Great video! I love the old style minis. I was stationed in England for 2 years back in the early 90s ('92 - '94) and at the time these were all over the place. I remember that nearly all minis at the time had rust bubbles in the A-panels. I had an Austin Metro, which, if I'm not mistaken is mechanically almost identical to the mini but with a different body. It had the 998cc A+ series engine, a sidedraft carburetor with a manual choke and the hydrolastic suspension.
Rear subframe & rear subframe mounts & check radius arm bearings. Check under ALL carpets and check the car still has floorpans and a boot floor LOL Wheel bearings can be expensive for disc brake models as they us Timken taper bearings.
While still living in the Philippines, I had a field job so I decided to buy a used 1964 Austin Mini 850. I had a lot of fun driving it but after a year, I began to experience a lot of mechanical problems. Imported parts were expensive then, so I had no choice but to sell it at a small profit. I then bought a more reliable brand new Honda motorbike which I used for so many years trouble and accident free and also had a lot of fun riding it.
Good vid!! Classic Mini was my very first dream car. Had the luxury of test driving one roughly 10 years ago and reignite the flame. Now that I am older and financially able, I am looking to get myself in the distance future~
Seriously. You can't tell me that there isn't a market for a tiny, inexpensive car. And don't even mention the Smart Car. Pretentious, and looks like an orthopedic shoe.
I once drove my 850cc mini down a hill and onto an empty parking lot with virgin snow. I put on the hand brake and turned the steering wheel hard over to the right then proceeded to do about three full 360 degree spins. What great fun!
Im not looking to by a classic mini but thevideo showed up in my feed and I decided to watch it. In the beginning he lost me but at the end he convinced me to get one. I own a 2013 6spd mini cooper s n18 r56 and now I want a 4spd carbureted classic mini.
You are so lucky! I own chill red with white roof R56 n12 cooper and i would really like to have classic mini :( Sadly i'm not from UK which means that it will be nearly impossible to get one on the budget ...
@@donmarkon not wrong mate, even a bare, clean body, 998cc engine powered 68-72 mini here in Australia, will easily set you back around 6-10k without too much hassle.
AAHHH, Im so excited!!!. Ive been re visiting all your videos because I recently found out that i will be getting my first classic mini (as my first car) this month so ive been learning as much as i can about my car and how to maintain it. Your videos are a great help!!
Ensure you have a cover over the dizzy as like me you'll be down to 40mph on the motorway in the rain,very scary! These cars are legends in their own lifetime I would love another one, I had a go in a fiat seicento it's not a mini in anyway but it had it's own character. Whoever coined the phrase "everybody should drive or own a mini at least once in their life time" was spot on you don't know what driving is until you drive one of these. Mine was a bog standard 998 and left a Scooby for dead in the lake district that's what they are b road aniahlators viscorel simplistic entities that get under your skin,if you own one don't adorn it with baubles get it running properly and enjoy the smiles they bring you!
the old trick in the uk used to be take an old washing up rubber glove, cut holes in the fingers to feed the HT leads through and then stretch around the dizzy cap for a watertight seal. the old wives trick of putting Vaseline on the dizzy cap rim where it clips to the main never worked so well.
Am a retired mechanical engineer and have built many a mini from an early age involving every nut and bolt. I have had some great fun in them and in the 1970's that was the car to have and the girls loved them and yes you can. I have built some powerful engines for my minis, but they do have one issue limiting the amount of power and the amount of hard driving. They are a 3 bearing crankshaft and if you are going to start fitting a stage 2 - 3 head and a hot cam not forgetting better aspiration, then you must fit and line bore a steel centre main, fit a good oil pump, lap the relief valve and stretch the relief valve spring to give you high oil pressure. Also fit an oil cooler and a good oil pressure gauge and keep an eye on it. Oils are much better now as of the 1970-80's so that will help. However I am thinking of building another hot Mini even at my age.
What a great video, no padding just fast clear valuable information. I've owned 3 Mini's in my life (I'm in the UK) and such great fun, it can make any journey a fun journey. I drive a largish estate car now, it feels safe and very practical but it's like going from a bicycle to a wheelchair.
Excellent video! Everything you said is correct. I would have liked to see a little more detail on the different Mks for example Mk1 & 2 with external door hinges, sliding windows. Mk2> Square rear lights. Mk3> roll down windows. Mk4> Reserve lights. Technically all mini's are right hand drive but factory converted for left hand markets. AC was Japan spec only. Maybe a future video on some of the other models like the Moke, Van, Pick ups, Rover Cabrio and ERA Turbo. Being from England and of a certain age I've had a Mini since I was 16. They used to be 10 a penny but getting harder to find. I'm 36 now. Ps. You can get two adult males and 2 mountain bikes INSIDE a Mini Saloon! First remove the passenger seat. Now take the wheels off the bikes. Your mate sites behind the driver and the bike frames and wheels fit nicely into the passenger footwell.
