Back in the Saddle!

[izthewiz]

After a break of hm-hmm (30+, actually) years from real Minis, I'm gathering information for a resurrection of my old 1380 Mk3 to a B-road blaster and occasional commuter. It has been slowly dissolving in the shed at the end of Mum's garden (she wants gone, and an outdoor bar in there), and was a visual homage to a blue and white (Narita?) Mini that appeared in an early issue of MiniWorld. I lusted after some KAD fourpots at the time, but had to make do with a scrapyard-sourced Metro Turbo calipers and uprights conversion (for the better ball-joints) which (I think?) used neg-camber lower arms to restore camber to standard.

The reason for Blue's retirement was a bid for freedom by the drop gears, a chocolate diff and synchros, and a self-destructive keyway for the crank pulley, although to be fair I probably wasn't a very mechanically-sympathetic driver in those days....

I know we've probably attained 'peak mini' some years ago, but I'm hoping that there have been some durability and technical developments in the last three decades.

I see from preliminary probings that rubber cones are the preferred flavour for a road car, and I prefer the 10" wheel look, so decent brakes would have to fit into those.

What else is there that I should consider? Is there a concise roundup somewhere of the current state of play? I've even considered (whisper it) the heresy of a Vtec swap.

Answers on a postcard please.

Stay lucky.

Iz.