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Bandit240 · Jun 30, 2005, 09:14 PM

Not a new Mini either. Its a 1978 Leyland Mini LE 1000. In real nice shape too. Going to find out more about it this weekend. Ill add a pic here since i dont have alot of info on it. He wants $5500 for it, im going to offer $4500.

Kevin · Jun 30, 2005, 09:24 PM

My neighbor has one of those, but he has it in a warehouse.

He only takes it out in the summer.

Not the prettiest cars.

ihatesuvs68 · Jun 30, 2005, 10:02 PM

meh. You can get pretty sweet 60s cooper S's on ebay for around $9-11 grand, including airbags, the fuel injected 1.3 liter, woodgrain dash, new seating, paint, chrome, etc. The works. Might be worth it to spend a little more to have a more desireable mini. We're actually considering one... only issue is safety.

sminch · Jun 30, 2005, 10:06 PM

yip, i kinda dig them but i know one too many people who have been seriously injured in crashes in original minis, too. in a mini vs suv head-on there isn't much you can do...

sminch

ihatesuvs68 · Jun 30, 2005, 10:16 PM

They're pretty unsafe eh? My wife really wants one.

budster101 · Jun 30, 2005, 10:23 PM

In any head on crash there is not much you can do.

I was at the scene of a Mini Van t-bonging a convertable LeSabre and the lady in the LeSabre had her arm severed. The person in the Mini Van had an ankle that was turned 180 degrees and was unconscous for a while, but when she woke up and we were putting her in the Ambulence She was screaming to high heaven. I've never heard such screams before and will never forget it.

The reason for tha accident? The Van driver was allergic to bees and there was one in her van... she didn't see the person pull out into traffic and hit her going 50 mph.

That's just one of my many experiences... with car crashes.

Superman · Jun 30, 2005, 10:25 PM

They arent the prettiest of cars, nor the safest, but the nostalgiac value is good. For that price though, you could get an old Mustang or a Camaro in pretty good shape and fix up whats lacking.

Spook E · Jun 30, 2005, 10:32 PM

Are you in Australia Bandit240?
I wasn't aware that Leyland had cars in America, but $4000AUD would be a fair price for a decent one, but US$4000 is a bit bloody steep.

Here's mine:

1977/78 Leyland LS 1000

One owner, my grandmother then, me runs like a dream and about $20AUD of petti will get me around 220 - 250 ks at around 120kms/h. Only trouble is strapping the surfboards and sea kayak to the thing and the rear drum brakes need replacing.

other than that, best car you could want economical, piss easy to park and drive and chicks love it (and the novelty value of scoring in one is to good to pass up)

kcmac · Jun 30, 2005, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by ihatesuvs68

They're pretty unsafe eh? My wife really wants one.

Your wife wants an old one or the new style? The new minis have a high safety rating for a small car.

Link · Jun 30, 2005, 10:45 PM

ihatesuvs68 · Jun 30, 2005, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by kcmac

Your wife wants an old one or the new style? The new minis have a high safety rating for a small car.

Old. Basically exactly this car:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ategory=107007

Only in silver, or the british racing green. She'd look pretty good in one too...but...eh... safety issues. Are they any safer if you install a roll cage?

sminch · Jun 30, 2005, 11:44 PM

i'm sure a roll cage would help, but half the problem has tobe the complete lack of a crumple zone.

sminch

Mastrap · Jul 1, 2005, 12:07 AM

I used to drive a Cooper S. Great fun and safer than riding a bike. To put a positive slant on it

Bandit240 · Jul 1, 2005, 01:01 AM

Im in the USA. Theres a towing company here that imports them from New Zealand. And those 60's coopers on ebay with the 1.3i and all that stuff are really retitled 90's cars. Yes they are nice, but i crave older, simpler cars. Why do you think i drive a 1978 Datsun truck over my 1989 Nissan 240SX? As for safety, im planning on a roll cage of some sorts. Plus the whole idea of 40mpg is one thing, and ive wanted one for about 10 years now.

Spliff · Jul 1, 2005, 01:28 AM

Originally Posted by ihatesuvs68

They're pretty unsafe eh? My wife really wants one.

Don't you mean

or

or are you happily married?

PB2K · Jul 1, 2005, 02:46 AM

Dutch prices for a Mini Cooper 1.3i range from 2000,00 to 8000,00.

I wouldn't get too crazy about this Leyland. Try to check some others before buying this one in a frenzy. It's not the only one for sale.

cenutrio · Jul 1, 2005, 03:57 AM

Ok, I love Minis, I used to have a 1978 Mini Cooper british green racing (with rolled roof) made in Pamplona Spain.

However, $4500 is way too much. Search the market and best of luck. It is nice to know that there are still drivers willing to keep these old, but classy, cars on the road.

Bandit240 · Jul 1, 2005, 06:17 AM

Ive searched the market for well over 5 years now. This is about the nicest rust free car ive been able to find. The underside of this car doesnt have a spec of rust or welding anywhere. The inside looks like new, save for the carpet. I know the price is steep, but for the shape of the car im willing to pay it.

budster101 · 08:58 AM

Take pics of (her) and share.

Edit: Wait, this isn't the port thread..nevermind.

Spook E · Jul 3, 2005, 07:04 PM

A roll cage wont save her much in the event of a crash, if shes in a prang thats big enough to roll the thing, she'll be f*cked by then anyway, the doors on minis are only about an inch or so thick.

saw some pommy bugger on Guiness world records balance one on his head for 30 seconds last night, if you can do that with one then you know theres not much of a frame in place to stop an average car plowing into it.

