what are your preferences for your Classics.
Mine are to enhance and change with the idea of making it a more comfortable and enjoyable ride. But I have a common clubman so no worries about keeping it original, not sure which way I would go if I had a rare one though.

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Cheers Dave.

I would say a Cooper, Cooper S, Clubman GT or a 1275LS is worthy of being kept in original condition. I have a 998 Mini Matic, bought as a garden ornament for a bottle of Chivas Regal about 1980.
It was little more than a rolling shell. Had neutral and reverse only.
I put it on the road after I fixed the auto transmission and sourced trim etc from everywhere, but it was slow as a wet week. After driving it for 2 years it got a 1310 transplant from a wrecked Clubman GT. Including brakes and suspension. It's had various improvements ever since.
Yes, the Matics were rare, but they were slow and unloved. Transmissions died before their motors did.
My 2c...

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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 have one that is very close to original (65 S with matching numbers), but I don't feel at all guilty adding extra gauges and sensors that can be removed or hidden later. My oil filter is a screw-on but I still have the original messy cartridge, somewhere. Syncro on first should not be a crime.
Remember that even a tacho, Minilites and Yokohama tyres were not "original", but are now almost essential.
I do however, like the bus steering wheel; somehow that does make it feel like a real, "original" mini.
Dave D

I do tend to agree with David D above. My first two Cooper S's (first mk2 S ~1977 below) had been modified by previous owners but my current 3/70 Mk2 S is completely original except no original steering wheel and front seats. Mechanically I have been upgrading parts that can be relatively easily put back to standard (brakes, bottom arms, rear brackets, sway bar, techdel minilites, smiths tacho, oil filter etc). I will be running a weber, but have restored the 1 1/4" su's. For instruments, I am running round the dial smiths (Aust, period) gauges with a digital speedo - no more speedo cable or voltage stabilizer, but I am in the process of restoring the original binnacle and instruments. By doing these modifications, I am building a car that I want (and have had 40+ years ago) whilst still retaining a classic with some of the quirks ironed out. It will look original outwardly, but be quicker and handle better. Also, with a little bit of work (and a steering wheel and front seats), can be made original if my kids wish ......

Up until driving YG2S4 2153 a couple of years ago, I had never driven a std unmodified Cooper S. Every other one I have driven or owned has been modified. It was quite different to what I remembered - no cam, head, weber, lightened flywheel, lowered, comp bump stops, front shocks etc - but a delight to drive. Just my 2c

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1970 Mk2 Cooper S under restoration

The beauty of the Mini is that it can be modified to suit whatever the owner wants. Parts and accessories are plentiful and examples of what others have done to their cars abound so the sky's the limit.

In my case I acquired a 1970 MK II Cooper S as a retirement present to myself, discovering afterwards that it started life as a NSW Police pursuit vehicle but had been repainted and had minor modifications done by previous owners. That set me on a path to research what made these particular cars different to what the public could buy. That car now resides on display at the NSW Police Academy in Goulburn.

When a very original and unmolested example of an ex-NSW Police Cooper S with original engine and strong provenance came up for sale I pounced. The owner had purchased it at the NSW Government fleet auction, had kept the original sale receipts and did virtually nothing to it other than maintenance over the twenty years it was on the road until it was parked up in 1991 with a bung clutch. It came with the original Police accessories - steel sump guard, mesh sun visor and perpsex wind deflector.

I felt it was almost my duty to preserve the car as a reference for those wanting originality in their own vehicle, and especially regarding the changes done by BMC to meet the Police contract at the time - Special Production Order 41. A long search resulted in the acquisition of items removed before the auction - siren, blue flashing light (beacon), two-way radio, calibrated speedometer, driving lights, hand-held POLICE sign and spotlight, and fire extinguisher.

I applaud those who modify their Mini to suit themselves. In my case originality was the driver for all that I did to the car.

Pics below while on display at 2019 Motorclassica at Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne.

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

I love the idea of all of the above tbh. If i came across an original cooper s or untouched mini k that didnt cost a mortgage id jump on it like a kid on a cupcake, alas, they are becoming a little too rich for my blood.

i currently am obsessed with the idea of electrification of old cars as a way of future proofing them, and would love to knock over one some day, though probably not a mini due to size (yes i know other companies have done this and tailored their batteries, but they also start at 70k)

Engine conversions are in the same basket as above.

i for one have a modified turbocharged little wheeler moke, his paint is tired and crusty, the dash needs a re-organisation, and the moke purists hate it. I for one ADORE the car, the bare bones motoring of a nearly 60yr old car that will surprise many is glorious.

TL;DR. Given the chance and finances, i would have one of all of the above.

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Here am I sitting in my tin can far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do...



“A turbo: exhaust gasses go into the turbocharger and spin it, witchcraft happens and you go faster.” - Jeremy Clarkson

I try to stick to period correct parts. Doesn't need to be original if I can't easily make it that way but it does need to look like something from the time.

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1986 Mayfair (998 auto), 1974 S, 1974 Van, 1972 PMG Van

Too many minis

Your car, do what makes you happy.

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Pete...
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1968 Deluxe 1275
1969 Deluxe 'Scruby' 998 Looking for a roof skin...