I was just thinking about my car before. A 1967 "Deluxe". I won't score many points for originality because it's the ultimate "bitsa"!
1100S block and head, Cooper S brakes and RH tank, Mini K interior except the dash (was a wood grain dash, now finished in leather), Mini K gearbox (although fitted with close ratio gears) with remote type gear shift, Mini K wipers, indicators/ horn, non hydro (previous owner converted it to dry suspension, no idea why), fully adjustable suspension, alternator etc and last but not least a Cooper ashtray!
In fact the only thing deluxe about it is the body shell, the badges, subframes and the wiring harness (most of it). Do most people tend to keep their cars close to original or mess about with them to the extent I have? Just curious!

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67 Deluxe
Dry suspension
1293cc, 11:1 comp, RE 282 camshaft, 45 Weber, extractors etc
4 synchro close ratio gbox
Cooper S brakes, no booster
Stealth box, as Doc says "goes harder and idles!"
RH tank cos I needed it crossing the Nullarbor etc..

My Matic was a garden ornament when bought for a bottle of Chivas Regal 30 years ago.
The 998 auto ran but had only reverse.
Fixed that but it was slow as, until I dropped a Mk 2 S motor, box and disc front end into it. And the RH tank.
Had no seats so now has Cobras and a black GT rear one.
I've kept the rear badging on to suck people in, but no front. The K original was missing and they look ugly IMO.
So yes, it's a bitsa, in the original spirit of non-Cooper Minis.

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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.

In my youth I am sad to say I made a few changes to cars that now would devalue them immensely. They are only original once. But at the end of the day they are only possessions that you own and can do what ever you want with.

The more cars that are wrecked or bastardized the more rare the others will become and their value may increase. If what you want is entertainment, enjoyment and memories then do what makes you feel good.

I have to say the most fun I had in all my minis was as a teenager in my stock 998cc Leyland SS. Handbrake turns, bush bashing, burnouts with the handbrake on, even rabbit hunting. Then I hotted it up, blew it up and wrecked it.

I am at a point now that I believe rare and expensive cars should be kept as close to original as possible for future generations. With my current Cooper S I have tried to keep any modifications to a minimum and reversible, and have tried to keep the overall aesthetics to the way it was when it was originally built - money permitting. Maybe I am trying to atone for my past life a little.

Yep, when talking about Cooper's and Cooper S's you'd be mad to muck about with them. I get that totally.

gtogreen, when I was young and silly I developed the "reverse donut" technique in my 1st Mini K. Only worked on grass of course but what you do is put it in reverse, full lock and boot it! You go around and around in ever increasing diameter circles because of the weight up front. Was great fun and impressed my mates who'd never seen anything like it haha! (at the time most kids were driving souped up v8's)

Another memorable time was in NZ. I had bought a fully worked operational '64 Rally Mini with knobby tyres. I painted over the sponsers logo's and put carpet in it. Went like a cut snake,I lived on a steep hill and it it had a 648 cam in it. The only way to get the thing going was to load it up and spin the wheels. (Doc will be happy to hear it had a Dellorto). Party at a mates place, parked it on the grass. It poured down the whole night. When I went to go home, it got bogged in the swamp the front yard had become. A load of people came out to push as I reversed out wheels madly spinning. I will never, ever forget the sight of mud/slush/ water soaked helpers! I didn't hang around! To this day I regret not bringing that car back to Oz

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67 Deluxe
Dry suspension
1293cc, 11:1 comp, RE 282 camshaft, 45 Weber, extractors etc
4 synchro close ratio gbox
Cooper S brakes, no booster
Stealth box, as Doc says "goes harder and idles!"
RH tank cos I needed it crossing the Nullarbor etc..

I had planned more mods but finding out its got some good history and is a good survivor, ive tried to keep it original ad i can manage, minus safety. The vinyl floor is a hard one though. I might add a bit of head work and a carb for a bit of takeoff but im just loving the little pig as is

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

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http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=93352

If I'm carrying on like a pork-chop, I'm having a great time.

