RE: Pic Of The Week: A Rally Good Mini

[Hoppelemine]

SleeperCell said:

Whiters said:

Obviously cars have changed greatly over time, but the shocker there is the kerbweight of a mid-size family saloon in '69!

As someone who once owned a Mk2 Cortina, which is a similar age and kerb weight (supposedly 908kg and that was for the well equipped GT, lesser specs are well under 900kg) and it's not hard to see why old cars dont weigh much, there is virtually nothing in them. Sound deadening was pretty much non-existant, hardly any wiring, very, very basic trim, no centre console (only on some models), the door trims only cover about 2/3rds the door, basic leaf sprung rear suspension and live axle which are much lighter than IRS. I ripped out the horrible standard seats and they were very, very light although also offered zero support and weren't comfortable (basically wire springs covered with a thin layer of foam and vinyl). I replaced them with seats from an Escort RS2000 that were much nicer but also much, much heavier.

Most of the extra weight comes from modern luxuries, like electric window motors, and from extra strengthening to meet safety requirements. Crumple zones and impact protection come at the cost of weight.

[RTH]

Pistonheads author Mr Riggers your lead photograph is wrongly captioned

It is the 1968 Monte Carlo Rally but car 87 was Paddy Hopkirk who finished 5th ( not as you said Rauno Aaltonen who did indeed finish 3rd in another Mini)
Evidence

http://www.theitalianjob.com/worksminis_themonteca...

Edited by RTH on Saturday 31st July 08:23

[HeidiL]

Flat6 said:

Great car. Great pic.

The new abomination can only be welcomed as a much needed new manufacturer in WRC.

MINI it most definately is not. "Maxi"? Maybe..

My housemate always calls it the Allegro. I often park next to them, and several times I've come back to find them taking a picture, and telling me that they'd really wanted an old one but just didn't think it was practical enough...

[HeidiL]

FWDRacer said:

uremaw said:

Greatest.
Car.
Ever.

Yes, but not in the rain we had yesterday. After a couple of miles of aquaplaning all over the M6, I decided to come home cross-country, and I was still shaking when I got in. After a cuppa I started checking auto-trader for something heavier and with bigger tyres. A BMW perhaps. Still, that was yesterday. Got a car show to do tomorrow. Have added these pics to my desktop along with 621 AOK.

[Flat6]

HeidiL said:

Got a car show to do tomorrow

If it's the one at Capesthorne Hall then I'll be there in my ol' Min too, weather permitting

[Whiters]

Hoppelemine said:

SleeperCell said:

Whiters said:

Obviously cars have changed greatly over time, but the shocker there is the kerbweight of a mid-size family saloon in '69!

As someone who once owned a Mk2 Cortina, which is a similar age and kerb weight (supposedly 908kg and that was for the well equipped GT, lesser specs are well under 900kg) and it's not hard to see why old cars dont weigh much, there is virtually nothing in them. Sound deadening was pretty much non-existant, hardly any wiring, very, very basic trim, no centre console (only on some models), the door trims only cover about 2/3rds the door, basic leaf sprung rear suspension and live axle which are much lighter than IRS. I ripped out the horrible standard seats and they were very, very light although also offered zero support and weren't comfortable (basically wire springs covered with a thin layer of foam and vinyl). I replaced them with seats from an Escort RS2000 that were much nicer but also much, much heavier.

Most of the extra weight comes from modern luxuries, like electric window motors, and from extra strengthening to meet safety requirements. Crumple zones and impact protection come at the cost of weight.

Plus the actual footprint of the vehicle, a lot more metal and glass.

[Bruniep]

mybrainhurts said:

Service crews used to roll that onto its side to work on the underside.

Not a lot of people might know that...

Makes me feel old...bugger it

You'll probably remember rallycross that used to be BBC Grandstand on a Saturday afternoon. If I remeer rightly Murray Walker did the commentary.

[charlescrawley]

Eviltad said:

Annoying, need to choose between the Porsche 908 from a few weeks ago and this now.

I think I may have a preference for the retro POTW's.

A great thing about Windows 7 is the desktop background slideshow feature... A great new pic appears in POTW and it just gets added to the directory! :-)

[rallyman77]

robg2 said:

...this is a much better effort!

The looks in the eyes of both driver and co-driver is priceless... If in doubt, flat out!

[I WISH]

Wonderful nostalgic shot.

Makes me think twice about selling mine ...... but it has to go



Still the most innovative car design of the last century.

Old Issy was a genius.

[RTH]

Indeed .

[morgrp]

I WISH said:

Wonderful nostalgic shot.

Makes me think twice about selling mine ...... but it has to go



Still the most innovative car design of the last century.

Old Issy was a genius.

That is gorgeous

[Flat6]

I WISH said:

Makes me think twice about selling mine ...... but it has to go

Don't do it! I sold my Mk1 a few years back and regretted it ever since. Even building another didn't help (because it's not a Mk1). Sad I know, but true. I'd be very interested in yours (it looks a beautiful car) but knowing how values have rocketed it would be way out of my price range, particularly as I'm also on the hunt for an Elise

[I WISH]

Flat6 said:

I WISH said:

Makes me think twice about selling mine ...... but it has to go

Don't do it! I sold my Mk1 a few years back and regretted it ever since. Even building another didn't help (because it's not a Mk1). Sad I know, but true. I'd be very interested in yours (it looks a beautiful car) but knowing how values have rocketed it would be way out of my price range, particularly as I'm also on the hunt for an Elise

I'm not sure that I should admit to this ...... but I also have a 1998 S1 Elise that I've had from new. But I'm definitely not selling it!

Buy one .... you'll not regret it.