MPi mini bonnet is also pretty crowded I would say, but the non-Japanese SPi are pretty easy to work on since its just a different throttle body and can be easily swap to carb.
Great video for the beginner looking to buy one. Had a 850 as my first car 20 years ago and now looking for another one at the age of 40. New sub. Happy Easter
I replaced a million ball joints, engine stabilizer bushings and track rod ends. Such fun! usually you don't have to ream the rear arms when you replace the bushings.
Great video guys. I might go so far as to say I like this more than the buyers guides I did haha. Very clear an concise. 👍🏼 I would love to come see you new shop sometime.
Lovely old cars these. Just so cute and practical for city use. Undoubtedly a revival of the classic Mini in EV form may give good competition to the Honda E.
The beauty of the classic Mini, is that almost all jobs are DIY. Its all about getting the right price for what is on offer. The biggest problem is underbody rot, but even that can be replaced by a competent body shop. Whatever, good vid, thanks Steve.
I have owned a couple of Minis in my teens, the first one I rolled it going down a hill and it was so bad ended up waking up in the Hospital with extensive injuries luckily to be alive.
You can swap only the automatic gearbox to the manuel . BUT you need to change the front subframe or find the right spacer and modified the engine a bit
Auto to Manual swap is easy. Two spacers on the auto subframe is all that is required. No modifications for either sub frame or engine is required. bolt on job.
Late to the party here but great video, i would add that any rust you see at the scuttle/wing (fender) joint will be far worse underneath. Just bought a 1988 Mini City E yesterday, it's a project, guy got all the panels done, inner/outer sills, wings, front panel, scuttle, inner/outer A panels, rear valance, spent £2000 on all that and left it, i recon he bit off more than he could chew. I bought it for £2500, going to paint it and put it back together, it's already been converted to Cooper S discs and 10" wheels, needs lowered though and nice arches fitted. My last Mini was a 72 with a 1380 Swiftune motor, back in 2008 i think ?, should never have sold it.
Good to see Minis are being enjoyed on the other side of the Atlantic. On paper the cars appear dreadful, but once you're behind the wheel it's a totally different experience (ie loads of fun).
@Citizen Four All these sensors and parking aids are giving bad drivers an excuse not to learn. the child seat alarm sounds like a good idea. but these parking sensors are just useless the amount of people now days that cannot park without aids are ridiculous. theres still a tonne of minis around to be owned and looked after, these modern bmw minis will never be able to compare to the classic. I own a 1988 mini mayfair and i am also restoring a 1968 mini cooper i would never trade them in for a bmw mini even if it was a jcw. when you drive a classic mini down the road people respect you for owning one. Sorry if my side is useless i just love my mini haha
Unfortunately it can't happen :( you couldn't make a new (classic) mini due to all the legislation and regulations that we have now. There are two companies that I know of that do full restoration and conversion. One definitely (I think both) does electric conversions and relevant upgrades to deal with it, but the prices start at around £60000 😭 Edit: Swind is the UK company I saw doing electric conversions.
Great video lots of good points covered. Only thing ill disagree with is you can convert a Auto block to take a manual transmission there a few guides out there on how to do it. involves a small amount of machining but its not to bad over all. also a note if the Auto box is slipping its norm due to lack of oil changes or the car has been stood for ages, it is hard to find many people left who can rebuild them as they are different to a normal auto.
Rebuilding them is the easy part. Getting the parts to do it is the hard part since there is only one place that makes all the parts, and they always seem to be on back order.
If there's a 'clunk' on the transmission it could be the idler gear shims have not been measured correctly. This limits the side play on the helical gears. I had one with this fault and eventually the bearing itself failed requiring a complete gearbox replacement. In 1971 this cost me £98.70 and I haven't forgotten it. The aluminium ground out of the bearing housing got pumped round the engine big end bearings and resulted in an engine rebuild. This was no fault of the Mini only cowboy engineers.
my first car was a Mini in 1971, very unreliable from new, my second car was a secondhand Mini just the opposite, very reliable, both automatics. The first Mini didn't like the rain, always difficult to start in the wet or cold weather, did find out one manufacturers fault which I fixed myself, just replaced a part, I was glad to see the back of it, but the second Mini was a lot different.
Wasn`t the new car warranted? Why did you have to work on it yourself? Why did you buy an unwarranted used car after you bought new?? What part did you replace? Surely you remember. Do you think anyone believes you. You need help.
