, because I was laughing so hard I couldn't see. 70 mph, country roads, and my head spent more time in contact with the roof than my arse on the seat. Loved it.
The original mini Hates you 👍🏽
You judged mini`s by your dads car that needed a lot of work, hardly fair.
*minis
@@WIP532 *minises
every mini i've ever known has needed work, irrespective of age
@@chrisdavidson911 I think that's how they came off the production line, I don't think it was an option either they all came like it.
michael wickenden we all judge a car by our experiences with that make/model, the same way we unintentionally judge people from other countries by the examples we have met before... it’s human nature and acceptable behaviour so long as you are aware of the limitations of such an opinion.
My first car was a 1985 mini when I passed my test 10 years ago. It was awesome, all my friends had micras, or a yaris etc. My little mini was so much more interesting and enjoyable. Always made me smile.
Ive owned 3x 10" wheel late 60s and 70 minis.. My first cars, learnt how to repair and modify them. Yes they rusted yes, they leaked and yes they broke but a well sorted and quick 10"wheel mini is an awesome thing to experience. Just watch them racing at goodwood.. Total hoot and a Smile factor of 10😁
I like the original mini but it's no project binky
My first car, 300 quid clubman, loved it to death. Chunky wide wheels, bucket seats, and the chicks loved it!!
In 1966 my girl friends father bought his daughter a Mini Cooper S.He bought it from the Liverpool police at an auction. Up for sale was 17 ex police cars white with black top.My girlfriend and I had a wonderful time racing around the town listening to the Beatles on the radio.
Quite possibly on of the coolest cars you've had on your channel ... good work fella !
The more you tart them up the worse they are, it just dilutes the experience.
Minis are cool cars. The Mini kinda saved me and my mates lives one day. My mate had a lovely black 1.0 with a Cooper interior, noisey exhaust flared wheel arches and wide 10" wheels n tyres. One day he took me out for a blast after just getting the brakes supposedly fixed. The problem was that the fix didn't exactly turn out that way haha! After exiting an A road on a downhill section leading down to a small, tight roundabout, my mate proceeded to take said roundabout at at least 50mph! Tyres screeched, I near enough slid right out of the seat with the G forces! "Damn you took that roundabout quick! These Minis handle incredible" I exclaim, assuming that this was just my mate demonstrating his Minis handling and my mates skills behind the wheel. That's when I notice that my mates face is snow white haha! "The @#£&in brakes weren't working!" In ANY other car, doing the speed we were doing, downhill into a roundabout we'd have rolled, spun or flown over the roundabout altogether! I loved Minis after that! Never owned one myself though, far too old school for my tastes. But I can definitely see the appeal. I had another mate that had a tuned 1380 (with coil springs I believe?) and that was also an insane thing to be a passenger in. Mad little cars!
I had a VERY similar experience in my mate's mini and came away with the same feeling. We were tanking along an A road in the pitch darkness in the middle of no-where and as we crested a hill at about 60mph there was a tight left bend leading to a small roundabout that for some reason we just didn't see any signs for so it was totally unexpected. Basically in any other car we'd be dead, but with not even having time to brake, he just flung it into the turn and then the roundabout left then right and it just stuck like glue. I remember being flung about left and right and pinned to the my door with the lateral Gforces through the roundabout... Amazing what they could do if really pushed through some turns. And yes, my mate was snow white after the experience too haha
Jay “I hate the mini because I’m to fat to fit in it” Emm
Brodie Maybe you could just watch cars that are reviewed by Richard Hammond..
Did you even watch the video?
Idiot
Lol, that's all you got out of the video?
@@GetUpFalcon well when Jay opens up with the I hate minis because my dad had a duffer it might undermine the rest of it. Certainly I didn't watch anymore???
