26 replies to this topic

[Black.Ghost]

Today I received an old Mini World Magazine, October 1994. This was the issue that contains the advert for the GP. I also got one from 99, reporting on the launch of the new Sport 5 and S Touring (I know they were around in 97, but these were the new models). The reason I got that one was the GP buying guide. I also have another on the way.

But the point of this post is the difference of the magazines compared to now. It's really interesting to see articles at the time, for example comparing the mini to the other new small cars at the time - Pug 106 XSi, Fiat Cinquecento and Nissan Micra. There is also an article about the then new 16 valve Jack Knight head.

Anyone else like reading the old mags? I'm only getting a few issues for the collection. Any other special issues that have been done, for example featuring special edition reviews? I would be interested to see more.

[alex-95]

I picked up a few from a local autojumble from around the 80's I think, One was comparing a clubman estate to other esates, another on the mini special and one on a metro. it's good to look at the old adverts and prices of things.

[cradley-heathen]

i have got a few old mags, ones with brother and other mates cars on the front etc.

 

i think its interesting to see how the styling and accessories have moved on so much and see the pics of the shows. in all the old show reports its amazing how many of those cars are still around, but alloy have vanished!

[mab01uk]

Strange how todays Mini mags rarely show any 'before' and after photos of featured Mini restorations (even if the owner has good quality 'before' and 'work in progress' photos available). The general Practical Classics type mags show much more than just the finished car from the official photoshoot and therefore have more interesting articles.

Edited by mab01uk, 27 February 2014 - 12:33 AM.

[Black.Ghost]

My new magazine turned up this morning. Its got a review of the LE S Works. In reading that, I have discovered that the GP and the LE S Works were essentially the same car - the GP celebrating 35 years and latter the 40th anniversary, of the creation of the mini and John Cooper's F1 success.

[wile e coyote]

Got piles of them - required perusal reading for the throne......

Wish I'd bought supplies of parts now needed when they were plentiful - and cheap....as the old mags keep reminding me... but then again never expected to still own a mini a decade or two later....

Dislike the mags now - one more than the other as they seemed to have moved away from here's how to maintain/ fix / clever solutions / innovations etc and what i'd term reasonable resto's to articles on wow look how much money I've thrown at it...

Guess it's just me being a misery!

[Black.Ghost]

I wish I had been of the age where I was interested in Minis in the 90s...I turned 16 in 99. How I would loved to have to been the age I am now back then, I would absolutely have bought a brand new Mini.

 

Its interesting reading through the classifieds as well - in the Oct 94 Mini World, there is a 1960 850 Mk1 for about 3900 or something like that and a 91 Cooper for 4500! 

[blacktulip]

i used to buy miniworld to look for tuning parts for my metro turbo at the time. it all started from there and i got a mini within 3 months of passing my test. never looked back since. i think i still have the first copy i ever bought at home.

[Tamworthbay]

I like old CCC mags, its painful looking at how cheap some of the bits are (but then the wages were less as well) but its hard to find any issue from the 70s and 80s that doesn't feature a mini in somewhere.

[cradley-heathen]

i remember the first time i ever saw a mini mag, my brother brought one home with him and i read it cover to cover. i knew straight away i would have to have a mini, but i had no idea i would end up where i am now, working on them for a living!

 

that first mag is still with me now, it has a yellow mini on the cover called "yellow peril" it was a C20xe powered car on 10" minilights, and i thought it was totally mental, i had no idea things like that were possible!

 

anyone remember that mag?

[Black.Ghost]

Yeah sorry there is plenty of actual differences between the cars. But I meant they were for the same purpose. The GP celebrated 35 years and the LE S Works 40 years of the launch of the mini and the success for John Cooper.

[WMU 211G]

Love skimming through the adverts in old car mags, here's a few from Motorsport mag back in 1971...

 

''Austin Mini 1275GT, finished in Aqua Blue with black trim, fitted special spotlight system and low profile tyres etc... £795''

 

''Morris Mini Cooper, 1970 reg'd, Antelope with black trim, fitted with reclining seats... £645''

 

''Mini Jem, 1969 built with modified 1275 unit, Magnesium wheels, etc... £495''

 

''Cooper - choice of five selected 1000cc cars, two Mk1 and four Mk2, various colours and extras, from... £295 to £675''

 

''Cooper 1275 S, choice of five selected cars, variety of colours and extras, four with mag. wheels, two with sunroof, from... £435''

 

''Radford Downton Cooper S 1275, 1964, black electric windows, reclining seats, special fascia etc, extensive overhaul by Downton Feb' 1971, blue with silver top, black interior, excellent rust free condition, £600, can be seen in Devon or London, tel : 01 834 6504 after 6pm weekdays''

 

''1968 Cooper S Mk2, 1275, white / black, numerous extras and spares, £595, tel : Manchester 483 0374''

 

''1969 Mini van, excellent condition throughout, alternator fitted, undersealed, £375 ono, tel : Cirencester 3594 (evenings)''

 

''65 Cooper S, one owner, full history, immaculate... £425''

 

I need a lie down now....!

[Cooper1]

As a teenager I had stacks of mini magazines plus max power revs etc,love looking back at them especially to show how terrible car tuning was from the late 90s to the 00s
Body kits,terrible alloys,neon lights but the mini tuning science has always been independant and had its own class

[miniyellowmini]

i remember the first time i ever saw a mini mag, my brother brought one home with him and i read it cover to cover. i knew straight away i would have to have a mini, but i had no idea i would end up where i am now, working on them for a living!
 
that first mag is still with me now, it has a yellow mini on the cover called "yellow peril" it was a C20xe powered car on 10" minilights, and i thought it was totally mental, i had no idea things like that were possible!
 
anyone remember that mag?

Yes I remember that issue Still have it with all the other Mini mags I bought in the 90's!