A series motors shed metal shavings like crazy. Thats why they have a big magnet in the drain plug. Thus sharing the oil with an automatic it isn't if its going bad but when... Must change oil & filter every 3,000 miles.
more main rust areas is under the front wheel arch, right at the top where the air vent goes into the cabin and behind the rear bumper where the subframe connects. Ball joints don't always need replacing. most of the time just change the shims will sort that out. Before handing money over take for a test drive but follow in another car behind the Mini to see if it is crabbing to one side. not an expensive job if you know what you are doing like me but the average person will never correct this. And i would buy a Mini with all the faults you just said as i'm after a project :)
Only if you are outside looking in. A classic is a lot of work. At best, it's twenty years old and they were never made with the best steel, and are notoriously easy to rust. I love mine but I would have never bought this car even just ten years ago. It's an ongoing investment.
Love it man! Would love to see a video about the 16valve cam conversion! That’s what I’m hoping to do when I import mine! I’ve only ever seen one in person.
Hey! Thank you for the video and tips! I was wondering if you could make a video where it is more clearly to see how 4 persons in a classic mini looks like. I cant seem to find any photo or video about this...
Sensible review that - thanks. Before I depart planet earth I am hell bent on owning another Mini. I have had them all, 2 x 1275S's, 1071S, 997, Clubman GT, Mini Innocenti, Mini automatic. My favourite of the bunch was the smaller 997, it's seemed so free revving and had a charming character, unlike the 1275 which promised so much but was kind of lumpy and not much quicker. Back then Mini's were very cheap, today good ones are very expensive. The thing is, I have a decent budget so you can bet it's going to be a good one.
After watch Rowan Atkinson drive this, i really really really really really want to own one, regardless of whether it'll breakdown or not. It's one thing i always wanted to own.
i'm currently 14 and i'm thinking of buying an 85 austin mini so i can at least come back to this video in a few years time to see how to properly buy a mini
It’d been nice if you had some variants on display (Hornet, pick-up, Estate, Clubman) And it’d been good to explain why mk1,2,3 cooper S are so expensive.
my nan has a 1968 mini cooper which is in need of restoring after i finish my 1988 mini mayfair, my mayfair is only worth around 4-5k where as my nans is worth 20k when its done
😮wooooowwwwwww! Love your work bro. Beautiful video. Very informative. Thumb's up for your hardwork. Keep making these kind of videos. Stay blessed.🙂👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Nicely done, I've wanted one for many years. Bought a mint NA Miata instead when I had the spare $. No regrets but a decent classic Mini is getting out of my price range these days. Might get lucky one day. Great vid regardless.
Hi guys, i'm from Brazil, and hopefully I'll buy one mini for me. Also I love your videos and tips anyway my question is: Do you have any tips for site or shop that I can import parts and acessories for my future Mini? Here is kind of difficult to find those parts, so if your guys can tell me where I can buy it, will be awesome. Sorry my bad english, and thanks for any help!
Rust rust and more rust Especially for UK buyers Salt roads destroy these cars Check for the panel gaps on the doors Check for oversills on the floor. These are bad as they are not vented which they should be as standard otherwise they rust from the inside out. Check the roof gutter to ensure it has a drip rail if the car is advertised as a 70's mini. If it doesn't have a drip rail it's not a 70s mini shell. If you are looking for a 1959 to 1969 mini seek professional guidance or do alot of research on what you should be looking for to ensure you are getting what you buy Did I mention rust? The cars built 1990 onwards are actually more prone to rust! The later examples are built from lower quality and badly stored and painted steel they are total rotbox's I would advise to avoid ones of this era from the UK market. American, Japanese and italian markets have alot of nice examples. Buyer beware if you are looking in the UK. You will lose your money on a scrap car if you aren't clued up. Even if you pray a pretty penny on what on the surface looks like a good car.
Good vid but do you know who designed the Austin 7 ( mini) you never mentioned the the rear sub frame that gave lots of problems!1 I was a BL mech 70's 80.s in uk and minis were our bread and butter.best regards
Warning. The late MPI version of the mini has an absolute garbage shell. There is likely going to be a lot of rust. Apparently, they changed the quality of steel they used to create the shells after 1997. Could be wrong about the facts but this is what I have heard from a mini restorer. I also own an MPI and can tell from first-hand experience, SO MUCH RUST.
good video! tell me what is the size of disks and the size of tires on the car ??? and if you can discard the store link where you can buy them! thanks!
That red one with the 26 badge needs to be my Birthday Gift this October 26th all the way to Chennai Tamil Nadu, India! Lol I love Minis BTW!👼🏽🕵🏼🇮🇳🗺️👍🏼🙏🏼
Thanks for these tips. Will look into them as I’m planning to buy one. How much they should cost? I see prices vary from expensive to very expensive 20k to 45k in AUD even when i looked up to bring over from Japan no much difference. Looking for basic standards 1995-1999 Austin mini how much should they cost with odo lets say 120k km?
