Our first car

Bozzer
I enjoyed looking at your pictures and reading the descriptions. My very first car, was a mini. I believe, it was actually an 850, but that's a long time ago. After that fell apart, I had a 1000, like yours. I loved both cars. I remember a grille, in the passenger side wing, where the radiator is. I definitely don't remember any cowling, between them both? I also remember the SU carburettor, but I don't remember the air filter? I probably removed them, to make the engine sound beefier? The rear door pockets, I do remember. I also remember the radio being on the passenger side, because the heater was in the middle. I always wanted 8 spoke alloy wheels for mine, but they were well out of my price range. On my second one, I had a key operated, Selmar Alarm, along with automatic electric aerial. That was fixed in the front wing. Thanks for the memories, my friend 🙂

Wouter Roerdink
Yes there was also a Clubman with a different nose and a 1200 cc engine. The radiator had an open grille behind the left front wheel. The engine in the model is of a Cooper, which was slightly different. The driver mirror was also different and it had sliding front windows, which our car didn't have. But it was a great car and lovely to drive. Happy memories!

Bozzer
The Clubman, with it's square face, never really had the same character, as the classic mini. They kinda looked more serious, and business like? I always wanted a 1275 engine though. A buddy of mine had a Cooper S lookalike, with roll cage and everything. It was a beast, and I always wanted to do something similar. In the end, I ended up with a Vauxhall (Opel) Chevette (Kadette) because you can fit a double buggy in the hatchback. Bloody kids, take the fun out of everything? That didn't last, and I progressed to a MK3 Ford Escort. Now that, was like driving a larger, sensible Mini. 3 decades on, and I'm still having fun with front wheel drives. I guess we never forget, where we started?

George Williams
Ah, great memories, Jeremy Clarkson said that you can't be a true petrol-head unless you've driven an original Mini.