31 replies to this topic

[Maniac]

So I'm looking at a volcano orange mini - 1997. Trying to do my homework before I view hopefully this weekend. The OH has wanted a classic mini for ages and like most, the cooper was the favourite. My question is, whats the difference on a Mk7 between the 'Rover Mini' and 'Rover Mini Cooper' other than looks?

 

I'm fairly au fait with older minis as I had several through my teens and 20's but that was 20 odd years ago now and the later models I'm not so clued up on.

 

Cheers.

[CCX]

Put simply: nothing. The mechanicals are identical between the normal 1.3i and the Cooper, and they even had the same price when new. It just depends on which one you most like the look of. 

[Miniminx71]

_{As above, mechanical spec is the same. The difference is all aesthetics: white roof/bonnet stripes/coachlines and door mirrors, black/beige steering wheel, sports alloys (as opposed to Premium), driving lamps and a different "sports" grill on the Cooper.} 

 

_{Oh, and an alloy accelerator pedal (full of holes).}

[Badboytunes]

Aren't some Sportpack and others Non Sportpack?

[Mk1Dave]

Aren't some Sportpack and others Non Sportpack?

Yes

[Maniac]

Thanks for the speedy replies. So next question I have is; if we wanted that larger body coloured arch look (and I've seen plenty of arches online that seem to suit but obviously need painting) are spacers required to fill out the wheel wells for that look or is it a specific type of wheel size?

 

This is the car I'm looking at

 

e.g. this is the sort of look I'd be after;

Edited by Maniac, 25 September 2014 - 03:48 PM.

[Guess-Works.com]

Trim level and options are the only difference... 

 

All will be MPi, and all will either be rotten or rebuilt, personally I'd rather buy a rotten one and get it rebuilt rather than buy one which you don't know the work which was done, and the standard of that work..

 

You'll be very lucky to find an original version which does not display some rot.

[Miniminx71]

 

 

All will be MPi, and all will either be rotten or rebuilt,

Please don't say that. I have an Mpi and it's neither. I've looked after it. I'm not the only one. A fair few will be rotten but not all.

[Miniminx71]

Thanks for the speedy replies. So next question I have is; if we wanted that larger body coloured arch look (and I've seen plenty of arches online that seem to suit but obviously need painting) are spacers required to fill out the wheel wells for that look or is it a specific type of wheel size?

 

This is the car I'm looking at

 

e.g. this is the sort of look I'd be after;

That is a Sportspack option. The wheels are 13 inch as opposed to the standard 12 and obviously wider. The standard tyres above are 145/70 SR12. The Sportpacks are 175/50 R13.

[Maniac]

 

 

 

All will be MPi, and all will either be rotten or rebuilt,

Please don't say that. I have an Mpi and it's neither. I've looked after it. I'm not the only one. A fair few will be rotten but not all.

 

I'm looking at one that's owned by a chap that's part of a mini club in the hope its been reasonably well looked after rather than just some runabout. I'm not expecting flawless, but neither do I want to spend 1000's correcting rot ideally. I'd rather have something half decent and keep on top of it.

[some1158]

It might be worth seeing if you can borrow a Sportspack car to test - as it does affect the steering rack, ride etc. You might like it - or not - but then you'd know before you spend money and start cutting the wings, etc.

See post 6 on http://www.theminifo...ini-sportspack/

 

Volcano Orange is a lovely colour, it must be said.

Edited by some1158, 25 September 2014 - 04:29 PM.

[CCX]

The car you're looking at looks really nice, Volcano orange is quite a rare (and great looking colour). Sports packs included the following from new:

 

13x6 inch Minilite style wheels (originals were made by Speedline)

Wide body coloured arches

Upgraded Koni dampers (to cope with the increased weight of the bigger wheels)

Twin fog lamps up front, two spot lights (which switch on on full beam)

A modified steering rack, to limit the lock so that the larger wheels don't foul the bodywork

Cut-away arches for the bigger wheels (done at the factory)

Voltmeter

Oil temperature gauge

Chrome tailpipe finisher

Drilled alloy accelerator pedal (which was standard on the Cooper anyway)

There were definitely wheel spacers fitted, but I don't know what size

 

There are a lot of 'fake' sports packs around which have some of these fitted (such as the wheels and arches), but a genuine sports pack would have had all of these fitted from new. Some cars also had the wheels and arches fitted at dealers etc. I think around 50% of Coopers had the Sports pack option fitted new, but so many have since been converted which is why they seem so common now. 

[Maniac]

I'm not going to go too mad on making it the sports pack I just want a similar look so arches and wheels would be the first stop I think before getting the roof painted White and some appliqué stripes etc

Will setup the viewing then and see how we go:

Thanks for all the useful replies.

[psmini]

Get a 7.5" brake conversion kit and some 6x10 Minilights and it will look amazing (and easily put back to standard). That's what I did, even retained the original arches and they're filled. Will look awesome!

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Edited by psmini, 25 September 2014 - 06:40 PM.

[Fast Ivan]

best thing I did was get rid of the 13's and put 10's on mine, the trouble I have is filling the sportpack arches with 10's, they look ok but those arches need the bigger wheels really. I'll not be buying anything with sportspack arches on again I don't think as I prefer the handling of the 10's