I'm looking at a 61 countryman woody,what should I look at to tell what type of engine it has?Tran looks like it isn't a magic wand.There looks like wear in the doors hindges when you open them.The cars in storeage for the last 20 years.Any other ideas would be helpful. Thanks
so the most important thing is to get the best chassis you can as everything else is replaceable ? , it's very hard to find a rust free body with a fresh engine here in Australia without spending mega $$$$$$
Hi Guys, R53 owner myself, looking for a RHD classic. I love the video but i have to say, you'll refer to "you'll want this model if thats the case"..........what model? never in the video did you ever say if you like "X" package, you'll want a 1966 to 1971 etc...... so i'm left with still wondering what years offer what packages etc. :-( Bummer because the video was very good! Wondering what year the model you kept showing that was larger engine, power brakes, AC etc.
Hey great video, where can I buy new seats for my mini. ? Most of the junk yards around me don’t have to many minis in there lot . I would even buy new if I had to ...
Great video, I'm a 19 (almost 20)yr old uni student who has always loved minis and recently a 1994 rover mini sprite was put up for sale on facebook for around £6000, it was owned/restored by the east anglian mini centre and used as a show car and has had a rebuilt 1275cc engine put in it and all new seats and tyres. Generally it is very clean and sound mechanically. I am very tempted to go for it but I do not know if it is a good idea or even if it is a good price so any help would be appreciated
I wish all reviewers were this good! Expert. Articulate. No jargon. Minimal repetition or hesitation. Really well done.
I can’t explain how much I want one it’s been my childhood dream car for as long as I can remember
Did u get one
Great video! I love the old style minis. I was stationed in England for 2 years back in the early 90s ('92 - '94) and at the time these were all over the place. I remember that nearly all minis at the time had rust bubbles in the A-panels. I had an Austin Metro, which, if I'm not mistaken is mechanically almost identical to the mini but with a different body. It had the 998cc A+ series engine, a sidedraft carburetor with a manual choke and the hydrolastic suspension.
When I see a Classic Mini, I hit subscribe.
Same bro
Me As well
For rust, also check behind the glass and windscreen. It can suprised people when you remove the glass.
Rear subframe & rear subframe mounts & check radius arm bearings. Check under ALL carpets and check the car still has floorpans and a boot floor LOL Wheel bearings can be expensive for disc brake models as they us Timken taper bearings.
Skuttle is also a rust point
And so is the battery box/ boot floor
While still living in the Philippines, I had a field job so I decided to buy a used 1964 Austin Mini 850. I had a lot of fun driving it but after a year, I began to experience a lot of mechanical problems. Imported parts were expensive then, so I had no choice but to sell it at a small profit. I then bought a more reliable brand new Honda motorbike which I used for so many years trouble and accident free and also had a lot of fun riding it.
Good vid!! Classic Mini was my very first dream car. Had the luxury of test driving one roughly 10 years ago and reignite the flame. Now that I am older and financially able, I am looking to get myself in the distance future~
Nice to listen to a person who really does know what he's talking about.And why the hell aren't these amazing cars still being made en mass.
Seriously. You can't tell me that there isn't a market for a tiny, inexpensive car.
And don't even mention the Smart Car. Pretentious, and looks like an orthopedic shoe.
BMW wanted the mini brand because there was money in it, but they didn't like or even understand small cars.
I once drove my 850cc mini down a hill and onto an empty parking lot with virgin snow. I put on the hand brake and turned the steering wheel hard over to the right then proceeded to do about three full 360 degree spins. What great fun!
Im not looking to by a classic mini but thevideo showed up in my feed and I decided to watch it. In the beginning he lost me but at the end he convinced me to get one. I own a 2013 6spd mini cooper s n18 r56 and now I want a 4spd carbureted classic mini.
You are so lucky! I own chill red with white roof R56 n12 cooper
and i would really like to have classic mini :(
Sadly i'm not from UK which means that it will be nearly impossible to get one on the budget ...
@@donmarkon not wrong mate, even a bare, clean body, 998cc engine powered 68-72 mini here in Australia, will easily set you back around 6-10k without too much hassle.
@@jcramond73 i have a 1988 mini mayfair i got it off a relative for 300 british pounds a year back . i guess im lucky
@@sandyshoesss2145 not wrong, that's a steal!
I have a 6 speed 2013 n16 base
It's great to see your films getting more entertaining with each new release! Well done!
