IMM 2007?

... or plastic Golfs, which is exactly what they are . Quite how VW expected anybody to take a front-wheel-drive, water-cooled 'Beetle' seriously, God only knows.

Mostly true, but some of the most enthusiastic Mini owners I have ever met have been from the US. After all, it was the great Rocky Frisco himself who founded this newsgroup. Much harder for US enthusiasts to source and maintan their cars, of course, and in theory they have to be early ones (is it pre-'72?) to get round later restraint of trade (posing as safety and environment) legislation. Still masses of them out there, though.

A certain amount of cheating goes on as well. Quite a few brand-new late model Rover Minis were imported into the US purporting to be 're-bodied' early cars by celebrities and the like. I know Tim Allen had one, and one of them actually appears in the dull remake of The Italian Job. A lot cooler to own than the BMW thing, but technically illegal and there is always the risk that it could be confiscated.

It is understandable that the US market has taken to the BMW thing. It is, after all, what it was aimed at and they have a much more limited choice of cars than we do in Europe. Hard to argue that it isn't poor value over here in relation to much of the competition, though. No excuse for their owners infesting here, either.

Regards, David Betts snipped-for-privacy@minilist.org The Mini Gallery:

The technology in the new VW Golfs is something to be admired yes water cooled FWD. - leaves the Bini for dead.

Certainly the new Golf GTI should be a serious consideration for anyone considering a new sporting Eurohatch. Almost back to the standard of the original after years of getting heavier and less dynamically satisfying. Pricey compared with much of the French, Italian and Japanese competition, though, and the build quality advantage what it used to be.

Still, getting off topic here. I'd rather have my Mini. Much more fun.

Regards, David Betts snipped-for-privacy@minilist.org The Mini Gallery:

AFAIK it's scheduled to be in Denmark.

FWIW, Theo van den Bogaard

I'm surprised John, I thought you were opposed to the BINI?

Taffy

I think more opposed to the way BMW have marketed their version of the brand since their garage sale.

It's a pity in some ways that BL/ARG/Rover didn't do the same for the cars we discuss in this group.

erik.

True, but we never had it so good, for so long?

Taffy

Can anybody imagine these BMW abortions around in 40 years time?

Certainly not still being made.

Issigonis didn't want the original to go into the eighties. Could he have imagined them around now?

erik.

Probably more real Minis being built up around new or rebuilt shells and old identities now than are being scrapped every year, so the numbers are actually increasing. In fact, at least one specialist is even building all-new cars to order. Does anybody doubt that our cars will still be around in huge numbers in another 45 years... although we might have to fight the nanny state for the right to use them.

I imagine the odd example of the BMW thing will be preserved as a sort of period curiosity - a bit like the Allegro ;-)>.

Regards, David Betts snipped-for-privacy@minilist.org The Mini Gallery:

Well the Issigonis Mini succeeded all expectations, I mean it was only developed as a solution to rid Britain of the so called bubble cars (BMW Issetta's etc..) and at first it was considered a flop. Then as the 1960's started to swing and trendy people like The Beatles, Peter Sellers etc started to be seen in them and of course the Cooper and Cooper S proved itself as a world beating rally/race car sales took off. The Mini even outlived the car that was developed to replace it (the 1980 MiniMetro or just Metro as it become known, that died in 1997/98, although it was later branded as Rover 100.)

For the low down on the history of the Mini, check this out:-

Taffy