Mediaman_12 · Jul 4, 2005, 05:26 AM

You have to remember that even though they were produced until the late 90's the design didn't radically change from the early 60's. So there is virtually no safety features of any sort, no crumple zones mean that in a front end collision the engine ends up on your lap.
they are really cool cars though, I had two, lots of fun on twisty roads and one of the best city cars by miles.

The 70's ones are probbaly the worst though, the early ones are real clasics. While the newer ones late 80's/90's have good special editions, with the latest 'BMW' ones (95>2000 not the 'new mini')being the 'cleanest'.
Oh and NEVER buy a silver one, for some reason they rust far worse than any other colour.

Athens · Jul 4, 2005, 05:36 AM

Originally Posted by ihatesuvs68

They're pretty unsafe eh? My wife really wants one.

Simple Solution
If you love your wife don't let her get one
If you hate your wife go out and buy one and don't forget to get the life insurance too

The Placid Casual · Jul 4, 2005, 06:05 AM

My father had one of the very first 997cc Coopers sold in Wales (UK), and was a real original devotee of them in the 60's. Raced them, rallied them etc... so I guess I got a taste for them from him! Heck, I was brought up with them.

I have had an original 60's 998 Cooper, 60's 1275 Cooper S, and also a Rover Special Products Cooper S Works from 1990...

All GREAT fun... a real blast!

However, I don't drive one any more due to the safety and practicality concerns...

I had a pretty nasty crash in my 1990 Cooper S, and to be honest, it really shook my confidence in them. Was going at about 35 miles per hour, on a wet road (*well* below the legal speed limit of 60), when a guy in a van pulled out out in front of me about 10 yards ahead... I did an emergency stop, but with no ABS and with the wet road, couldn't avoid a skid... In reality, I think there was nothing I could have done to avoid him.

I missed a head on crash, but glanced him, and and was thrown across the carriage way, and glanced another car too... Not ideal :/

I'll be honest and say that I was fine, 100% OK albeit with a sore neck, but the car looked badly damaged. Not drivable, and with a corner missing

Insurance company fixed the Cooper, but I never had faith in it again... For the impact, I really felt the damage was much more severe than if would have been in any other car.

From there I went on to bikes, and had a Suzuki GSX-R 600 K1 and a GSX-R 1000.

These days, I drive a RenaultSport Clio 182 Cup, and love it... but still miss having a Cooper daily!

If you *love* original Mini's, buy one! However, do a test... Step from a VW Golf (of any year actually, especially a post 1995 one), in to a 60s/70s/80s mini... Now tell me you feel safe.

On American roads, I'd think really carefully about an original mini... Too many SUVs about, and too little safety equipment on the mini. Suburban vs Mini City... err, as much as I *adore* original Minis, I know which one I'd be in. Sad but true.

However.... if you are determined to buy one... as someone above said, save the extra cash and get a proper Cooper! Real magic about them, and the only place the legend of the mini really shows for me...

Heck, $5000? In the UK you can get a 70's/80's/90s mini for anything from £150 upwards! It may even be worth importing one! (If you want a hand let me know!)

TPC

ihatesuvs68 · Jul 4, 2005, 12:11 PM

Thanks for all your input, and it pretty much makes me feel exactly how I did before. I know they aren't as inherently safe in a collision, but there's something to be said about a nimble car with good performance that can avoid an accident in the first place.

Looking back, people used to drive minis when there were some pretty big cars on the road (60s and 70s american iron), and nobody screamed bloody murder back then... so... I don't know.

Part of me wants to say you only live once and let her get her dream car, but part of me wants to keep her safe.

IF only they made a special edition one that was a bit safer...

Spook E · Jul 4, 2005, 06:16 PM

buy her a little nissan or something, their small and nimble.

i dont know what you guys get over there but theres a nice little Peugot doing the rounds these days, price range goes up a bit though.

Bandit240 · Jul 5, 2005, 10:10 AM

Im still going after this one. I havent been able to find a nicer one in the USA for less. Turkys (his site is www.turkys.com) just got some more in and 2 are real coopers. But im still going after the LE since i know he will want upwards for $10,000 for the Coopers. Right now i drive a Datsun truck everyday. Its not very much safer than a Mini would be. As for my wife, she has her Datsun wagon to drive. This wont be a car that stays on the roads alot, esp since i stay on the road everyday in a Freightliner.

The Placid Casual, once i get this car could you help me get oil filters for this car? Uni-Part filters seem to go around $10 ea here. Im thinking of seeing if Nissan might have a filter that matches to it.

wdlove · Jul 5, 2005, 10:18 AM

I think that they are a cute car, but I would never fit into one.

Mastrap · Jul 5, 2005, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by wdlove

I think that they are a cute car, but I would never fit into one.

I'm 6'6" and drove two without problems. They are surprisingly spacious.

PB2K · Jul 5, 2005, 10:47 AM

I drive a classic too, an alfa romeo gt bertone, and i have to say that i don't feel too comfortable about safety either. My inside doorhandle broke off so I now have to open the door by opening the window, then use the outside handle..so when i should hit the water, the captain stays with his ship.
I have a lot of wood inside the car, actually my dashboard and steering wheel will break up in splinters with a serious impact. Did I already mention the issue of the engine and gearbox that will be thrusted thru my stomach following a frontal crash?

anyway, my car is really goodlooking and RED. It keeps other cars away from my car, and 110 miles per hour max isn't that superdangerous either. It's from an intirely different league than the peugeot 405 Mi16 I was driving until two weeks ago. It's different, but has so much more class