Jump to content


Photo
- - - - -

Mpi Sport Pack V's Basic Mpi Cooper (12 Inch Wheels)


  • Please log in to reply
56 replies to this topic

#46 Twincam

Twincam

    Camshaft & Stage Two Head

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,742 posts
  • Location: Londinium
  • Local Club: SMAG

Posted 11 September 2019 - 05:09 AM

Can any one tell me how sport pack arches are attached to the wing and can standard arches cover any holes if sport packs are removed?


They have studs that are on the arches bud. You can get a template to show you where to drill (and what section of the wing needs trimming) and then you just add the washers and nuts from the inside.

The rear "door" cards and fuel tank need to be removed to gain access.

#47 rich_959

rich_959

    Super Mini Mad

  • Just Joined
  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 568 posts
  • Location: East Yorks

Posted 11 September 2019 - 06:32 AM

Bit late to the party on this one, but as I had two MPI's (one with, one without sportpack) I thought I'd comment.

 

My first one was a 97 MPI standard Cooper on 12" wheels. I had it a year and then was lured by a deal to swap it for a the 98 Sport LE (Brooklands Green with the wide tramlines). I loved the LE and though I think the characteristics of the handling were worse with the Sportpack, I did like the more planted feel and they looked great at the time. They drove like completely different cars. Issues I found were that it could be a bit skittish in the wet when driving enthusiastically - as Cooperman says, probably a case of not enough weight over each 'wide' tyre. By comparison I could drive the 12" wheeled car much more aggressively in the wet with almost as much confidence as in the dry. The performance of the LE with the bigger wheels also suffered, especially with the long legged final drive. So although I loved the LE, I must say the standard cooper drove better.

 

If you're going to have a Sportpack, I think they need the usual performance upgrades (head work mainly, and a road friendly cam) to get the torque and power up a bit within the limitations of the ECU, and also fit a different final drive. Some of the later 'S' type cars with claimed bhp circa 85 were much nicer to drive, and had enough torque to move those heavy wheels and tyres! I never did drive one with any more power than that.

 

I think the Sportpack looked good in its day, and I wouldn't mess about changing a nice original one back to 10" or 12" wheels, but if I was starting from scratch (as I am) then it would be 10's or 12's with narrow section all the way.

 

So now over 20 years later I have another MPI but will be going archless with 10" wheels, plus the same sort of performance mods mentioned above.



#48 HUBBA.HUBBA

HUBBA.HUBBA

    Up Into Fourth

  • TMF+ Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,823 posts
  • Location: Sutton Coldfield
  • Local Club: Loan wolf

Posted 11 September 2019 - 02:15 PM

The reason why I ask is, I would love an MPI but with out sport pack and being as that most of them have the sport pack, it might be easier to by one and 'un-sprotpack' it, but wondered if the standard arches would cover the sport pack arch holes



#49 Bobbins

Bobbins

    One Carb Or Two?

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,327 posts
  • Location: Chester

Posted 11 September 2019 - 02:27 PM

The reason why I ask is, I would love an MPI but with out sport pack and being as that most of them have the sport pack, it might be easier to by one and 'un-sprotpack' it, but wondered if the standard arches would cover the sport pack arch holes

 

No they won't.



#50 roblightbody

roblightbody

    Speeding Along Now

  • TMF+ Member
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 375 posts
  • Location: Glasgow

Posted 11 September 2019 - 06:41 PM

why on earth did rover bother to do the sport pack? To appeal to a certain type?


For the same reason modern cars have stupidly huge wheels - looks. For many, many cars, fitting smaller more suitable wheels improves ride, handling and performance.

Edited by roblightbody, 11 September 2019 - 06:41 PM.


#51 surfblue

surfblue

    Camshaft & Stage Two Head

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,826 posts
  • Location: Stuck in the 1980's

Posted 14 September 2019 - 07:59 AM

I know it's a personal opinion, but I always think the cleanest and crispest Minis are the early cars with no 'embellishments'.

Once they started adding things like arch extensions and very wide large wheels the original superb clean design disapperared.

I saw a Sportspack on the road recently and it looked like a 'bitza' with the very wide arch extensions, etc, plus the big wing/door mirrors.

Look at the original 850 and see how smart and 'unfussy' it looks. It is functional and neat.