If you haven't driven an older mini, with wide 10" wheels, you haven't lived the cornering potential is amazing! Older mini's had more interiror space because they did not have wind up windows or those oversized seats that push you too close to the steering wheel and make rear access almost impossible. The 13" wheels are too big and, apart from looking cool completely compromise the handling, even the one's on 12's don't drive as nicely. You need to get an old Mini , lower the steering column a bit, put on some 6"x10" wheels and get out and throw it around a bit, you won't have much more fun in a car. As for no synchro first gear, the trick is, you first select 2nd and switly whack it into first, no crunching, no gear damage, no jumping out of gear, brilliant.
Love mini's. I've got a 1962 Austin Mini under restoration at the mo. Had it 33 years. It's having lots of attention during this lockdown/Furlough time. The shell is 90% done. Keep the great reviews up.
*minis
It'll be far more fun that the overblown one on test here.
I have never owned a Mini but have been a passenger in many models from the 60's and 70's. A neighbour owned a Cooper S.... that would get to 10,000 rpm no problem and used to top out at about 140mph. OMG - it felt more like double 😊. Sure, they weren't the most reliable cars out there but there's no way I would even consider the BMW Mini.
Fond memories. Thanks James 👍.
I'll admit the 3rd generation of BMW minis are actually rather reliable (2014 onwards), maybe it's because BMW finally started putting their own engines in and not Peugeots😂
You should find a roundabout and wag the rear inside wheel in the air
, then you might get it😎
I had an original 997 Mini Cooper as a student in the '60s. I bought my wife one in the early '70s. Bought another one for my wife in the late '70s. My best friend had one in the '80s, as did my father. I've always loved them and now fancy buying a late '60's mini, just for fun.
My first ever car was a 1966 D reg Mk1 morris cooper 998cc tartan red with black roof near identical to your dads, 2:03 - it was so dynamic it lit my driving fire for ever.
What is Radford about this Mini? It looks like an ordinary stock Mini except for the sunroof. 🤔
Really love the original Mini, especially a 60's one in in light green or grey on steel wheels. Beautiful. Quite rare and a little expensive now where I live. Great video!
Almost a year old this video but only saw it for the fist time today. Have not driven my mini's for about 15 years and can't wait to get one restored and start having fun again! If the bug gets you it never goes away!
The problem with the first Mini you drove, wasn't the fact it was a Mini. It was the fact it was a 1960's car. All 1960's cars drive like that (if they are original).
In a different life we used to fit the Maestro A series electronic distributor and coil to these. Transformed the car, ignition advance was so much better resulting in more power and greater characteristics. Your car sounded flat on pull away. Guessing the solid state ignition doesn’t have a map to complement it.
whilst that one is a late car it is still what many would call a 'proper mini' glad you enjoyed it, its a car that never fails to put a smile on your face
Biggest problem with Minis is the Old V New argument. Lots of people hate on the new Minis especially the Old Mini owners. I was very shocked when I got into a new Mini just how much hate I got for it even being there flagship model. I had an old Mini GT years ago and never noticed just how ignorant and snobby they actually are. I then got a new JCW and the crap I got on the Brighton Mini run left a massive sour taste, I've never experienced such snobbery and ignorance being part of any other Manafacturers clubs or meets. Let's face it old Minis have character and that's where it stops, the new Mini's may not be "Mini" but in every way trump the older Mini. Hence I bought a new one. Who wouldnt want a great handling little car with qwerky interior along with all the modern features? Keep you're boring Golfs and chavy Fiestas. As much as I hate the Old v New Mini snobeery etc I absolutely love my JCW and will be keeping her for many years.
Ludicrous herd mentality by the sounds of it. JCW from any era is a special little thing
"it's not fast but it's made me smile" 😆
Brilliant! Absolutely, smiles per mile matters so much more than miles per hour 👍
Nice point at the end about choice of line. Need a narrow track for that. It also something to keep you interested on roads and in cars you're familiar with.
