Description
TBL402Y is a Mini City from 1982 - as it’s over 40 years old, it is now classed as a ‘Historic vehicle’ by the DVLA, which means it’s exempt from Road Tax, the MoT test (although it has just been tested and passed) and the ULEZ charge. And classic insurance is laughably cheap (typically £150).
It’s a pretty basic Mini: just a 998cc engine, a four-speed manual gearbox and few creature comforts. In fact, the previous owners (who restored it thoroughly and rather well about five years ago) chose to remove the heater and the headlining (the fabric in the inside of the roof) – so it can get a bit cold and noisy. However, we still have the main heater blower and valve, and the wiring is in place, so it should be possible to put it back fairly easily. Likewise, the headlining is fairly inexpensive and straightforward to put back.
It’s a hoot to drive: the tyres are fat, sticky Yokohama A008s, which means the steering is heavy at a standstill, but it really does go round corners like a go-kart. There’s no body roll, you just turn the steering wheel (an expensive, beautiful Momo Prototipo, as fitted to 1970s Porsches) and go round the tightest corner as fast as you like. Also, it’s so narrow that every road feels as wide as Silverstone.
The suspension cones, knuckle joints and shock absorbers were all replaced with high-quality units, and the brakes work just as they should. The 10x5 wheels are unusual and attractive BWA Sportstar four-spoke alloys from the 1970s or 80s: they are Italian, and more often seen on Alfas, Lancias and the odd BMW.
The engine has been partially rebuilt, with new main and big-end bearings, clutch, radiator, water pump, oil pump, duplex timing chain, piston rings and valves. It is standard, except for a sporty air filter on the SU carb, a ‘fast road’ cam and Maniflow centre-exit exhaust which make it a bit lumpy when it’s first started but quite eager once it’s warm. It would probably benefit from attention to the timing and carburation, but it's easy to drive: our daughter learned to drive in it!
The bodywork is all very sound: it was pretty comprehensively restored, with lots of new panels, and is free from any structural corrosion. The paint (a Nissan cherry red metallic, with a matt white roof) looks great from a few paces away, but is a bit amateurish in places – I suspect a professional paint detailer could do wonders with it.
The window and door rubbers are all new. The carpet, door linings and seats were all replaced with new items (the front seats are amazingly comfortable Cobra bucket seats) and there are five seat belts.
The previous owners put together an excellent 42-page photo diary of the work they did on it, and we were impressed by the VW camper they’d done before and the Porsche 911 they were working on.
This is a fun, basic Mini that you can drive just as it is – or you could use it as the sound basis for a more sporty and/ or luxurious project. I would like to have done that, but I no longer have a garage and have other commitments, so it’s got to go.
Classic Minis are holding their value really well – look at some of the prices on this site! – so we think the price is fair.
