BUYER’S GUIDE

Classic Mini review

An icon of the 1960s, a classic Mini is a rite of passage for any British car fan…

What Is It?

While credited to the pioneering vision of one man in the shape of Alec Issigonis, the original Mini was, inevitably, a team effort born of the collective skill of equally talented people and a ‘right car, right time’ fortune. Over it all, Issigonis’ uncompromising demands for packaging, weight-saving and size helped drive an incredibly tight development schedule and create one of the most influential designs in automotive history.

Arriving on the cusp of the 1960s, the Mini’s distinctive look, fun driving style and incredible practicality rode the wave of post-war optimism to become a worthy icon of the age, driven by everyone from housewives to racing drivers and celebrities alike. A lengthy production run, endless variants and popularity of modification and customisation can make buying a Mini today look an intimidating process, but with a huge support network of parts, specialists and fellow fans there’s plenty of expertise to help you along.

Corrosive Areas

Everywhere!

Front bulkhead and A-pillars critical

Sills, jacking points and floor panels

Checklist

Original Mini project famously steered by single-minded focus of Alec Issigonis and talented team of engineers (including suspension pioneer Alex Moulton) and taken from concept to production in little over two and a half years
Car launched in 1959 under BMC as the Austin Seven or Morris Mini-Minor with a basic 848cc version of the A-series engine
Mk2 Mini launched in 1967 with a larger rear window, new grille, revised rear lights and the option of a 998cc engine
‘Dry’ cars with original rubber cone suspension replaced with more sophisticated Hydrolastic system in 1964; complexity means many have subsequently been returned to the ‘dry’ set-up that returned in 1968
Mk3 cars from 1969 recognisable by switch to flush rather than external door hinges and wind-up rather than sliding front windows, while Austin and Morris branding dropped for all-encompassing ‘Mini’
Mk4 updates introduced in 1976 and then Mk5 in 1985, the latter with bigger 12-inch wheels and disc brakes up front
Mini Cooper launched in 1961 with 997cc engine to great success; S versions with various engine sizes followed up to and including 1,275cc – officially replaced with Clubman in 1969
Originality very difficult to prove given prevalence of customisation, modification and upgrades – if chasing a specific and original Cooper be careful it’s what it says it is and not a converted standard car
A-series engine well proven and tough when looked after properly – oil leaks a fact of life but blue smoke suggests pending rebuild while condition of oil and coolant is a good sign of general health
Gearbox can be weak; whining is characteristic but anything beyond this can spell trouble; pre-1968 cars have non-synchronised first gear
Rubber suspension is simple but can go hard – look for low front end and/or excessively bouncy dampers, while Hydrolastic system can be complicated to fix
Check for signs of regular maintenance and lubrication for steering pivots and rear suspension arms – a good sign of whether or not previous owners have been on top of upkeep
Corrosion can occur anywhere and can be expensive to fix given welded construction
Be wary of freshly painted sections or suspiciously new looking sill panels – outer panels can be cheaply welded over rotten inners to hide structural corrosion
Check front external seams, bulkhead, windscreen surround and bulkhead for any bubbles – worse can be hidden within and is expensive to fix

How does it drive?

Even by the standards of the day, the Mini was raw, noisy, bouncy and not especially fast. But in a perfect demonstration of ‘it’s not what you’ve got, it’s what you do with it’, these qualities became virtues rather than flaws. With its tiny wheels pushed to the corners of the floorpan, the stiff rubber suspension, minimal weight, super direct steering and a gutsy engine, the Mini has always over delivered on driving thrills and even a standard one is a hoot to drive on the right road.

From there, of course, there are the many and various Cooper variants, both genuine and as inspiration for any number of modifications and upgrades. Giant killing performances in rallying and racing alike helped seal the Mini’s reputation to this day, tyre-squealing battles with bigger and more powerful cars a popular fixture of any Goodwood Revival weekend. True, a classic Mini can be hard work on longer journeys and isn’t a car for racking up big motorway miles. But, there’s a reason the basic mechanical layout is still used to this day by modern city cars, superminis and hatchbacks.

What’s good?

A Mini might be a predictable choice for the British classic car enthusiast but, truly, there is nothing else out there that looks like one or drives with the same giddy sense of fun. Its presence as a fixture of British roads and automotive culture for decades means many will have memories of them from formative years, be that as a first car or simply the embodiment of Swinging 60s optimism and all that came with it. A heady mix, the admiration for its clever engineering adding another level of intrigue for students of automotive innovation. Through it all is a sense of innocent fun and belonging to a huge and diverse community of committed fans, within which there are many and various sub-groups dedicated to particular generations, variants or genres. A vast network of knowledgeable owners, specialists and parts suppliers also means there’s everything you need to run or restore a classic Mini of any kind.

What’s bad?

The vision may have been modern but the engineering is now over 60 years old, and even if your Mini was made in relatively more recent times you need to bear that in mind. These are no longer turn-key classics, and ownership demands a level of hands-on tinkering that may come as a shock to those simply buying into a dream. While mechanically simple, the engineering and layout of the components doesn’t make them as easy to work on as some other classics either, skinned knuckles and muffled curses a common part of any DIY spannering on a Mini. Most issues can be overcome but, literally under the skin, corrosion is going to be the biggest battle any Mini owner faces and be a thankless and never-ending battle of wills. If there’s one area this small car can throw up big bills, this is it, with many and various traps to snare the unwitting buyer or unlucky owner.

Which model to choose?

Minis were built from the late ‘50s through to the late 1990s, and vary widely according to where along this timeline you choose to go. Thankfully, all share the same fundamental appeal of iconic design and sharp driving manners, so it’ll be a case of narrowing your tastes to a more covetable ‘60s original or something more driveable from later in the car’s life. Coopers of all types have obvious temptations in both looks and driving style but, depending on taste and budget, it’s probably sensible to decide early on whether you’re chasing originality and period authenticity. Or just a car to enjoy, built as a mix-and-match of your favoured bits. Whichever you go for, history, evidence of a dedicated owner, condition and going for the best you can afford rather than the first you stumble upon is the best advice. The days of the cheap make-do-and-mend banger may have passed now, but there are still enough around that you can afford to be fussy.

Specifications – MkII Mini 1,000

Engine

998cc four-cylinder petrol

Power

39PS (28kW) @ 5,250rpm

Torque

71Nm (52lb ft) @ 2,700rpm

Transmission

Four-speed manual, front-wheel drive

Kerb weight

c. 584kg

0-62mph

c. 20 seconds

Top speed

c. 77mph

Production dates

1959-2000 (All versions)