RR of the Day: 1972 Austin-Mini
A few of us around Autoblog HQ have an affinity for some of the more diminutive automotive offerings. When it comes to the classic Mini, it just doesn't seem to get any better. Although its current iteration is one of the great vehicles to come out this century, they look downright bloated compared to this 1972, Canadian-spec Austin Mini, owned by AB reader Adam.
He purchased the Mini back in 1998 and in 2005 it underwent a full restoration, which Adam describes as the "Joan Rivers cosmetic makeover." The exterior has been bathed in Lotus green, keeping with its British heritage, while the original 998cc has been dispatched in favor of a rebuilt 1293cc unit. In addition to the upgraded mill, Adam sliced open the roof and fitted it with a custom sliding canvas top, as well as upgrading the stock 10-inch rollers with 12-inch wheels all around.
We like it, a lot, so it gets the distinction of being today's Reader Ride of the Day.
Follow the jump for a rear shot, along with directions on how to submit your own ride to be selected as our RR of the Day.
How to submit to RR of the Day:
Create a Flickr account if you don't already have one. Search for and join the group called 'Autoblog RR of the Day'. Upload up to three photos of your ride to your own account at a size no larger than 450 pixels wide if possible and include as much information about it and yourself as you can. Click on each photo and just above the picture it will say "Send to group". Click that and select the Autoblog group. You're done, that's it! We love seeing what YOU drive, so please keep those submissions coming!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
david 11:40AM (2/19/2007)
i'd like to know more about that merc in the background.
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Rocket Punch 2:16PM (2/19/2007)
NOW! THATS A MINI!!! Zaweat!
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Oliver Ghalebi 11:58AM (2/19/2007)
Absolutely Beautiful! I had a mini as my first car (back in the uk) and have been trying to get hold of one since, and that is a perfect example! Amazing
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cyclopticgaze 12:10PM (2/19/2007)
This is the reader ride of the week.
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bernie 12:10PM (2/19/2007)
Now I'm waiting for one of the many Detroit neanderthal posters to explain to us all how the idea for this car was actually stolen from an American. LOL
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DriftPunch 12:27PM (2/19/2007)
All the cars in that photo are awesome...
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UCBert 12:37PM (2/19/2007)
If you're big on small cars (like me), this is Valhalla. Great museum with a terrific web site:
http://www.microcarmuseum.com/index.html
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Sam 12:38PM (2/19/2007)
Detroit Neanderthal= "IT DONT GOTS A V8 IT MUST BE KRAP"
Seriously, nice little Cooper. I didn't know Minis were still sold as late as 1972 in North America. With better sales & marketing, they might have seriously dethroned the technologically inferior VW Beetle.
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D-Dog 12:41PM (2/19/2007)
#1...I had a '67 Merc just like that except it was white with a white vinyl roof. Sweet!
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D-Dog 12:42PM (2/19/2007)
P.S. The Mini is sweet too! I want, I want! I need, I need! Gimme, gimme, gimme!
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bernie 1:24PM (2/19/2007)
While we're plugging micro car museume why not go here too... http://www.lanemotormuseum.com/
Nashville, TN's best kept secret!
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fizzandpop 1:58PM (2/19/2007)
Sweet! Rolling on twelves. One of the best mods you can do to a mini is to fit a twin tone air horn. No one expects that noise to come from such a small car. Also, you've GOT to fit the big long bendy radio antenna that loops from the front of the car over the roof then reattaches to the rear rain gutter.
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Phoebe 2:13PM (2/19/2007)
An original Mini has been my dream car since I was a teen. I'd love to have one just like this, but with a solid roof.
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Richard Warren 3:53PM (2/19/2007)
I want it!
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dom 5:42PM (2/19/2007)
#8 that's sure not a '67 merc in the background. Maybe a 170 made in the early fifties.
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Daniel Cowan 5:44PM (2/19/2007)
I wish our mini was running. We're currently getting the front end fixed, because my brother Joe crashed it into a wall. He's okay, but he will never drive on that off ramp again. He gets scared. By the way, the top is what we have on our mini, plus the 12 inch wheels. But it is red.
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myporschecayman 3:10AM (2/20/2007)
nice car, we still have 2 of them in portugal, at a garage. unfortunately they are just a piece of junk now.
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Morrinn 2:38PM (2/20/2007)
If I said I had always wanted one with a 350 chevy, would that make me a Detroit neanderthal?
Although I guess it would need un-Detroit-like 4wd if I intended those dinner plate wheels to find enough traction to actually move the thing...
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Tiido 2:02PM (3/07/2007)
That background Merc is a 1957, probably a Monterey.
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