AAHHH, Im so excited!!!. Ive been re visiting all your videos because I recently found out that i will be getting my first classic mini (as my first car) this month so ive been learning as much as i can about my car and how to maintain it. Your videos are a great help!!
Event Horizon how’s the mini
Ensure you have a cover over the dizzy as like me you'll be down to 40mph on the motorway in the rain,very scary!
These cars are legends in their own lifetime I would love another one, I had a go in a fiat seicento it's not a mini in anyway but it had it's own character.
Whoever coined the phrase "everybody should drive or own a mini at least once in their life time" was spot on you don't know what driving is until you drive one of these.
Mine was a bog standard 998 and left a Scooby for dead in the lake district that's what they are b road aniahlators viscorel simplistic entities that get under your skin,if you own one don't adorn it with baubles get it running properly and enjoy the smiles they bring you!
No better place to rag a mini than the Lakes, God's country
the old trick in the uk used to be take an old washing up rubber glove, cut holes in the fingers to feed the HT leads through and then stretch around the dizzy cap for a watertight seal. the old wives trick of putting Vaseline on the dizzy cap rim where it clips to the main never worked so well.
Am a retired mechanical engineer and have built many a mini from an early age involving every nut and bolt. I have had some great fun in them and in the 1970's that was the car to have and the girls loved them and yes you can. I have built some powerful engines for my minis, but they do have one issue limiting the amount of power and the amount of hard driving. They are a 3 bearing crankshaft and if you are going to start fitting a stage 2 - 3 head and a hot cam not forgetting better aspiration, then you must fit and line bore a steel centre main, fit a good oil pump, lap the relief valve and stretch the relief valve spring to give you high oil pressure. Also fit an oil cooler and a good oil pressure gauge and keep an eye on it. Oils are much better now as of the 1970-80's so that will help. However I am thinking of building another hot Mini even at my age.
What a great video, no padding just fast clear valuable information. I've owned 3 Mini's in my life (I'm in the UK) and such great fun, it can make any journey a fun journey. I drive a largish estate car now, it feels safe and very practical but it's like going from a bicycle to a wheelchair.
Excellent video! Everything you said is correct. I would have liked to see a little more detail on the different Mks for example Mk1 & 2 with external door hinges, sliding windows. Mk2> Square rear lights. Mk3> roll down windows. Mk4> Reserve lights. Technically all mini's are right hand drive but factory converted for left hand markets. AC was Japan spec only. Maybe a future video on some of the other models like the Moke, Van, Pick ups, Rover Cabrio and ERA Turbo.
Being from England and of a certain age I've had a Mini since I was 16. They used to be 10 a penny but getting harder to find. I'm 36 now.
Ps. You can get two adult males and 2 mountain bikes INSIDE a Mini Saloon! First remove the passenger seat. Now take the wheels off the bikes. Your mate sites behind the driver and the bike frames and wheels fit nicely into the passenger footwell.
MPi mini bonnet is also pretty crowded I would say, but the non-Japanese SPi are pretty easy to work on since its just a different throttle body and can be easily swap to carb.
Brilliant. Would love to see a photo of two people and two bikes in a saloon!
Great video for the beginner looking to buy one. Had a 850 as my first car 20 years ago and now looking for another one at the age of 40. New sub. Happy Easter
I own a 2007 S and although I really enjoy it am looking for something much older. Thanks for all the good advice!
for rust check where the subframes mount, boot floor, battery tray, floor pans and in the rear pockets either side of the rear seat.
I replaced a million ball joints, engine stabilizer bushings and track rod ends. Such fun! usually you don't have to ream the rear arms when you replace the bushings.
Great video guys. I might go so far as to say I like this more than the buyers guides I did haha. Very clear an concise. 👍🏼 I would love to come see you new shop sometime.
Lovely old cars these. Just so cute and practical for city use. Undoubtedly a revival of the classic Mini in EV form may give good competition to the Honda E.
The beauty of the classic Mini, is that almost all jobs are DIY. Its all about getting the right price for what is on offer. The biggest problem is underbody rot, but even that can be replaced by a competent body shop. Whatever, good vid, thanks Steve.
Well said! Thanks Theo
I have owned a couple of Minis in my teens, the first one I rolled it going down a hill and it was so bad ended up waking up in the Hospital with extensive injuries luckily to be alive.
You can swap only the automatic gearbox to the manuel . BUT you need to change the front subframe or find the right spacer and modified the engine a bit
Auto to Manual swap is easy.
Two spacers on the auto subframe is all that is required.
No modifications for either sub frame or engine is required. bolt on job.
