Differences between a 72" Clubman and a Mini

[Ratkiller]

I have a chance to purchase a 72" Clubman (non-GT) for dirt cheap. The only thing is I really don't like the Clubman front nose. Can a Mini nose be easly swapped in its place? And are there any other differences beside the nose and interrior bits?

Thanks.

[sclemow]

Inner wings, wings, dash (depending upon whether you want a centre console) and wiring loom.

It would be a shame to do this though, clubmans are getting rare. Personally I think they look cool too.

Why not pick it up and trade it for a bell nose?

[foxy52]

I have a chance to purchase a 72" Clubman (non-GT) for dirt cheap. The only thing is I really don't like the Clubman front nose. Can a Mini nose be easly swapped in its place? And are there any other differences beside the nose and interrior bits?

Thanks.

..Don't butcher a clubman fronted mini !!!...long term it will affect the value.. gt or otherwise..keep it as it is .... Bell end mini ?? don't like the sound of that ... !!! a mini is a mini.. a mini-clubman is a mini-clubman. and a BMW is err !!!.... foxy52

[Ratkiller]

If they are getting rare in the UK, I can only assume they are even harder to find here in the States.
If they are as rare as you say, I'll most likely keep it original.
I just can't get past the idea it looks like the nose sticks up in the air compared to a round nose.

[sclemow]

Bell end mini ??

I think that's you getting the wrong end of the stick foxy !!!!

[miniminor]

Bell end mini ??

I think that's you getting the wrong end of the stick foxy !!!!

See quite a few "bell end minis" at shows mind you

[Pete]

If they are getting rare in the UK, I can only assume they are even harder to find here in the States.

Early Clubmans are definitely an endangered species and many here have been reshelled into later cars so definitely an interesting car to own. They look great with 10" wheels and Oz arches on I think.

[Old English White]

Another vote for "keeping it as it is". Whatever you think of the Clubman's looks, it is a rarity - especially the earlier 10" wheel ones as Pete says.

[Ratkiller]

Hopefully I'll be able to go see the car this weekend and look for the tell tale signs if it's an original 72" or not. In the meantime here's the one and only pic that was in the ad. Its hard to tell but it does look like the early seats and steering wheel and no reverse lights.

What year was the clubman first introduced?

[wantafaster1]

God no, you wouldn't change that!

[JC T ONE]

Hopefully I'll be able to go see the car this weekend and look for the tell tale signs if it's an original 72" or not. In the meantime here's the one and only pic that was in the ad. Its hard to tell but it does look like the early seats and steering wheel and no reverse lights.

What year was the clubman first introduced?

1969 .



That looks like a nice/early Clubby glad you will keep its original body shape.

The badge on the A panel is another indicator to a early car (before 74)

Chromework looks to be in good condition, this is good as bumpers are very expensive.

As Pete stated = lower the suspension, and fit wide arches, Clubby,s look mean like that.

['S'-type]

That looks prretty original from the pic. It seems to have the chunkier rear clubman bumper. The little 'A' panel Leyland badges also. Steering wheel looks stock. One thing that's missing is the genuine 1972 UK rust! Clubman hubcaps were slightly different in having about 5 radial grooves from the centre. It should have the remote gear change not rod.

If you get it I would definitely preserve it as it is. Originality everytime.

Apart from the differences mentioned by others, one significant difference from a round nose contemporary is that it could be running hydrolastic suspension. This was still being used on Clubmans built until late 1971 having been phased out on the rest of the range in late 1969. I have one registered in August 1971 (K reg) that is hydro. Yours might be just after the change point though. Another thing to love or hate about the early Clubbies!

I personally don't like their looks or some of the detailing, but they can look OK and more purposeful with some subtle mods. I don't like the slab front which does seem to stick out a mile when your in the driving seat. ( 4" longer front). Worse drag coefficient than round nose (Itself not great). Early interior (vinyl) was of good quality, later ones (cloth) yuk. As mentioned above they were the first to be given the awful offset speedo/guages pod that you can hardly see in daylight. BUT Loads of engine bay space that a late Mpi owner would love to have.

Although Pete and others like them on 10" wheels, I personally think they make a Clubman look a bit puny. So I've converted to 8.4" brakes and 12" rims and the wider drums at the back.

Mine is not in the condition of the one in the picture. So I wouldn't mess around with that one if you get it.

[mab01uk]

My favourite Clubman/1275GT and a Longman replica has just been built by Swiftune for the Goodwood Members meeting.

