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1978: The Best Mini Yet!

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Stoatmaster
04/27/09

In reply to 1978: The Best Mini Yet!
The Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet were badge engineered Minis.

Same car but with a tiny boot and the tiniest suggestion of wings.

They were the cutest cars ever, like four wheeled puppies.

Just thought I'd mention it.
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Uncle Bo
04/25/09

In reply to 1978: The Best Mini Yet!
In 10 years we're going to have a gov't-created video just like this one promoting the Chevy Cobalt from American Leyland.

Instead of Raymond Baxter it'll be Ryan Seacrest as the host and he too will be talking up reclining bucket seats, dual coach stripes, and back up lamps neatly integrated into the taillight cluster. Like all of you, I can only hope they use the same jaunty and energetic theme music.

Happy days are soon to come, my gearheaded JalopniFriends!
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LTDScott
04/25/09

In reply to 1978: The Best Mini Yet!
Are you sure they didn't find these videos in the hatch of Lost's island?
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Six Flags Over Tomsk
04/25/09

@LTDScott's work is getting in the way of Jaloptime: There's actually a missing segment where Mr. Baxter shows the viewer how to top off the wiring harness smoke every 108 minutes.
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MushyHeirloom
04/25/09

In reply to 1978: The Best Mini Yet!
Ye Gods, have a look at that body roll! Hear those tires squealing in protest! Have a look at that... very, very mild liveliness!

I was very much looking forward to seeing a lorry take out the 5 after Baxter said "...dangerous."

Oh, and the nose on the >1000 models is God-awful.

For the record: the door pockets in the Mini are more accommodating than the lack thereof in my Volvo, and the Volvo has a mirror on the driver's side and a "parking ticket pocket" on the passenger's instead.
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uUtan
04/25/09

In reply to 1978: The Best Mini Yet!
The Renault 5 did not copy the transverse fwd layout. The Renault 5 (LeCar) was longitudinal. A piece of shit but more balanced.
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Six Flags Over Tomsk
04/25/09

@uUtan: I don't think he named any specific car that copied the layout. The 5 and the Fiesta were simply presented as "the competition."
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Novaload
04/25/09

In reply to 1978: The Best Mini Yet!
"Designed for the District Nurse."

If you think of it as a little sportscar for 4, it's great. If you look at these old ones and think about safety, it's terrifying! The guy looks like he barely fits in it, and you know his head is going right through that tin roof!
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Leeeeena the Jalopchick
04/25/09

In reply to 1978: The Best Mini Yet!
There are at least five original Minis on the San Francisco Craigslist right now. I'm starting to get mad at myself for looking, because now I want one.

[sfbay.craigslist.org]

[sfbay.craigslist.org]

[sfbay.craigslist.org]

[sfbay.craigslist.org]

[sfbay.craigslist.org]
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A strolling player
04/25/09

@Leeeeena the Jalopchick: See if you can talk that last guy down about $5400.
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Leeeeena the Jalopchick
04/25/09

@Strooooolling the Jalopplayer: Why? Got the $5900 but want this and a LeMons car? ;)

I would love to get one of the RHD ones, but sadly I can't afford any of them right now...
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A strolling player
04/25/09

@Leeeeena the Jalopchick: Oh, no. Don't talk him down to $5400, talk him down by $5400! I want this as a LeMons car!
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Leeeeena the Jalopchick
04/25/09

@Strooooolling the Jalopplayer: Oh, duh! How could I have misinterpreted that??

Wait... you want a roughly 1400 lb car to run in LeMons? You're even nuttier than I first thought! (Don't worry, it's a good thing.)

I think I might cry if I saw one get smashed up at LeMons, though :(
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A strolling player
04/25/09

@Leeeeena the Jalopchick: Hell yes! The words "eminently tossable" come to mind.

And, smashed up? C'mon, it's too small! Some may try to hit it, but they will miss.
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something_unique_and_descriptive
04/25/09

@Strooooolling the Jalopplayer:

The words "Dodge the Fury" come to mind.
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Scandinavian Flick
04/25/09

@Leeeeena the Jalopchick: Enough people drive Miatas in LeMons, so it wouldn't be that much of a stretch.

I would be somewhat amused to see how well I fit in one of these though... (To those who don't know; I am 6'4"...)
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.357
04/25/09

In reply to 1978: The Best Mini Yet!
I'd much rather have an old Mini than the new BMW hatchback they sell.
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Leeeeena the Jalopchick
04/25/09

In reply to 1978: The Best Mini Yet!
Good lord, look how skinny those tires are! This car must get eleventy bajillion miles to the (Imperial) gallon.
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SmaartAasSaabr
04/25/09

@Leeeeena the Jalopchick: they are like on 8 inch wheels
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A strolling player
04/25/09

@SmaartAasSaabr: Ten. Ten inch wheels, ten feet long, four feet wide, four feet high, four adults comfortably! It's the Mini mantra!
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MushyHeirloom
04/25/09

@Strooooolling the Jalopplayer: I can think of another two tens and a four: the combined weight of the bowling balls in your pants that you'd need to drive a Mini on the freeway surrounded by Valdezes and Canyoneros.
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engineerd
04/25/09

In reply to 1978: The Best Mini Yet!
I'd rock a Mini. But only if I can get it in right-hand drive. I would also wear a lot of tweed and funny hats.
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A strolling player
04/25/09

@engineerd: I'll post the Mini next--you've gotta see this thing. I bet it's one you'd rock.
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ursa
04/25/09

@engineerd: but will you want to eat canned spaghetti on toast too?
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engineerd
04/25/09

@ursa: Mmmmmmmm...that sounds good.
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Mobius
04/25/09

In reply to 1978: The Best Mini Yet!
Minis are in general good looking, unisexy, quite economical, fun to drive, and cool.

Everything a (insert car you hate here) isn't.
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A strolling player
04/25/09

In reply to 1978: The Best Mini Yet!
When I see an old Mini, I see the point of urban microcars. Even if they're not entirely necessary around here, the guys or gals that drive the '89 Mini JCW and the '57 Austin A35 I've seen down on the street are doing something very right.
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