37 replies to this topic

[Poppet2]

I wish it had power steering and aluminium pedals.

[MiddletoM]

galvanised body panels

[M700FGT]

I want a glass roof and seats that go back further. 

[MikeRotherham]

Certainly galvanised subframes

[Tupers]

A hatchback and a crossflow engine.

Sadly both things BMC, BL & Rover all prototyped and had running but could never get into production.

[mab01uk]

A 5-speed gearbox for the Mini & Metro in 1980......instead of all the money (several million) that BL spent on the A+ upgrade for little (if anything) gained?

[cal844]

5 speed box, more rust protection and a more efficient flowing heater.

[Mite]

5-speed manual and automatic gearboxes (read of a 5-speed AP automatic tested in a Mini), tastefully de-seamed body, hatchback (or split folding tailgate) and Rover Metro or Minki-II type interconnected Hydragas suspension immediately spring to mind. Otherwise it would be interesting to see a Mini featuring the total sum of experimental or proposed improvements considered during its production life.

[DeadSquare]

Holes punched in the front subframe, so that a socket could be used all round the clutch cover.

[dyshipfakta]

A teeny tiny twin cam with a teeny tiny turbo. Also paint in places that aren’t immediately visible like behind the suspension mounts.

[Vinay-RS]

A 5-speed gearbox for the Mini & Metro in 1980......instead of all the money (several million) that BL spent on the A+ upgrade for little (if anything) gained?

Could the UK have taken the SA block that was in our 1098 and 1275 engines in the 70s and 80s? They are apparently very good engines.   

[KTS]

a bonnet that doesn't demand you smack your head against it at least once every time you open it    

[DeadSquare]

 

A 5-speed gearbox for the Mini & Metro in 1980......instead of all the money (several million) that BL spent on the A+ upgrade for little (if anything) gained?

Could the UK have taken the SA block that was in our 1098 and 1275 engines in the 70s and 80s? They are apparently very good engines.   

 

 

"Could the UK have taken SA blocks"

 

I was told by someone in a Longbridge accounts department, that it almost happened. 

 

I'm not sure if it was 600 complete engines and gearbox  (probably just engines) were imported in the late 70's or early 80's via Holland.

 

Somehow, one of the Unions learned about it, and using Apartheid as the perfect excuse, blacked them.

 

The Unions didn't stop them getting off the ship, but did stop them getting on a ferry to England.

 

The chap told me that Customs ( French or English ? ) demanded vat and they bickered with him about it for six months before releasing them, and they went back to SA.

[Bobbins]

Other than better anti-corrosion, if much else was changed it wouldn't be a Mini.

[Vinay-RS]

 

 

A 5-speed gearbox for the Mini & Metro in 1980......instead of all the money (several million) that BL spent on the A+ upgrade for little (if anything) gained?

Could the UK have taken the SA block that was in our 1098 and 1275 engines in the 70s and 80s? They are apparently very good engines.   

 

 

"Could the UK have taken SA blocks"

 

I was told by someone in a Longbridge accounts department, that it almost happened. 

 

I'm not sure if it was 600 complete engines and gearbox  (probably just engines) were imported in the late 70's or early 80's via Holland.

 

Somehow, one of the Unions learned about it, and using Apartheid as the perfect excuse, blacked them.

 

The Unions didn't stop them getting off the ship, but did stop them getting on a ferry to England.

 

The chap told me that Customs ( French or English ? ) demanded vat and they bickered with him about it for six months before releasing them, and they went back to SA.

 

That is very interesting! Thank you for sharing that information.