 

The only poor point with the early cars was the lack of interior trim. This did improve over the years, but the early cars did not even have a coolant temperature gauge, just a speedo and fuel gauge.

Im divided in my opinions here.

I also love the purity of a Mk1 on 10's as Issigonis intended (thats what I have now) but we also had a Sportspack MPI from new in 1998, sadly long gone. I thought that these last edition minis were great looking and updated the look and kept the old girl alive for its last few years. The steering was stupidly heavy at parking speeds and ours couldd do in a set of front tyres in 5000 miles. I like Rover's 13" minilight styled wheel and really dislike the 13" superlight style wheel that so many sportspack owners seem to change to.

Id happily have another sportspack cooper if the right one came along, a Tahiti blue one like our old one would be a nice stable mate for our Mk1.



#52 CityEPete

CityEPete

    Up Into Fourth

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,920 posts
  • Location: On my soapbox....

Posted 14 September 2019 - 10:23 AM

I could happily own one from each era if I had the room and money.

60s-Coopers S Almond Green
70s-Clubman Estate brown
80s-City E in Red
90s Sportspack in Tahiti

That's just for starters.....

#53 surfblue

surfblue

    Camshaft & Stage Two Head

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,826 posts
  • Location: Stuck in the 1980's

Posted 14 September 2019 - 11:00 PM

CityEPete

 

You so nearly got my full set:

 

My '63 Mk1 is Surf blue,

 

I had:

 

'78 Clubman estate in Russet brown

'87 City E in Targa red

'98 Sportspack in Tahiti blue



#54 mab01uk

mab01uk

    Moved Into The Garage

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 11,776 posts
  • Local Club: Mini Cooper Register

Posted 15 September 2019 - 09:21 AM

 

why on earth did rover bother to do the sport pack? To appeal to a certain type?


For the same reason modern cars have stupidly huge wheels - looks. For many, many cars, fitting smaller more suitable wheels improves ride, handling and performance.

 

 

The MPi was not really part of Rover's original plan as they had already decided in advance to end Mini production for good by 1996 due to falling Mini sales and strict new EU emission and safety legislation coming into force. Rover could not afford to upgrade the classic Mini or design and build a new replacement. When BMW took over in 1994 they could not believe Rover marketing were willing to kill off the iconic Mini as a car and brand known all over the world. BMW immediately funded the MPi upgrade to ensure the classic Mini could stay in production until at least 2000........by which time the R50 MINI mostly developed by Rover engineers at Longbridge and Gaydon could be launched also with BMW's backing. The R50 MINI launch was delayed until 2001 due to the sudden move of the new R50 Longbridge production lines to Cowley, Oxford but stocks of unsold classic MPi Minis were still available for sale until 2001.

 

The MPi style was a trend to 13" wheels and low profile tyres at the time.......still a very popular option on modern cars despite the drawbacks !

I have an R50 MINI which came with 15" wheels and was much nicer to drive on them than now on the 17" wheels with wide low profile tyres I later fitted.......



#55 Midas Mk1

Midas Mk1

    Crazy About Mini's

  • TMF+ Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,626 posts
  • Location: Manchester
  • Local Club: S.U.N.M.C

Posted 15 September 2019 - 11:51 AM

From someone who drives their mini as daily as possible, I’m so grateful for the MPi, and in tens it really comes alive. Certainly know I wouldn’t enjoy my work commute in a mk1 as much aha.

#56 CityEPete

CityEPete

    Up Into Fourth

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,920 posts
  • Location: On my soapbox....

Posted 15 September 2019 - 07:10 PM

CityEPete

You so nearly got my full set:

My '63 Mk1 is Surf blue,

I had:

'78 Clubman estate in Russet brown
'87 City E in Targa red
'98 Sportspack in Tahiti blue


That's near enough I'd take those,russet brown is fantastic!

#57 surfblue

surfblue

    Camshaft & Stage Two Head

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,826 posts
  • Location: Stuck in the 1980's

Posted 17 September 2019 - 06:49 AM

 

Certainly know I wouldn’t enjoy my work commute in a mk1 as much aha.

 

 

Every day commute, you are probably right.

Occasional nice weather day in a Mk1? Absolute bliss!

Took mine into work on a super hot sunny Sunday last month. B roads at 7am deserted. Coming home after 4pm, still hot, all windows open, big smile on my face. The best commute to work and back all year!  :D






1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users