19 replies to this topic

[Bungle]

early 90's cooper carb (or main stream as taffy likes to call them)

i can out do taffy as i have had mine for 18 and a bit years

[taffy1967]

and a proper wood chrome and leather steering wheel

Which isn't standard fitment as it would originally have come with a plain black plastic style 2 spoke steering wheel with a big 'Mini' badge in the centre.

Like this one: -

chrome handles

Nope, not on the inside they weren't fitted as standard. They'd have have been black plastic when new.

And 1976 was the changeover period from MKIII to MKIV Mini.

But later models just made use of the Clubman bits that BL had been fitting since 1969 anyway?

And Rover boss Graham Day described the Mini as a good little earner during the late 1980's, so if it was such a terrible loss maker, just why did they continue to make it and bring the Cooper brand back in 1990?

Each to their own though and I do love earlier models, but I'm also besotted with my 1990 Mini Cooper.

But my MKIII 1975 Mini 1000 had been badly neglected and that's why it was in such a state (I soon had it fixed up and looking nice though). Where as my 1990 Mainstream Cooper has been pampered since I bought it back in early 1994 and that's why it still looks good and runs well today.

Edited by taffy1967, 09 January 2009 - 09:05 PM.

[Hayley]

Which isn't standard fitment as it would originally have come with a plain black plastic style 2 spoke steering wheel with a big 'Mini' badge in the centre.

Like this one: -



Well neither of mine did they both had ones that looked like the monlita ones but deeper dish, wood rim covered leather and three spokes with the holes and a bl boss

[quote]chrome handles
Nope, not on the inside they weren't fitted as standard. They'd have have been black plastic when new.

yes black plastic with chrome fittings unlike the rover ones which are all plastc and flimsy

And 1976 was the changeover period from MKIII to MKIV Mini.

But later models just made use of the Clubman bits that BL had been fitting since 1969 anyway?

Correct but i believe the clubman bits are different to the later rover minis

And Rover boss Graham Day described the Mini as a good little earner during the late 1980's, so if it was such a terrible loss maker, just why did they continue to make it and bring the Cooper brand back in 1990?

Why did they do the whole mg thing?

I'm guessing thats a lie? The old john cooper garage used to be down the road from me he lived across the road from it, and i know a few people that worked for rover and bl, we don't know why rover did alot of things but they did and thats a different point.

Each to their own though and I do love earlier models, but I'm also besotted with my 1990 Mini Cooper.

I'm sure you would be it's yours and a mini, i love my boyfriends city, but not as much as mine!

But my MKIII 1975 Mini 1000 had been badly neglected and that's why it was in such a state (I soon had it fixed up and looking nice though). Where as my 1990 Mainstream Cooper has been pampered since I bought it back in early 1994 and that's why it still looks good and runs well today.

back to topic over and out

Edited by Hayley, 09 January 2009 - 09:23 PM.

[taffy1967]

Well neither of mine did they both had ones that looked like the monlita ones but deeper dish, wood rim covered leather and three spokes with the holes and a bl boss

Then their not standard as they would have come with this big bus twirler when new. All Mini 850's and 1000's got that style of steering wheel from 1969 (with the launch of the MKIII) up to around 1978, so early MKIV Minis used them too.



And my 75' Tahiti Blue 1000 had one too, but I changed it for a more sportier, smaller steering wheel.

yes black plastic with chrome fittings unlike the rover ones which are all plastc and flimsy

But there's very little difference and late model Minis got far better chunkier door fittings. Mine is now fitted with those alloy type handles instead.

Correct but i believe the clubman bits are different to the later rover minis

My 1990 Mini has basically the same set-up as what got fitted to the Mini 1275GT. But I have a steering column lowered bracket and so I can see the speedo very clearly.

Why did they do the whole mg thing?

Because the Mini was an old product by 1980 and BL wanted a mid sized hatchback like what most other car makers were producing. But the Mini was still too good a product to die.

I'm guessing thats a lie? The old john cooper garage used to be down the road from me he lived across the road from it, and i know a few people that worked for rover and bl, we don't know why rover did alot of things but they did and thats a different point.

John Cooper was supplying Rover Japan with performance kits for the Mini long before Rover UK showed any interest. But new management brought new thinking and where as BL had always said they were a company looking forwards and not backwards, by the 1990's Rover decided to release it's greatest hits which included the MGF and the Mini Cooper.

I'm sure you would be it's yours and a mini, i love my boyfriends city, but not as much as mine!

Doesn't matter what Mini it is as their all fantastic from 1959-2000.

And this is what my 75' MKIII Mini 1000 looked like after a bit of a tidy up (you'll have to excuse the horrible wheel trims though): -

Edited by taffy1967, 09 January 2009 - 11:12 PM.

[taffy1967]

I got that steering wheel image off e-Bay and the wheels description is so wrong that I'll probably send the guy a message. Although I'll probably be ignored?: -

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...bayphotohosting



Well a MKI or MKII would have the Austin crest type of badge and not simply 'Mini' like this MKIII post 1969 type.

Edited by taffy1967, 09 January 2009 - 10:54 PM.