60 replies to this topic

[favminigirl]

Owner: Jodie
Message Board Name: favminigirl
Mini Type: Mayfair and Cooper
Engine: 998cc and 1275cc


I have decided after being a mini owner on and off for 6 1/2 years now, I would put pen to paper and write an article on why I love the little motors so much!

I started off my passion for minis when I was about 15, and after that, my heart was set on one! My father works in the motor trade, owning a body shop, and always said he’d keep he eye open if an appropriate one came up, then, a couple of months before my 17th birthday, there she was! We found a little light green Mayfair, a bargain at £200, ideal 1st car to learn in. From then on, every night for two months I found myself driving around the industrial estate where my dad worked, trying to learn the art of this driving lark! At last my 17th birthday came and on the day I started my driving lessons, id saved and saved just so I could get out onto the road in my mini. 13 lessons later and many evenings of driving my mini with my dad sat next to me I passed! From then on my parents never saw me, I lived and died in my Mayfair, she was completely standard but I loved her just the way she was! We had mass camping trips in her and went everywhere, but the poor old girl knew it and gave up the ghost in the summer. After playing with the thought of getting a new engine she sat sad in the corner of my dads workshop, I never did know where she went, I ended up with a fiesta!!!! But until this day I have never let my father forget it!!!

[favminigirl]

This was until 3 1/2 years ago... a garage over the road from where I lived had a cooper sitting out the back, it had been put up for sale and sold.... Until they realised the extend of the work need to pass a MOT. So, she was taken off their hands by me at a very reasonable price! She sat at the bottom of my garden for 6 months before work started, and that took a couple of months to get done, but when it was finished I was the happiest girl in the world! The whole mini adventure started again and I remembered what id been missing out on!!! Named the “little devil” automatically by everyone (the number plate is DEV) she has now been tearing around the roads of Kent for 3 years terrorising neighbourhoods! I made some modifications to her, with clear lenses all around, a 2” 3/4 straight through DTM, angel eye headlamps and neon's. She has always driven really well; going on holiday to Cornwall, travelling to uni in London 3 times a week in her and never a problem, but the bodywork is starting to look terrible. Really it needs a complete new shell, but I am still calculating the pros and cons of spending out that much! The little devil is currently off the road awaiting to go to the workshop for her bodywork; she is leaking so much now that she is covered up in my garden.
THIS IS MY COOPER WHEN I 1ST GOT HER

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this is her at #Lyden Hill... bit muddy after been handbraked round an empty muddy hill he he (dont tell anyone!!!)

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both my current babies!!!!

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..............and again

[favminigirl]

.... And as if by coincidence...... what comes up, but a new mini for me to buy! She is a Mayfair, known as “the little f****r” (I'll let you fill in the blanks but her no plate is FKR and it stuck!) My dad painted and re[placed panels to this car 2 years ago for a guy who was working on it as a project, so he knew the car well anyway, but since it was finished has been sitting in a garage and driven 40 miles if that. the body work on it is immaculate, no rust, scratched, dents, she has loads of chrome trimmings including central exit exhaust, chrome wheel arches and trims, chrome quads, headlight peeks
and stone guards t goes on. Inside is fitted with jet-black seats, with matching carpets and door cards, although I am currently playing with the idea of some nice cobra bucket seats I've spotted! She has a walnut dash and I'm going to fit a walnut centre console to match. I have converted all the lenses to clear ones, with red LED bulbs in the back to try and stop me getting pulled for “pink bulbs” as often as normal! I haven’t figured out what lights have been installed as headlamps, but they shine blue and red (rather cool and different) but it passed an MOT with them so am hoping they are legal whatever they are!

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and here she is.......

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wheels

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inside....

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The plans...

The little f, doesn’t really need too much work, I am planning a few mods such as the bucket seats, would love to put in a chrome rear roll cage, but am thinking my insurance company wont be too happy with me! But in general she if nearly just how I want her, even if a little slower than my cooper!!! (Hoping will make me more sensible!)

Where as the little devil... She will have a full respray just as original, with either a new shell of panels, but she will be fitted with some sports pack arches and 13” x 7” deep dish minilites, hopefully fingers crossed, within the year!

I am hoping to get to as many shows as possible, Brooklands, London to Brighton, National cooper day at Beulieu, SMD’s etc etc, but until my coopers done be patient, I'll be the slow white motor at the back of the queue!

[simong6]

i think the little f****er looks gorgeous you have done a fantasic job there

[favminigirl]

oh i forgot this pic.... this is under the bonnet of lil f.

[Stacey]

"Little F***er" is a good looking Mini, I can see why you were chuffed when she came up for sale. I think Minis look good with some nice shiny chrome, and yours isnt short of a bit

I see what you mean about the colour of the headlights, it is an interesting colour, are the bulbs coloured at all or is it only when the lights are turned on?

Fast isnt always the best way, at least if you are cruising then more people can see you!

Stacey