The Austin / Rover Mini

- or the Classic Mini -

W

hat can I say about the classic Mini? Is this the car that is, perhaps, ultimately responsible for the Ka? I won’t argue the point here, and whilst both may not have had the same objective, both are remarkably similar cars.

The last of the original shaped Mini were powered by what is essentially a 1·3 litre A+ engine, but using fuel injection rather than carburettors, and producing 60 PS (the same as the Ka). The Mini has always used a four speed transmission, and whilst most are manuals, they did also sell a four speed automatic version.

Earlier cars could have had a rather asthmatic 850cc donk, or the more common 1·0 litre A+ engine, with the A+ reserved for the sportier models.

I should imagine that most people have been in a Mini, or perhaps driven one. Most of my Mini experience has been in 1·0 models, although a mate of mine had a much-cherished 1972 1275 GT, which I’ll detail later.

A Classic

Compared with more modern cars, the Mini is cramped, noisy, slow and rather crude. The ride is hard, even on the base models (the 1275 GT really was as hard as a go kart). Later models had taller gearing, so acceleration was lacking in top gear, but at least they had improved brakes and interior trim. Crash protection was almost non-existent and luxuries such as power steering were conspicuous by their absence (not that the Mini probably needed power steering). However, all Minis had a few aces up their sleeve. The one that springs to mind is their handling - even the base models cornered like a go kart, with very little roll. In my opinion, the lower models are arguably the most fun, because they slide a lot more than the more recent cars (which wear fatter, low profile tyres). Furthermore, the cars are also light - by 1991, the car had put on weight, but the basic 1·0 model weighed just 615 kg.

Even with just over 600 kg to pull, the 1·0 models show disappointing headline acceleration times (the 1991 model is quoted as taking 19·7 seconds). To drive, off the mark the Mini feels quick, but its acceleration tails off once above around 45 mph or so. Top speed is a quoted 84 mph, but it takes an age to accelerate once you’ve above around 60 mph. The 1·0 engine produces around 40 PS and 68 Nm - giving the car an empty power to weight figure of 67 and a torque to weight figure of 110 - significantly better than the 900cc Cinquecento / Siecento, and broadly in line with the 1·3 Ka. However, the car’s aerodynamics are not as efficient as more modern designs.

However, despite this weedy engine, the Mini 1·0 never feels quite so disadvantaged on the road, with the exception of motorways. I think it is a fair assessment to report that every original shape Mini I’ve tried on the motorway has hated every moment of it almost as much as I’ve hated putting it through it. On high speed multilane roads, the Mini’s lacklustre acceleration combines with engine, wind and road roar, harsh ride and cramped interior, makes it a nasty experience. It’s much better to take the Mini on a twistier road, where you can enjoy it more, since at a motorway cruise, it reveals too many weaknesses.

The 1972 1275 GT

This is also true, to a greater extent, with the 1972 Mini 1275 GT that I tried. A mate bought one of these and restored it, but rather than drive it like a sissy, drove it like he stole it (once the oil was up to temperature). It had a large centre exit exhaust at the back, twin carburettors, twin petrol tanks, fat tyres sitting on 12” wheels, and attitude.

Remarkably, the ride of the 1275 GT was worse than that of the standard car. When driving it, if you went over a fag end, you felt it. The tiny steering wheel that was fitted combined with the fat tyres meant that the steering when parking was very heavy. It didn’t have a proper heater (too much of a performance drag, I was told), and was only a summer car.

Tackle a corner at speed, and the Mini just tracked around. It didn’t slide as much as his 1·0 model (the winter Mini), but instead it just gripped like a limpet - at least, in the dry. It also had lower gearing, so it was noisier at speed, but pulled much better.

The two most memorable trip in the 1275 GT has to be a trip to Cadwell Park, a racing circuit close to Horncastle. I only had a couple of laps sitting next to my mate as he flung it about the track. When he pulled off to top up the petrol tank, I took leave, and decided to point the camera at the car.

That’s all fair enough, and he went on to give the car some abuse on the track, but to his credit he didn’t spin the car. However, he pulled in to the paddock rather suddenly, in clouds of smoke. My initial reaction was that he had blown the engine, but it turned out that it was his brakes - they were not quite on fire, but had taken a battering. Fortunately, he did have a set of pads with him, but he figured that the pads were just a bit hot, and didn’t really need replacing.

Well, they did; on the way back towards Horncastle, I drove, and the brakes were appalling. They also stunk: my first experience of baked brakes and hot brake fluid.

Sadly, my mate did something rather foolish with his 1275GT: his Mini 1000 was misfiring, so he took the 1275GT out in the winter, and the first time he drove it, he skidded on some ice and put it in the ditch. The despair on the chap’s face . . . for months afterwards, he would tell people that he was a Mini murderer.

Overall, I do like the classic shape Mini. They’re fun little cars, even if this makes them a little bit too compromised for longer drives. The 1·0 models return well over 40 mpg, the newer 1·3 injection ones are there or thereabouts at 40. Older models rust, but the A+ engines can take a lot of abuse, and most parts are cheap and easy to come across. The Mini is also often modified, and I’ve seen many on track days. As a car to own and use everyday, it’s certainly up to the task, but if you use the British motorway network, look elsewhere.

I like the Mini’s handling, the 1·0 fuel economy, insurance premiums and low depreciation.

I dislike the overly tall gearing on newer models, rust problems on older cars, harsh ride, wind noise and the gutless 850cc donk.