I had a Mini Mayfair 998 as my first car .. it had the wrong carb on it but this was easily sorted. The exhaust snapped off at the manifold .. but again not that bad to fix (I just lost some skin from my knuckles). And then after that it wasn’t too bad! Clutch needed bleeding, water pump changing, brakes etc and it ended up with a half leather copper interior but I learned a lot and loved that car a lot. Plus due to the straight pipe and tinted windows it was a college head turner 🤣🤙🏼
Got one for my first car a year ago and absolutely love it. Got 70k miles and a bit of rust but for £4.5k I can’t complain.
I use my 2000 MPI Mini as a family car, it's brilliant and the kids love it. most of the time people carry way more than they ever need anyway. Does the school and nursery run and i love driving it to work.
The main concern for me was in a crash you kinda feel like you'd come off...well....let's politely say worse. I don't use it on longer drives therefore with the kids just short trips but only for safety, nothing else, otherwise it would be fine (they only have a drivers airbag for example)
Ray Hunt
I used to go past the Radford factory in the 1960's in Park Royal ,there was usually a Radford mini on there forecourt and they looked great. Mick Jaggar had one I saw him in it in the Kings Road Chelsea.
We used to go there in my friends Mini Moke great times.
They are loads of fun in a go-cart for the road sorta way.
For me personally though I wouldn’t wanna do too many miles in one, doubt I’d stand up straight ever again!
I did have a manual 4 speed car though J, my 1st car infact....unfortunately it was a Sierra estate 1.6. No power steering.....still it built up my arms!
The first "crash" gear on my old Mini was the reason I learnt to double declutch. The most fun I ever had in a car.
only thing i hate is those stick on chrome letters on the bootlid
Clear tail lights should be banished from history! They are an abomination on any car!
Agreed
@@milesborg9812 Agreed.
In the future people will be saying I can’t remember the last time I drove a car with a 5 speed gearbox.
Maunal i cant remeber
J,
The Mini does have a redeeming characteristic.
I have fond memories of watching them take part in support races at Silverstone.
As the swarm took off from the grid, you could march briskly along the pit straight - keeping pace with them - and arrive at Copse corner just in time to see dozens of them skip merrily into the gravel together, 8 or 9 abreast.
Love the review. Had 2 Mini’s in the past and have a 3rd now, although been in my garage (200 miles away 😢) since buying it 6+ years ago. Just needs seats, wheel arches, dashboard and the roll cage welding in (ok...it’s a middle life crisis purchase but loving it!). When we’re out of this Covid-19 I’ll get it back on the road and listen to that 1340cc carburettor engine 😀. Would I use it on my fortnightly commute....nope, not a chance!. 4am starting a 200 mile drive is for the Audi.
*minis
Direct Courier Express Ltd c/o Volvo Rugby. Apologies. That will be my social media hat on rather than legal pedantic hat on. Must try to blend more of the latter into the former...
Been a passenger in a cooper similar to this shape and a 80s mayfair. Laughed the whole time
Interesting to see a diverging view on the original mini for a change, just for a change
There is hardly anything more hurtful you can say about a car's performance beyond describing it as "adequate"!! That said, the phrase definitely applies to the very great majority of original Minis. Fortunately it doesn't matter a jot because even the most basic model will handle like a go-kart!
I've only ever driven one myself - a '70s 1275GT which, for an 18yr old me, was an absolute blast round town!!
In the 60’s-00’s people did live of takeaways, so fitting in was easy. I’ve had 3, never had an issue.
Love the old minis. The chassis makes for a wonderful resto-mod build.
Take a BMW era Mini, and wait a few decades. I'm quite sure it'll need a full restauration in order to run (just running, not even properly).
Got it. Currently own several cars but currently my Lotus Elise (supercharged) is my favorite. However I have Mini coming my way soon from England. Will be interesting to see what my favorite car is after that thing arrives. Love different stuff and these two will fit the bill in Arizona
I think, when you realise that you need to drive a mini at 90% 90% of the time, at the higher end of its limits, and that the brakes are just for occasional use, it all starts to make sense 😄
I was lucky enough to have a 1275GTS as my first car. Not many people in the UK know about the GTS, it was the fastest production (non-works) mini ever made, and was only ever produced in South Africa and Australia. I miss it every day of my life. :-)
Wonderful stuff James
It’s about having fun
Yup - my first car as I am sure it will be for many. Mine was 350 quid's worth of 1972 850 cc magic. Slow is an interesting term. I was faster than a 2CV and a Fiat 126 but not much else. I could, however, drive balls out like an idiot and not be noticed by anyone - breaking the speed limit was a challenge. Loved it, but now I don't think my back could take the ride. Loads of character, loads of fun.