Amazing now i know what to look for when buying my first classic mini
Late to the party here but great video, i would add that any rust you see at the scuttle/wing (fender) joint will be far worse underneath. Just bought a 1988 Mini City E yesterday, it's a project, guy got all the panels done, inner/outer sills, wings, front panel, scuttle, inner/outer A panels, rear valance, spent £2000 on all that and left it, i recon he bit off more than he could chew. I bought it for £2500, going to paint it and put it back together, it's already been converted to Cooper S discs and 10" wheels, needs lowered though and nice arches fitted. My last Mini was a 72 with a 1380 Swiftune motor, back in 2008 i think ?, should never have sold it.
Good to see Minis are being enjoyed on the other side of the Atlantic. On paper the cars appear dreadful, but once you're behind the wheel it's a totally different experience (ie loads of fun).
I own a mini and it definitely "not the car for the introvert"--totally agree.
BMW should make classic mini electric variant :D for a budget price
@Citizen Four thats just bent, just build a classic mini fgs
@Citizen Four All these sensors and parking aids are giving bad drivers an excuse not to learn. the child seat alarm sounds like a good idea. but these parking sensors are just useless the amount of people now days that cannot park without aids are ridiculous. theres still a tonne of minis around to be owned and looked after, these modern bmw minis will never be able to compare to the classic. I own a 1988 mini mayfair and i am also restoring a 1968 mini cooper i would never trade them in for a bmw mini even if it was a jcw. when you drive a classic mini down the road people respect you for owning one. Sorry if my side is useless i just love my mini haha
Wanted one since I first saw Italian Job when I was a kid.
Unfortunately it can't happen :( you couldn't make a new (classic) mini due to all the legislation and regulations that we have now.
There are two companies that I know of that do full restoration and conversion. One definitely (I think both) does electric conversions and relevant upgrades to deal with it, but the prices start at around £60000 😭
Edit: Swind is the UK company I saw doing electric conversions.
That would be a further disgrace to the mini name, especially after those modern so called “minis”
This is awesome because I'm using this video as my checkpoint list for maintenance haha. Thanks!
Great video lots of good points covered. Only thing ill disagree with is you can convert a Auto block to take a manual transmission there a few guides out there on how to do it. involves a small amount of machining but its not to bad over all. also a note if the Auto box is slipping its norm due to lack of oil changes or the car has been stood for ages, it is hard to find many people left who can rebuild them as they are different to a normal auto.
Good point, Stephen
Rebuilding them is the easy part. Getting the parts to do it is the hard part since there is only one place that makes all the parts, and they always seem to be on back order.
If there's a 'clunk' on the transmission it could be the idler gear shims have not been measured correctly. This limits the side play on the helical gears. I had one with this fault and eventually the bearing itself failed requiring a complete gearbox replacement. In 1971 this cost me £98.70 and I haven't forgotten it. The aluminium ground out of the bearing housing got pumped round the engine big end bearings and resulted in an engine rebuild.
This was no fault of the Mini only cowboy engineers.
my first car was a Mini in 1971, very unreliable from new, my second car was a secondhand Mini just the opposite, very reliable, both automatics. The first Mini didn't like the rain, always difficult to start in the wet or cold weather, did find out one manufacturers fault which I fixed myself, just replaced a part, I was glad to see the back of it, but the second Mini was a lot different.
Wasn`t the new car warranted? Why did you have to work on it yourself? Why did you buy an unwarranted used car after you bought new?? What part did you replace? Surely you remember. Do you think anyone believes you. You need help.
Anyway they never made automatic Minis!!!!!
A series motors shed metal shavings like crazy. Thats why they have a big magnet in the drain plug. Thus sharing the oil with an automatic it isn't if its going bad but when...
Must change oil & filter every 3,000 miles.
more main rust areas is under the front wheel arch, right at the top where the air vent goes into the cabin and behind the rear bumper where the subframe connects. Ball joints don't always need replacing. most of the time just change the shims will sort that out. Before handing money over take for a test drive but follow in another car behind the Mini to see if it is crabbing to one side. not an expensive job if you know what you are doing like me but the average person will never correct this. And i would buy a Mini with all the faults you just said as i'm after a project :)
Good points. And they're all projects in our eyes! 👀
Classic Mini's are effortlessly cool.
Only if you are outside looking in. A classic is a lot of work. At best, it's twenty years old and they were never made with the best steel, and are notoriously easy to rust. I love mine but I would have never bought this car even just ten years ago. It's an ongoing investment.
Great advice.I'm looking for a Mini from 1967-1978
Love it man! Would love to see a video about the 16valve cam conversion! That’s what I’m hoping to do when I import mine! I’ve only ever seen one in person.
Thanks Robert! You can bet we will cover it when we get the chance
I learnt to drive in a Mini 25. Great car. Thumbs up.
Just because of the Mini video I just have seen, I have hit subscribe. :) I have fallen in love with Mini's and I want to buy one soon.
