70 replies to this topic

[nicksuth]

I've been back on the Classic Mini scene for about a year now, having been an enthusiast in my teens which was back in the early1970's.

My first Mini was a 1964 Mini Cooper "S" 970cc which I bought for £450 in 1976, it had been rally prepared and had competed on several BTRDA events and one RAC rally (1972 I think?).

I ran it for a year or so then stripped it, sold the engine, bought an ex special saloon car shell and fitted a 3/4 race 1275 "S" into it and did a few night rallies (when night rallies started at midnight ran 200 miles and finished at 07:00 hrs with a breakfast at some roadside cafe in the middle of nowehere) - them were the days????

Okay, I rambling but I'm allowed being over 50!!!

On revisiting the Mini scene in order to teach my son to drive in a "proper car" (okay, he's spoilt with a 98 MPi with 5 speed and all the "S" kit with it but I got carried away!!!).

I did warn you I was rambling!!!!!!!!!

Right, my point...................

It appears to me that we (the Mini enthusiasts) have made a rod for own backs? By being totally mad about the marque, we have pushed the prices up of complete cars, shells, spares and accessories to the point were anyone can try asking for silly money for them?

I've seen MK1's going for £25,000+, Mini Vans going for £2,600+ and Mini Pick-Ups going for £even sillier money!!!!

I had a Mini Van while I was building my 1275 (okay it was back in 1975) that I bought for £350 as a work-horses while I built the "S" and when I finished with it 18 months later I sold it to another Mini enthusiast for £300 who I knew would do the same.

The Mini world's gone mad and we (the Mini enthusiasts) are to blame, we'll pay anything for our love and the greedy, unscrupulous and downright dishonest just keep on milking us!!!

For those of you of younger age, the Mini, in the early days, was all about having a cheap car with loads of potential to modify, tune, tweek and generaly have fun with (with a screw driver, adjustable wrench and some enthusiasm), then pass on to the next budding rally driver, it's all now gone Pete Tonge and is now an expensive hobby. Lets face it, for the price someone is trying to sell a rusty Min Van, you could buy a tasty Renault Clio, Vauxhall Corsa or Fiat Punto?

I'm not sure where I'm going with this but just thought I need ed to "vent" (after 5 pints of John Smiths a couple of Jamiesons and an Amereto!!!

Feel free to *woman of ill repute* me right back off!!!

[nicksuth]

..................ah, just remembered what triggered the "vent" now.

Saw that Rear Screen Louvre that someone paid £320 fo which were £19.99 in the late 1970's (all 850 w=owners had to have one!!!).

This is what I mean when I say we are being "milked", but hey, there's people out there that will pay it!!! what can I say???

[taffy1967]

The Mini (the real one) isn't being made any more, so it's starting to became rare.

Don't forget it got voted as 'Car Of The 20th Century' by Autocar and it came 2nd as the greatest car in the world (or whatever).

So it's rarity, plus it's history (like no other car has) and it's classic status means it's naturally going to move into a different league.

Plus anything Mini related on e-Bay seems to be advertised as Cooper S or ex-Works, which automatically pushes the asking price up a few extra noughts.

It's crazy, but it can only get worst and pretty soon only rich collectors will be able to afford classic Minis.

[johnbest981]

Haha, I do enjoy a good rant, my friend just brought a work horse Punto for 400 sheets, it's done 150,000 but its got 11 months MOT. Some times I wonder why I bother with the mini, especially the 4 figure sums being forked over for them in the first place, but then I look out my window and see it, makes it very worth while.

And I look forward to the day I can tell my kids my first car was a Austin Mini, that was 4 years older then I was, that I only paid 1500 sobbs for. Man should they have a look on their faces

well, there's my 2p's worth, now I must rest.

Edited by johnbest981, 31 January 2009 - 12:01 AM.

[Danuneek]

I wished I lived in those days (been only 22 now) or at least had a time machine to go back and pick up a bargain.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Yeah But When you love somthing as much as most of us, Money is just a small price to pay.

You Mentioned Clios, Saxos etc, but i dont understand why anybody would choose one of those over a mini. Im 15 and the thought of driving a "tuned" souped up saxo doesnt excite me at all, im just looking forward to getting out on the road in A mini, it will most probably be a rust bucket, but its a mini and thats all i care about.
If i got told i could have my Brothers Mint condition peugeot 306 with 14,000 miles on the clock or an 86 mini mayfair for example, with 80,000 miles i'd happily take the mini, and i'd happily spend all the money i earn on returning it to its former glory.