I currently own a 1990 mini city 998cc officially the cheapest mini to buy these days. They are wonderful and interesting cars. I've personalised it like you say jay. You have to with a mini. The cooper sport was with the basically the last cars to leave the factory, those 1.3 multipoint injection engines were good for 100bhp, so it suprises me that you thought this one to be slow. though I never liked the huge sports pack arches and 13in wheels I still think the older cars look the best. I tour in mine.
Your pronunciations are so spot-on! Are you sure you're really British? 🤭
When a reviewer starts by being honest about his preconceived personal opinion that is a good thing.. no need for the haters to get upset. He goes on to make a fair review and he is crystal clear where the difference between his personal opinions and the bare facts.
I drive a car that lots of people dislike, I’m ok with that and actually I enjoy turning people around who after travelling in my car are surprised and admit that their previous opinion was misjudged.
Perhaps you should review Project Binky if/when it is ever completed
Can anyone recommend a mini restoration outfit around the Midlands as I just picked up a 1988 mayfair and estamated cost of refurb .cheers
when you say refurb, what do you mean?
My 1st car was a 1979 reg: BLJ 105T 1000cc orange with a white roof - white wheels, spats, upgraded dash the lot- so this one here is the rolls royce of minis to me lol.
The first car I ever drove was a Mini. It was an 850 pick-up that belonged to a school friend's mother. She would take us out to private roads and let us have a go - it was ace! She would take her two sons and me out on day trips - her driving and the youngest son in the passenger seat and me and my friend in the load bay! This was over forty years ago - the health and safety police would have the screaming ab-dabs today!
Have you done a review on the Hillman imp yet? Be interested in your thoughts of classic mini Vs Hillman imp?
I wonder if it was the De Ville Radford version that David Niven drove in the comedy film 'Prudence and the Pill'. What do you think of the David Brown recreations?
Nice review mate
Your reading my mind again!
In the words of JC "heaven is 8 feet long"
Couple of things spring to mind.Firstly benefit of hindsight could not have drove it the gravel hill in reverse.😁
Secondly my grandparents had a chocolate brown mini 1000.They went everywhere in it alot with me and my brother in the back.Used to steam along country lanes great times..
I passed my driving test in my grans mini,if you have never driven one then you will just not get it as to why they're so loved.
For me, the true spirit of the Mini is not that boat anchor ancient A series - it lies in the suspension feel and handling. Yes, it was meant to have a hydro system but the rubber cones you find on the majority of Minis over the years is the real deal. You sit low, feel everything and can really push on through a corner without the call wallowing about too much. I still have a '79 1100 in my garage and loads of bits (roll cage, fibreglass flip fronts, doors and boot lid... an old MED stage 3 1380 engine). I really want to get that put together into a rough and ready little weekend car that would be a constant evolving project. But the stressed A series engine... is a constant worry.
So... I have spent many years researching engine transplants... Driven a K series and a Honda B18 transplanted car. Both were damn fun. Even the 1.4 Metro GTi engine can turn a Mini into a right fun pocket rocket - 105hp and 5 speed 'box with nearly the right gearing unlike a lot of other transplants. The K series low weight also helps make it a nice choice.
Honda B16 abd B18 VTEC engines and the old Vauxhall XEs (or later ecotec) are also common transplants. I'd say the Honda suits the car more as you can trash the revs. While the 20XE makes it a nose heavy car but more low down punch - not always the best when torque steer is strong! The smaller 1.6 Vauxhall engines, can't recall the engine code, also make nice cheap transplants but the weight over the K series makes it less viable in my mind.
