Woodward 2008: It's not a concours original, MINI VTEC
Click on the MINI V-TEC for a high res gallery
While some of the machines trolling along Woodward Ave. today could easily compete in a Concours event, there are there plenty of others that would be shunned from such places. These machines that have been fixed up and heavily modified from their original specifications fit right in in this environment. Such is the case with this MINI. It certainly sounded meaner than any MINI I've heard and as it passed by I realized why. Apparently the old British lump under the hood had been replaced by something a wee bit more modern, in this case a Honda VTEC engine. We don't have any deets, but the car is for sale so if you're interested it might be worth a call.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
blogged to death 3:49PM (8/16/2008)
The proper name is VTEC which stands for Hondas proprietary Variable valve Timing and lift Electronic Control
It is not V-TEC or Vtech or Vtec. And this is supposed to be a board of car enthusiasts!
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Dustin 3:52PM (8/16/2008)
Though to take the blame off the author, it does incorrectly say V-TEC on the car. But a better story would have been for the author to call the number and get the details.
why not the LS2LS7? 5:01PM (8/16/2008)
Vee-Tek jes kicked in yo.
Lighten up a bit guys.
JD 5:04PM (8/16/2008)
Christ, you people whine a lot. Did you not get the meaning when they said V-TEC? I doubt you could write a better post than these guys could. And yeah, they did spell it wrong on the car, so maybe they are trying to quote the car. But wait! What if it's an i-VTEC? Calm yourself.
summazooma 4:13PM (8/16/2008)
Oh, GAAAAWWWWWD!!!!!!!!... THOSE clowns?
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summazooma 4:17PM (8/16/2008)
Those guys are a coupla clowns!!!
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summazooma 4:19PM (8/16/2008)
Okay enough clown jokes... Any idea which VTEC engine it is? I would venture to guess a 1.6L from Civic Si/ Del Sol Si/ etc.
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chop 4:24PM (8/16/2008)
bah these things are so hard to find. wonder how much they're going for...one of my dream project cars.
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JayP 5:08PM (8/16/2008)
Sorry that this probably be worthless, but there was someone creating Honda powered Minis to sell. I'd had some info on them from several years ago from a Dallas Brit car show.
What I do recall is they were built to spec. Street to race-mad. 200hp was what I remember, running about $20k.
Given the choice, I'd take a Mini over a MINI.
Mikey 4:27PM (8/16/2008)
Also, its not a MINI. its a Mini. The MINI is a small FWD BMW, the Mini is the classic microcar from Austin/BL/Rover.
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Franz 4:32PM (8/16/2008)
It's actually not such an uncommon swap in the UK. I know of at least 5 VTEC powered Minis (B series powered), and I'm pretty sure there are more of them. One of them even had a Jackson blower on it.
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RPM 5:32PM (8/16/2008)
Yep, its a Honda. All you have to do is look at those Altezza taillights. And maybe the coloured wheels and racing stripe.
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spdracerut 8:28PM (8/16/2008)
Altezza would actually be from Toyota. Altezza was the Japanese market name for the IS300. But anyways...
I saw a Mini with a K20 swap at Cars & Coffee a few months back.
RPM 8:52PM (8/16/2008)
Yes, the Altezza/IS300 was one of the first cars to feature that style of tailights and was often copied on tuner cars, like Honda Civics. Hence the commonly used name, Altezza lights.
j.klein 7:40PM (8/16/2008)
The fine people at www.superfastminis.com have all the gear to do this properly including tube front fromes with better suspension. They'll even build out your complete car quite professionally.
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Nuno Aguiar 10:31PM (8/16/2008)
these are very fast cars even giving the BINI Cooper S a run for its money with a simple B16 with minor mods. If you want more info on whats involved do a search www.minimania.com
Laterz :)
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ImSteevin 2:19PM (8/17/2008)
I have a K20A Type-R in the the back of mine, observe pic.
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Stumpy 5:39PM (8/19/2008)
Sweet engine choice man! That little thing must move.