Can we have a link to your web site ?

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Find a job you love and you will never have to go to work !

Rodger is a long time Mini enthusiast who has restored many cars over the years and been closely involved in the Mini scene in Victoria. As you can see from his post he has extensive knowledge of instrumentation systems such as the Smiths brand used in the Mini and deserves to be supported by the Mini community given the lengths he goes to in providing service and support.

http://www.howardinstruments.com.au/

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Roger, PM sent.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I've bought a lot of stuff for my fleet from abroad over the years I must confess. The again, I've also bought a lot locally too.

Even before the age of internet shopping I used to buy lots from overseas suppliers, some selected from ads in UK car magazines like CCC, some from parts/price lists that were posted out to me. A lot of stuff just wasn't available here back then so I had no option. It took longer of course, because you had to correspond by written letter and international phone calls were very expensive, but postage pricing was much less than it is now.

Nowadays it's all very different of course. I will buy locally if it's exactly the same part as I can get internationally, is within a reasonable price range (i.e. not something like 50% more) and can be delivered quickly (I recently waited more than 2 weeks for a stocked item to be shipped to me here in Adelaide from Sydney, alright it was Aust Post so that may explain it).

I suppose on average I buy about 30% from abroad these days, much more when the Aussie dollar was at its height, and probably will be less when/if the import tax regime changes in the future.

BTW if you think you may be being ripped off buying Min parts locally, just try buying Land Rover stuff......

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Slide
1965 Mini Van (1360)
1970 Mk2 Cooper S (1310)
1978 Rover SD1 V8 (4.6)
1996 Land Rover Discovery V8 (4.0)

Thanks for the words of support Doug.
Fortunately we are doing ok. We even sell and restore items for overseas customers... The U.K. Japan Sri Lanka France Canada etc.
No one will be silly enough to create and tend to a business such as ours in the future. It's taken my parents and I more than 45 years to get it to where it is and there is always a new challenge around the corner.
I only wish I could find some more staff with the level of commitment required to persevere long term.
However there are many in the automotive game not as lucky as us. Some of it is up to them but in other cases there are structural changes that mean that repair/ service businesses will continue to decline in number. Many of us won't realize until it is too late.
As an example the mini generator is no longer on the syllabus for auto electrical training.
Instrument making has been gone for 20 years.
Polishing... Who would commit themselves to this as a career these days.... but as I have learned from two brothers in their late 60's it is extremely important apart from car parts they polish the great majority of the commercial coffee machines in Melbourne. When they're gone that's it.
They're prepared to show me because I am one of the few people that has shown an interest and I've taken on the fundamentals along with an industrial machine but I struggle to cover the skill set in my little part of the industry without trying to learn this as well..
It's important to think of these issues from an overall perspective rather than on the basis of self interest.

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1960 Morris Mini Minor

I've heard of Howard instruments I think craig Watson had them in the mag

Another site for the business part on here

Good words Rodger, well done , keep on keeping on mate

& TK,,,, i havn`t sold one car to any where or anyone overseas

i have < however, done appraisals for some USA people who had already delt with "other" Aussie people who "were" selling minis over seas,,, & i can assure you that those particular minis were not in very good condition & as far as i`m aware, none of the minis that i did appraisals for left the country.

I have helped some Yankys & Canadians with bits & pieces for their Aussie cars over the years tho, but they had already purchased minis from other people here in Aust.

i`m not a fan of selling minis overseas (period!!!),,, & certainly don`t condone nor have anything to do with selling dodgey, re-vin`d &/or "S" replicas being sold to anyone,,, not like a few people we know in that game.
hopefully those people won`t last too much longer in this mini scene.

I, (like Rodger) have taken over our family business & it`s now in it`s 50th year, so i`m doing my very best to up-hold not only the tradition & reputation of good quality workmanship & spare parts service, but also try to improve even more on our already great service... we make lots of stuff,,, we customize lots of stuff, we service & maintain them , we race them,,, we race them, we speak, eat, sleep, & sh!t minis.

it`s way way way more than a passion to me & our guys
we are powering ahead now,,, putting another guy on early next year,,, buying new premises,
& all the while trying to have a life & fix my house up & look after my Marly & my dog George.
i have only the 14 or 15 hours in the day that i work & sometimes poor old Archie is left here on his own so for that reason i must appologize for me not being available to everyone , all the time.

soon (once we have dads estate sorted & houses finished & new building set-up, i will certainly have more time for everyone.

please just keep this thread civil,,, it wasn`t started as a bashing room for anyone in particular
i just feel that we need to keep the local Aust mini shops alive & well here & that means supporting them... --> if they`re good people, good hearts, good souls & good quality parts service & advice.

I won`t blame anyone for moving onto another mini workshop if their being ripped off or misstreated or lied to etc from their current shop,,, common sense needs to prevail , obviously...& maybe (as seen in the past) the mini shops that are only in it for a quick rip off buck will fall away, & maybe that`s a good thing,,, it should make the long term stayers stronger & all you guys happier
cheers
Matt

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

Hear!Hear! Matt.