Hey! Thank you for the video and tips! I was wondering if you could make a video where it is more clearly to see how 4 persons in a classic mini looks like. I cant seem to find any photo or video about this...
Good stuff..Love and raced Mini's..Samoa, Seatle area mini owner association..1968
Excellent video, very informative and humorous.
Sensible review that - thanks. Before I depart planet earth I am hell bent on owning another Mini. I have had them all, 2 x 1275S's, 1071S, 997, Clubman GT, Mini Innocenti, Mini automatic. My favourite of the bunch was the smaller 997, it's seemed so free revving and had a charming character, unlike the 1275 which promised so much but was kind of lumpy and not much quicker. Back then Mini's were very cheap, today good ones are very expensive. The thing is, I have a decent budget so you can bet it's going to be a good one.
Right on. Hope you find the right one.
After watch Rowan Atkinson drive this, i really really really really really want to own one, regardless of whether it'll breakdown or not. It's one thing i always wanted to own.
Thank you for sharing nice tips to buy a classic mini.
Very helpful tips, thank you for putting this together!
i'm currently 14 and i'm thinking of buying an 85 austin mini so i can at least come back to this video in a few years time to see how to properly buy a mini
Thanks for the info. I’m viewing one today!
It’d been nice if you had some variants on display (Hornet, pick-up, Estate, Clubman)
And it’d been good to explain why mk1,2,3 cooper S are so expensive.
Agreed. There are many special editions that could be covered as well. Perhaps an extended edition of this video will come out in the future.
my nan has a 1968 mini cooper which is in need of restoring after i finish my 1988 mini mayfair, my mayfair is only worth around 4-5k where as my nans is worth 20k when its done
Make sure to check the battery bay and there's a plate that holds the radiator in place...they rust and split.
Nice video, super car I am a proud classic Morris Mini owner, love driving it !
Just bought myself a 1975 Leyland Mini 1000 for my first car!
congrats!
😮wooooowwwwwww! Love your work bro. Beautiful video. Very informative. Thumb's up for your hardwork. Keep making these kind of videos. Stay blessed.🙂👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I wish there was a channel like this for the MINI 2's specifically the R50-53
Very good and very informative video. Congrats!
Very instructive vidéo which give a lot of tips to well buy a mini. Thanks for sharing those details. Great job 😉👍👍👍
Thanks Nicolas!
Nicely done, I've wanted one for many years. Bought a mint NA Miata instead when I had the spare $. No regrets but a decent classic Mini is getting out of my price range these days. Might get lucky one day. Great vid regardless.
Super thoughts by this gentleman,
What is the colour code for the orange mini with the white roof? My wants to respray hers and loves the colour. Cheers.
I don't want to buy a mini because I want to go to Italy to get some gold 😂
Brilliant video really enjoyed watching.
Thanks for this video. Most of these cars are older than me and I wouldn’t know what to look for.
Very solid video
Hi guys, i'm from Brazil, and hopefully I'll buy one mini for me. Also I love your videos and tips anyway my question is: Do you have any tips for site or shop that I can import parts and acessories for my future Mini? Here is kind of difficult to find those parts, so if your guys can tell me where I can buy it, will be awesome.
Sorry my bad english, and thanks for any help!
Very nice video, well detailed, I recently followed you on your networks, I love your work. Welcome From France :)
Thank you for your information. Where is your workshop?
Vancouver, Canada
I saw the same as Mr beans car but in red at the start in the background
Rust rust and more rust
Especially for UK buyers
Salt roads destroy these cars
Check for the panel gaps on the doors
Check for oversills on the floor. These are bad as they are not vented which they should be as standard otherwise they rust from the inside out.
Check the roof gutter to ensure it has a drip rail if the car is advertised as a 70's mini. If it doesn't have a drip rail it's not a 70s mini shell.
If you are looking for a 1959 to 1969 mini seek professional guidance or do alot of research on what you should be looking for to ensure you are getting what you buy
Did I mention rust? The cars built 1990 onwards are actually more prone to rust! The later examples are built from lower quality and badly stored and painted steel they are total rotbox's I would advise to avoid ones of this era from the UK market.
American, Japanese and italian markets have alot of nice examples. Buyer beware if you are looking in the UK. You will lose your money on a scrap car if you aren't clued up. Even if you pray a pretty penny on what on the surface looks like a good car.
I was thinking the same thing, provided the shell is clean I would overlook any mechanical issues.
Which is why i bought a clean Japanese import.
@@asambi69 for how much more money though than the local one? :)
@@biziluxgames8924 Around the same for a nice clean example. between 6-10k depending on condition mileage etc etc
Very acurate video, but one of the most important things to check was not mentioned. Namely the rear subframe which is very prone to rusting.