Just my rambling 2p
Craig

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 31 January 2009 - 12:02 AM.

[nicksuth]

Yeh, I appreciate and agree with what you say and of course they will increase in value due to rarity but some people are just taking the "mick", but then again, there appear to be plenty of people who will pay the money!!

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Yeh, I appreciate and agree with what you say and of course they will increase in value due to rarity but some people are just taking the "mick", but then again, there appear to be plenty of people who will pay the money!!

Another thing you have to remember though, is that back in the day it was just "another Car", you'd see them everywhere, but now, scince production has stopped it is actually a classic car, which might explain the reason for sky high parts on ebay etc.

It does wind me up when people put "rare cooper S steering wheel BMC 1959" when coopers wernt even made then, but thats the kind of thing you see on ebay.

[nicksuth]

Yeah But When you love somthing as much as most of us, Money is just a small price to pay.

You Mentioned Clios, Saxos etc, but i dont understand why anybody would choose one of those over a mini. Im 15 and the thought of driving a "tuned" souped up saxo doesnt excite me at all, im just looking forward to getting out on the road in A mini, it will most probably be a rust bucket, but its a mini and thats all i care about.
If i got told i could have my Brothers Mint condition peugeot 306 with 14,000 miles on the clock or an 86 mini mayfair for example, with 80,000 miles i'd happily take the mini, and i'd happily spend all the money i earn on returning it to its former glory.

Just my rambling 2p
Craig

Okay, you qualify!!! I think it's something you're born with?

[nicksuth]

Another thing you have to remember though, is that back in the day it was just "another Car", you'd see them everywhere, but now, scince production has stopped it is actually a classic car, which might explain the reason for sky high parts on ebay etc.

ooooh no, it was never "another car", it was born classic!!!

PS - I was born in 1958 so guess it was "in the blood" from the start?

Edited by nicksuth, 31 January 2009 - 12:15 AM.

[Ethel]

£300 for a cheapo plaggy louvre is just silly.

It would be a shame to see enthusiasts priced out of the market but rising values mean as they get rarer it will make financial sense to pay more fixing and restoring 'em to keep on the road. Now, if they all sold for £25k we could all do a Wood 'n Picket and build our own from scratch.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Yeah But When you love somthing as much as most of us, Money is just a small price to pay.

You Mentioned Clios, Saxos etc, but i dont understand why anybody would choose one of those over a mini. Im 15 and the thought of driving a "tuned" souped up saxo doesnt excite me at all, im just looking forward to getting out on the road in A mini, it will most probably be a rust bucket, but its a mini and thats all i care about.
If i got told i could have my Brothers Mint condition peugeot 306 with 14,000 miles on the clock or an 86 mini mayfair for example, with 80,000 miles i'd happily take the mini, and i'd happily spend all the money i earn on returning it to its former glory.

Just my rambling 2p
Craig

Okay, you qualify!!! I think it's something you're born with?

Possibly, None of my mates seem to understand how i can sit on here all day "talking about minis"

what i meant by "another Car", is that they were much more of a common site back then they are now. Im obviously not speaking from experience here as it was before my time but ive seen pictures and videos, and theres just minis everywhere, including vans, pick-ups and most variations.
If i see a Mini Van drive past me i get so excited that i cant contain it , but years ago if i was there im sure i'd see one and it'd still bring a smile too my face, just not to extent it does today, if that works, hopefully it does

Craig

[nicksuth]

If only I'd kept it!!!!!!!

PS - Reason for the Grill Mod is a Pheasant went through it!!!

PPS - Those Wiper Blade "Thingies" were nearly as popular as the Rear Screen Louvre but actually did something useful (kept the wipers on the screen when running over 70 MPH)

Edited by nicksuth, 31 January 2009 - 12:22 AM.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

a better way of saying what i was trying to say above i think is that a Classic mini is more of a "lifestyle" now. You could choose to go for your everyday car like a peugeot, renault etc, and thats fine, but when you buy a mini your not just buying a car, your buying the Ups and downs of what come with it, like the mini community which it must be said is fantastic 99% of the time, but with that also comes the bad times like trying to prevent rust and make In-approriate fixes at silly times in the night which you wouldnt have to do with a new car.

I dunno, might have just made it for confusing but it made sense to me

[Ethel]

Minis were a more common sight but they really have always been special. Even back in the day you only needed a set of custom wheels or a non standard exhaust to attract admiring looks nd everyone knew sitting behind the wheel of a Mini was different.