drmini in aust wrote:
I am surprised that a 1967 Mini Minor still had single ls drum brakes. Didn't 2ls ones come in with the windup window doors? With the Deluxe from 1965?
My 66 Mini Minor had single leading shoe brakes. The whole front subframe, power unit, rear subframe and floorpan were same as 850 pre 1965, along with the front grille and wiring loom. They really are simply a 850 with wind up windows. Mine even still had a toughened glass windscreen when i got it (long since changed for laminated) - not sure if the Deluxe had laminated? Mine was definetly not a fleet purchase, so no police or PMG ( the main buyers of the Mini Minor) history with mine. In that way it is probably an even rarer survivor in that it was a privately purchased pov pack at a time when the Deluxe was so much better a car!
The fact that mine exists, and there were a few others on the old 850 register, shows that his is not the only one remaining. Most are modified like mine is, but then again, he also states that his has had a bare metal "restoration" + overbore engine, so also not original, but closer to original specs. Documented provenance of being a NSW police station car possibly makes this a bit rarer, but i have never seen the evidence, nor have i asked to see it, so he probably has it. I know he spent an awful amount of time researching to prove the rarity of the car.
He has levelled a lot of criticism at self declared "experts" who told him that no such beast ever existed. I have also previously encountered such, but took the time to politely re-educate. I don't obsess over it, rather in true ausmini fashion, educate, carry on and live happy!
Not sure anyone is prepared to shell out $50k on this, despite rarity, given that you could get an absolute mint Cooper S for that money. Good luck to him i say, it can only increase the value of mine. Must go and up the insured value, heh heh!
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It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates
