22 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

From Goodwood Website:

Dan Trent: Is the 'new' Mini (R50/53) already a modern classic?

https://www.goodwood...modern-classic/

Edited by mab01uk, 07 February 2018 - 08:39 PM.

[landsurveyor]

I hope so as i have just bought an "early" R53 for not a lot of money. Sits along side my proper minis nicely!
Shame the MINI forums arent as friendly as this one!!

[Mervyn]

"No"

Merv

[Boycie]

What's a classic?  Age old question.  But, I do think the early MINIs have something about them.  There's already a Y-reg register of course and I think they're very worthy cars.  I've never owned one, but this will change very soon!

 

I do struggle with anything that came after them though.  Modern MINIs look ugly, bloated and could be anything from a Nissan to a Kia.  How they even have the front to put the word 'mini' on them is beyond me!

[cooperdan]

Ha.. yeh alright nice one

[dyshipfakta]

Badly made and unreliable so tick 2 of the classic car boxes already.

[paulrockliffe]

The original new one is massively bloated, but now with time they look much much better because you see fewer of those and more of the ridiculously bloated new ones.  Perhaps in another 10 years they'll have a bit more appeal.

 

Honestly though the biggest issue I would have is that they all have faded grey plastic arch lips and bumper bits that look absolutely terrible.

[Northernpower]

Badly made and unreliable so tick 2 of the classic car boxes already.

They're just starting to go rusty as well (more so, after this winters road salt) so there's a third box ticked.

[miniadventure]

I think the GP editions will, but not yet a few more years are needed until they become a modern classic. If you have never driven one, you should take the opportunity.

[Pistonbroke66]

No....just no

[mab01uk]

No....just no

 

When I was taking my Mk1 Mini to classic car shows in the late 1970's most other classic car enthusiasts were also telling me the common old Mini would never become a classic... as before time will tell who is right.

[r3k1355]

The GP editions are already worth quite a lot of money, but the more normal models are no-where near classic status yet.

 

The Cooper model was abit of a joke, only really there so they could sell an even more basic model as well as the actually sporty Cooper S.

[The Matt]

I don't think they're a modern classic.

I'd say they're quirky and have a reasonable following, maybe even a cult following. But I wouldn't personally deem them to be a modern classic.

I've got from detesting them, to actually considering buying one as a fun daily.

[humph]

Depending on the model I think they're currently at rock bottom of the curve. They will climb from here on in, and they are getting a lot of coverage as modern classics.

 

I recently bought a 2002 Cooper JCW* that was deemed a none runner and destined for a breaker no doubt. Dirt cheap, high miles, but a full service history, and a new aux drive belt & a sidelight got it through an MOT without so much as an advisory. Needs a tidy up but in a few years time this will likely be the rarest of the MINI models, so hopefully worth a few pennies more. It's great to drive, not exactly a rocket, but huge fun. Pleased to be back in one, & having it sitting next to my Sidewalk & Elf.

 

 

* Yes they do exist, and no I don't mean a Cooper with a body kit. Before the Cooper S was released JCW issued a kit for the Cooper that took it to 130bhp. This kit was circa £2700 so didn't sell well, and was discontinued when the MCS was released. This is what I bought.  Exact number seem to be hard to come by, but I've only ever seen half a dozen of these conversions. A second much more common JCW kit appeared for the Cooper, known as the Soundkit, much later in the cycle.

[Ethel]

 

Badly made and unreliable so tick 2 of the classic car boxes already.

They're just starting to go rusty as well (more so, after this winters road salt) so there's a third box ticked.

 

More so than ours - True they'll never surpass the original in eagerness to rot, but from my limited observations they have many more expensive bits that go crumbly, which would really hurt your wallet to keep one going long enough to be an indisputable classic.

 

The actual question is easy to answer - when demand outstrips supply and the cost of buying one goes up.