Mine developed 3 wheel steering due to a previous owner not tightening the trailing arm,very exciting pirouetting on roundabouts!
Hello I have a 2005 mini automatic change transmission but start to drive stay in drive trasmicion no change gear
11:02 : "seats four comfortably"...🤔🤔🤔
Thx dude. A brilliant video.....
Good vid but do you know who designed the Austin 7 ( mini) you never mentioned the the rear sub frame that gave lots of problems!1 I was a BL mech 70's 80.s in uk and minis were our bread and butter.best regards
Warning. The late MPI version of the mini has an absolute garbage shell. There is likely going to be a lot of rust. Apparently, they changed the quality of steel they used to create the shells after 1997. Could be wrong about the facts but this is what I have heard from a mini restorer. I also own an MPI and can tell from first-hand experience, SO MUCH RUST.
Thanks for that. I was actually looking around for an MPI, but I guess I'll steer away from them now.
@@jko5891Well they are great, especially the engine you just have to look very carefully for rust. There are key areas to look out for.
Nice relaxed detailed vid. Thanks amigo 👍
Brilliant stuff. I like your style. 👍🇦🇺
I’m not smart with cars so this may sound dumb but can you get air conditioning and stuff without getting a fuel injected engine
The 1974 italian Innocenti Mini Cooper 1300 is fantastic… what do you think?
love it
good video! tell me what is the size of disks and the size of tires on the car ??? and if you can discard the store link where you can buy them! thanks!
Hi there, which car are you curious about? There were many cars shown in the video..
@@Stevestonmotorco Classic Mini 101 red on the ski lift!
That red one with the 26 badge needs to be my Birthday Gift this October 26th all the way to Chennai Tamil Nadu, India! Lol I love Minis BTW!👼🏽🕵🏼🇮🇳🗺️👍🏼🙏🏼
Hi Steve , can I get some help in converting my mini 1998 to power steering, thanks
Thanks for these tips. Will look into them as I’m planning to buy one. How much they should cost? I see prices vary from expensive to very expensive 20k to 45k in AUD even when i looked up to bring over from Japan no much difference. Looking for basic standards 1995-1999 Austin mini how much should they cost with odo lets say 120k km?
Excelent guide! This will certainly help me choose a Mini. Greetings from Portugal once again!
Great video, very helpful. Thank you
I'm looking at a 61 countryman woody,what should I look at to tell what type of engine it has?Tran looks like it isn't a magic wand.There looks like wear in the doors hindges when you open them.The cars in storeage for the last 20 years.Any other ideas would be helpful. Thanks
R53 owner here, I want a classic Mini and a R53 GP1 in my dream garage
what mini is the best to mod with
I freeking love this channel!
I would think RUST would be the MAJOR thing to be careful of with a 60,s Mini!
Most definitely
Awesome video! I was wondering if you had any trusted reputable dealers that sell Minis here in the US, or even outside the US?
so the most important thing is to get the best chassis you can as everything else is replaceable ? , it's very hard to find a rust free body with a fresh engine here in Australia without spending mega $$$$$$
Hi Guys, R53 owner myself, looking for a RHD classic. I love the video but i have to say, you'll refer to "you'll want this model if thats the case"..........what model? never in the video did you ever say if you like "X" package, you'll want a 1966 to 1971 etc...... so i'm left with still wondering what years offer what packages etc. :-( Bummer because the video was very good! Wondering what year the model you kept showing that was larger engine, power brakes, AC etc.
couldn't you mention where to find chassis numbers xD
thanks for the video
Hey great video, where can I buy new seats for my mini. ? Most of the junk yards around me don’t have to many minis in there lot . I would even buy new if I had to ...
New factory style seats are about as pricey as nicer aftermarket versions
Great video,
I'm a 19 (almost 20)yr old uni student who has always loved minis and recently a 1994 rover mini sprite was put up for sale on facebook for around £6000, it was owned/restored by the east anglian mini centre and used as a show car and has had a rebuilt 1275cc engine put in it and all new seats and tyres. Generally it is very clean and sound mechanically. I am very tempted to go for it but I do not know if it is a good idea or even if it is a good price so any help would be appreciated
I love the classic Mini's, there's one for sale near me that I want but unfortunately I don't have a spare £8k 🤦♂️😪
What are your thoughts on Japanese minis? Are they actually any less rusty than a typical Us/Uk mini?.
Great video and right here in BC to. Will have to stop by ASAP. My first car was a 67 Mini. That was 40 years ago. Holy shit I sound old 😞
I want one too. Put a single sofa on the roof and use a broom stick paired with a brick tied by a rope