A newer engine that looks interesting is the Ford 1.0 Ecoboost - the engine height is supposedly the problem. A diesel 'box sorts out the gearing though. But I am not sure I like the idea of a boosted engine in a Mini... I think it would take away from the fun. NA seems better.
This style of mini is perfect and as you mentioned porsche the 996 variant is the best
Fun is the word. Don't go too far or expect comfort and refinement to the level of a new "Mini" 'cuase you ain't gonna get it. As a runabout and a Sunday fun car, there are few better. And you can fix it if it breaks. I'm very biased, I've had five of the little terrors, but nothing, and I mean nothing, drives like a Mini.
Is there really anyone who'se that fussed about age of original minis? It wouldn't bother me if it was 1959 or 2000. They never really changed that much. Not compared to everything else during that time span. Ford went from the mk2 Consul to the Mk3 Mondeo in that time!
I had a 2003 Bini Cooper S for a few months. It was great fun. I've always wanted to drive an original mini but never had the chance.
I had a 1999 model in gorgeous Tahiti Blue. The engine ran smoothly when very hot, but in this wide tyres "German spec" it had way too much rubber on the road...
Its a love hate relationship if its a daily. If its just a weekend car then its the best car by far for smiles per mile.
I had a couple of them 30 yrs ago and yes they had character, I did several hrs of welding on one , new floor pans and sils ,, and the front and rear subframes were a bitch, when they rotted , terrible cars to work on , cheers Shane uk 🇬🇧
Interesting fact that nearly all early Minis lost money due to an accounting error . Plus early Minis had the starter button on the floor ⭐️😎👍
Nice to see your opinion change! I have a modded mini myself which you’re more than welcome to drive. There’s a couple of vids on my channel!
From your story I would guess that your Dad's mini had a somewhat knackered gearbox, hence jumping out of gear and the clutch may have been sticky from not being used, hence crunching going into first. Had the car been healthier I would imagine you'd get a similar driving experience to the 2000 Mini, maybe with the added noise you were after as the 1960's coopers ran SU carbs and not fuel injection.
My brother had a mini as his first car. He modded the exhaust because he wanted it to come from the centre rather than the side. So he cut out the back box and welded in a piece of scaffold pipe. It sounded a lot fruitier😂. Even from 3 miles away😂
I had a piece of copper pipe. 2inch bore. pulled by the fuzz
I'm with you, James, I'm not a fan of the original Mini. If you're a proper sized person, you don't really fit in them, if you have proper sized feet you can't really drive them (I have fairly wide size 9 1/2 feet so my clutch foot gets wedged between the brake pedal and the heater box, or under the brake pedal when I change gear, even on the later cars with front disk brakes where the brake pedal is higher off the floor) and the demented pogo stick ride makes me nauseous. And they can be utter swines to work on, especially the late cars where the engine bay is plugged full of electronics. I love that the car exists, and I love that the various high spec specials exist too, but it's absolutely not a car I want to own or drive...
I used to love driving my sisters mini back in the mid 80s and I am 6 foot six with size eleven feet. Just have to adapt my driving style a bit. I work In the docks driving all the modern cars and I really dislike the new Mini. Way to big to be called a mini and never drive one if its been raining with the drivers window down due to the lack of guttering all the water runs of the roof and into your lap when you corner. My Fiesta ST has more of the spirit of the original mini then the BMW version.
Lol. At least you got it moving. I gave up on my wife's (also shouting abuse at it) after getting my foot stuck between the gas pedal and the heater pipe. TBH none but can drive that bloody sardine can. Great thing about Minis though is that you can fit 4 adults and a dog, you feel like you're going 100 at 40. It bloody quick off the line. Bad pounts, their just not adapted for modern roads. Still for every day use favourite is a Clubman Cooper S. Had one for year and loved it (even though it spent 4 months in the garage). Still after a JCW version. Its just something about Minis. Newer ones are ridiculously big and have lost their essence IMHO...