Swiftune Racing Mini 1275GT in Gerry Marshall Trophy Race at Goodwood 29th March - 30th March 2014
The opportunity for Swiftune to take part - in probably the best Group 1 saloon car race for 30 years - could not be missed. “When the Goodwood team told us about the 1970s saloon race at their new meeting we knew we had the be a part of it with a Mini 1275GT, and it had to be a replica of the car that won the title” said Nick Swift. Longman was Swiftune’s biggest A series race engine competitor for many years: “Our engines have had some incredible fights over the years in all forms of Classic Mini racing. I have always respected Longman as an engine builder and driver, now he is retired from engine building I’m happy to run in Longman colours!”
Swiftune Racing Mini 1275GT in Gerry Marshal Trophy Race at Goodwood

[Ollie78]

Clubmans have definitely become a lot more popular in recent years although obviously opinions still remain divided. Personally I've aways loved the 10" wheeled clubmans and GTs, I agree with Stype they do feel quite different to drive as the square flat bonnet is more visible from behind the wheel but I really like it, they some how feel like more car like in a mini way
I have a 71 clubman now and used to own a black tulip 72 1275GT and that will always remain my favourite car.
It would be absolute sacrilege to cut the front off and change it for a bell end mini. As has already been said better to just buy a mini if you prefer them, there's a fair amount of work swapping over properly with inner wings and all.
I did even consider converting my mk2 into a clubman at one point....
Anyway being a fan of the clubman I have found the following...
A 72 clubman should have all mk3 body features such as solid mounted front subframe, drip rails, interior door hinges etc. but being a 72 it should have ashtrays in the rear companion bins, a mk2 type floor with a round exhaust tunnel for remote type gearbox, a blanking plate for magic wand type gear lever in the tunnel to toe board to area and a large oval rotodip type hole in the rear bulkhead/seat. The rear quarter light windows on the early clubmans and gt's are thick rimmed stainless with a twin peg for the latch (same as mk3 Cooper S). My 71 also has no holes in the tops of the inner wings, later cars have a large rubber grommet on each side, I think a 72 will have the holes and rubber grommets though. I have also seen an early 70 clubman (non GT body) with boot board brackets once as well but maybe that was an oddity. A 72 should be rubber cone suspension, hydrolastic got phased out mid/late 71, mines on dry and was registered October 7 1971 with body number 048332.
I think most points have already been mentioned as to the trim but the early clubman seats are noteworthy, they're a lot nicer than the standard mk3 seat, far more comfortable and very seventies styling. A reclining option was available but these are rare.

Heres a pic of an original interior.

Front seats.jpg

[JC T ONE]

Worse drag coefficient than round nose

Never been a problem for me

Neither did this driver seem to suffer from it

[cheleker]

Introduced in 1969. Ugly as sin. Might have looked better as originally designed; i.e., with the extended Elf/Hornet rear. Might still have been ugly as sin, but at least the look would have been balanced.
Still...don't convert it.

[Ratkiller]

I was able to get more pics and some more info. He has put on cooper s disc brakes and says an inner cv bearings need to be intsalled, so it can't be driven but it does start. Other then that is stock and mostly original. He says there is little rust, but I can't see any in the pics, it's probably in the floors.
He's asking $4000 US so thats around 2400 pounds.
What do you think?

[Pete]

Ugly as sin. Might have looked better as originally designed; i.e., with the extended Elf/Hornet rear .

I don't think the mutant back end was the pinnacle of the BMC design department (and that's coming from a mutant owner), thank gawd they didn't go for that ! Would have looked like a 'push me pull me' !

The Clubman was a take on the Mk2 Cortina as we all know and without it the Mini would have died a death a lot earlier than it did, it's a design of it's time. Clubmans were the mainstay of successful Mini rallying and racing in the 70's, a much overlooked fact in today's pre '66 preoccupied historic motorsport and a popular shape in it's day. Put it this way, W&P didn't convert too many round nosed Minis once the clubman was introduced and they couldn't keep up with demand. Quite a few Clubman/GT cars on track at Blyton I'm pleased to say.

[pad4]

Engine and box definatly right for the year - 2 pc rad cowl, 1 1/4" carb, little airfilter, shell has square trans tunnel like it should have , a panel badges were on up to 75 wernt they (i know they were on bell end minis - hey foxy)

shell looks correct

imagine it all polished up, nice wheels - in your sunny weather

very quintessential british icon

plus that square nose is a delight to my ugly fkin thing

pad

[Ratkiller]

Thanks Pad- I recieved the brake bleeder the other day. Going to attempt the fluid flush tomorrow. Thanks again for all the info.