RE: Mini Cooper: Spotted

[Blayney]

mrtwisty said:

Blayney said:

mrtwisty said:

Blayney said:

It says it makes power between 3000rpm and 8000rpm ie horrible on the road

Why's that then?

I couldn't say it as a fact as I've not driven the car in question but do you do 3000rpm starts everywhere and never drive below that? I've read countless times were some one will fit a race cam to a road mini and hate the car because it needs revs all the time.

Ahh, I understood it to mean that the powerband was mostly between 3k and 8k, not that you would need 3k revs just to set off. That does sound like it would become tiresome very quickly in traffic!

You could be right, but as it's a hill climb car it's probably quite an aggressive cam profile.

[shipoftheseus]

Got a mate who hillclimbs one of these and an old mini sprint too. Absolute giant killers!

[Axionknight]

My Dad and I restored a 998cc Mini when I was 17, with all the mod cons - uprated clutch, lighter flywheel, sorted crack, ported head, high lift cams, twin carbs, better rockers and a full exhaust, the works, great fun despite note being that fast, ended up swapping it out for a similarly modded 1275 when I got a bit older and had the cash spare, fking GREAT car, it's down at my Dads in Huddersfield (I'm in Aberdeen now) but I drive it as often as able on my visits home, love it.

Love this car in the article too... VTEC Mini one day I hope!

[Dan Friel]

A decent classic mini should still be very competitive in the sub 1400 hillclimbing class. Not much can compare to the power / weight ratio. I would love one, but prices are heading sky high.

The Downton Car Club run a mini focused series:

http://www.bjautobits.co.uk/dews-speed-series.htm

This is just about the best mini competition car I've seen, it's immaculate and well driven.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRFSFaP-EIE

[Flat6]

1430 said:

Any proof of 148bhp never heard of a NA A series making anything like that.

I've built a number of hillclimb spec a series and would take that figure with a pinch of salt too. Not saying it's not possible, but if it's genuine then the engine alone would be worth the asking price!

[KennyGT]

That is awesome. So much want!

[Axionknight]

1430 said:

Any proof of 148bhp never heard of a NA A series making anything like that. From what i've read race engines need constant maintenance and rebuilds.

It can be done, and I have seen it - Minisport (and others) sell kits and equipment that give some serious gains on the A Series.... Straight out of the box they'll flog you a 1380cc with 115bhp or so, and if you go for a larger capacity and go mental with the cylinder heads (EXPENSIVE), it's doable, as you say though, maintenance and reliability would be something I'd have concerns over, but certainly no worse than going down the forced induction route.

Turbocharge it or fit a VTEC/motorbike engine for the ultimate laughs, Z Cars do kits that make a classic Mini frankly absurd.

[smartie93]

1430 said:

Any proof of 148bhp never heard of a NA A series making anything like that. From what i've read race engines need constant maintenance and rebuilds.

You mean 5 port N/A yeah? While at uni I had the pleasure of preping a 1460cc KAD twin cam spaceframe racer that had just over 170bhp. 200bhp was possible with that motor but rare(though dodgy dynos could have been involved), we suffered with poor engine management though

[Oddball RS]

mrtwisty said:

Blayney said:

It says it makes power between 3000rpm and 8000rpm ie horrible on the road

Why's that then?

Same as a CTR that isn't it?!? ;-)

[Miglia 888]

Blayney said:

1430 said:

Any proof of 148bhp never heard of a NA A series making anything like that. From what i've read race engines need constant maintenance and rebuilds.

Reading the actual advert it is making 146bhp @ flywheel. I see no reason why not looking at the spec.

It says it makes power between 3000rpm and 8000rpm ie horrible on the road.

Bet it is riot when flat out though.

Over 140bhp sounds about right for that spec 1380 - Mini Miglia 1300s are around 140bhp:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.mini7.co.uk/miglia.html

Even got 96bhp at the wheels out of my old 1000cc Miglia on the rolling road, so probably not far off 130 at the flywheel.
With the race cam, try to move off in mine with under 5000 rpm and it would stall - power band came alive at 6000 until valve bounce set in past 8000. Engine & gearbox needed rebuilding every two races or so...
Would've been horrible on the road in traffic, but was indeed a riot when flat out on the track

[morgrp]

148bhp seems about right for a seriously tuned 1380 - not bad considering the original 848cc produced around 40bhp, a seriously well sorted 16v a-series produces around the 160bhp mark. This in all honesty is not a road car, the engine would lack tractability and the straight cut gears and lack of interior would drive you insane

[Nezquick]

That's an epic car - I've just sold my Z4 and I'm looking for another weekend toy! If only I had a garage to keep it in!

When you see that there are Mini's for sale at around £6-7k which need work doing to them, the price isn't bad at all.

I can't see why the BHP is not genuine. With a 296 cam and a Weber carb/Stage 3 head and the 11.5/1 compression, I'd say that's about right.

[shedtastic]

I remember helping the English brothers sell that mini, around the time they seemed to lose interest in Sprinting and re-discover motorcycling. I bought a red Scimitar SS1 turbo off Les, (that I kept for a few years, and entered the PPC £999 challenge with) and helped them sell another gold coloured SS1 turbo.

Whilst the stated power output seems ambitious, it was a highly developed car, built and honed over many seasons. It wasn't just someone's weekend special built from a catalogue. And yes, they told me it was almost useless to drive on the road!

Good to see it looking so well looked after!

[Baryonyx]

This Mini sounds fantastic. I bet it's a right scream with that engine, if it's making g anywhere near the quoted power. Straight cut gears, paddle clutch, aggressive cam; it all sounds so right. It almost seems a shame to take it on track when there are so many great B roads to explore in it.