I'd choose a nicely tuned 998cc on twin SU carbs over factory injection 1275.
Much revvier and instant throttle response.
A "real" mini has to be on 10" wheels, preferably with a set of Wood & Pickett arches.
They had to reduce steering lock to accommodate 13" wheels and I suspect the lower profile tyres make go kart type comfort levels even worse.
Never understood the hype of the mini personally, not for me
Have you ever owned one
@@woody555kl Never had the urge to own one at all
@ArmageddonRacing took the words right out of my mouth weve had two austin minis and a rover mini loved them all
Simply put, the MINI is my favorite car of all time. Mechanically, it sucks and is too unreliable for it to be a driver's only vehicle. This does not HAVE TO BE, it just IS.
Ha family holidays a breeze in the old mini open the boot with its hinged number plate so still visable and stuff with cases add straps to hold in place also roof rack bingo were off. many happy days in 998cc cooper. keep the vid's coming
Every once in a while my mind is being weird... Whe i read "Radford De Ville" I couldn't help but wonder if they have anything to do with Cruella De Ville. i mean, according to you the car is somewhat cruel towards larger people, considering what you said about the position of your legs, but that may just be coincidence... ...or is it?
Opposite for me... I only like the original Mini.
Hey Jay, I'm a fat bastard like you but I'm also 6'1'' Do you think I could fit in it?
I would daily drive that such a cool car
My 2nd ever car was a mini. After the relentless reliability of a Datsun 100A Cherry estate. The most unreliable car in all of human history, a 70s mini. I paid £100 for a full service at a main dealer (1/8th of the value of the vehicle) I drove over a small bump which destroyed the gearbox. The amount of work I had to do to the f&£king thing to keep it running. It died when I hit a badger at 50mph and destroyed the front end. I still hate the mini to this day.
I love the original Mini. I still have two mk1's.
James want to see a fast Mini ! Check out John Kirby !
As we all know first gear is for moving off from a standstill. I've owned plenty of Minis and wasn't even aware the early cars had no synchro in first...What the hell were you doing to it???
No car enthusiast can 'hate' the Mini, it just doesn't compute...
They did have synchro on first gear, almost certainly the clutch had partially siezed with no use.If you ever drive an original A series engined Midget or sprite, they have no synchromesh on 1st gear and you really know it.
@@reglockyer9234 Eh? No synchro on first is such that I bet most people never notice it. Plus IF once you learn to double declutch (not that you need to on first) it's such fun you will be doing it all the time.
@@martinda7446 well everydays a school day.I clearly only had 4 synchro minis and I'm shocked that I never knew.Having experienced a 3 synchro midget I know the old man's 66 woody traveller had 4 synchro as I used to sit beside him and change gear on the way home from sunday morning swimming when his chlorine burning eyes needed shielding from the sunlight with his left hand 😂😉
My first car was a 1958 mini. It had also been my mums first car. I hated it. Absolutely hated it. No door handles, heating never worked, clutch was pointless... swapped it for a 1977 2 door golf which was a massive improvement and got me through my A levels. For more perspective, the mini was worse than the car I bought whilst an under grad; a montego estate...
Its a Mini looks like one and its british built will you reviewing a Wood and Picket Mini sometime in the future l have never driven a mini and l have riden in a mini once but l was a child at the time
You could have just pushed the mini instead of starting it up.
You should also include the Fiat 500 in the list
It's slow because it has 'long' gearing and 'big' wheels and tyres for a mini. They soon pep up when you change the final drive ratio. It's also the heaviest and worst handling mini with those wheels.
Depends what your idea of fast or slow is.
Sadly not my cup of tea either....only driven a couple of old ones
My mother's first car was a Mini, she loved that thing.
"I love the BINI but not a fan or the original" so no one else ever.
It's definitely a looker !
never trust anyone who does not love an old mini . learn to drive one of them well and other cars are easy . too easy
Crap cars but incredible fun.
Worth it?
Whilst you're young - definitely.
You HATE the mini? Bit strong??