If I go very quiet there's a very good chance I broke something.

My best mini that still makes me smile to this day was my camino gold 72 clubby 1275 twin 1 1/2 su i flogged it all day every day and done so many things that would lock you up or get the car impounded these days i have own many more including a s at the same time and coopers sprites etc but was still the best one i ever drove my theory is if they are desirable eg a s or gt etc or super original should be left as is but is for eg some who has modded a deluxe with some ugrades to make it fun who cars

I bought a 1275 Cali moke when I was 12yrs old. Drove the arse off it. Over jumps, through fences, into dams and on the local beach. The most fun I ever had in a car.
It also did a pretty good reverse donut!!!
When I turned 17 I bought a 74 clubman s. Put disc brakes on it, twin carbsand driving lights. I drove it everywhere especially where council didnt want me. Under chain barricades, along walking tracks and between rock boulders. Drove the local copper mad. I did what made me happy with the car and what I could afford, I think that is what its meant to be about. Enjoy your car to how you want it to be.

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1963 Morris 850 Smoke Grey
1963 Morris 850 Shadow Blue
1965 Morris Mini Smooth Van
1966 Morris Mini Van
1969 Morris Mini Deluxe Resto
5/72 Clubman Gt

I'm in the middle of doing mine and had intended to make some changes, now I'm looking at keeping it as original as I can and repairing bits rather than replacing. (except for mechanicals, brakes, etc)

I think in the long run from an investment perspective a close to original 1 owner 64 850 mini will be the way to go.

In saying that though, I have other toys, the Rover in particular will always be a tinkerer and a bit of a Rat Rod.

I've had mine for 27 years now. Far from original Mini Minor - 1411 stroker on a rod change box, disc brakes, no interior, race seat, roll cage, hydraulic handbrake, hi-los, adjustable suspension all round, laminated windscreen. More that i can't recall.

I could have restored it to original but would have had far less fun in it over the 27 years, and considering it was pretty much a wreck when i got it, having been in a crash before i got it, with no paint, some rust, etc etc. No one wanted a Mini Minor back then.

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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

Mine wasn't original when I got it (different engine, different colour, remote change, bucket seats, twin cylinder front brakes, alternator etc) so I've never looked to restore it to 100% stock condition. That said, I do like the overall look of the 850 and try to keep in it a period style when selecting parts.

There are a couple of really nice original 850's out there which are in much better condition than mine will ever be, so I don't feel bad about the way I use mine.

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Mine is far from original.
It's been deseamed, has a stroker motor, big brakes,13" wheels, flares, trimmed arches, custom interior and more.

It is however unique, and it's mine.

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Too many cars, and too little time.

Do what you want with it if it`s yours i say
some i prefer to keep as stock as i can (if n where possible)
but others i love to mod the crap outa them

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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.

My first car was a '61 850. Interior was upholstered like '65 Ford Mustang, FB Holden dash top with guages in front of driver, console with radio installed, hood lining with a GT stripe stitched in. Engine was 1100 with 42 DCOE Weber, big wade cam, but needed bigger head. Painted in XR Falcon 'Sultan Maroon' with black vinyl roof, Hunter/Delbrige 4 spoke bubble mags and an Austin Cooper grille. Cooper disc brakes (no booster). It had remote gear shift and still had the 1100 diff housing with the sandwich plate. I bought the with all mods done. It went quite well, could keep up with a Cooper S.

Currently restoring a '69 Mk2 S and it is going to be original

Sorry can someone put the pic the right way. done

Mine was a 65 Mini with Shag Pile carpet, grey fur on everything and as many coloured lights as I could find at the wrecker. It had a radio cassette and a sports wheel with a set of Minilite style wheels.

Gotta luv the 70's

I think that when these things were common and cheap back in the day modifying them was not a problem but now you would not modify an original car you would be throwing money out the window , I own a modified mini sedan and a ute which I have changed a few bits back to original .

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That's why it's good to be.............ME