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In the 80's my local shop that sold go fast stuff, heads, cams, carbs etc quit selling them because he sold so few, he would sell barrow loads of big exhausts, fancy seats, shining lights and steering wheels, the important bit became not how fast it went but how 'bling' it looked, he ended up just selling what the market demanded and all the tuning stuff went, ho hum.

36inter,

That is the way the entire tuning market went.

Possibly due to the general tightening up of insurance and high premium prices for ANY mods for young drivers over the years?
My 20 year old son is very restricted on what he can do to his MINI One without loading the premium compared with my younger days of Classic Mini's, many of the mods then were of no interest to insurance companies, now even a non-performance related mod must be declared and costs extra.

Undoubtedly it was insurance requirements that finally killed kids tuning their cars up off. But the general tuning market took a massive nose dive in the mid 70's. The fuel crisis of 73 made people more interested in saving fuel than burning it, after all it did break the 30p per gallon barrier!!!!!

However, the biggest thing that killed the tuning companies like Downton, Speedwell & Taurus off was the introduction of MUCH better cars that didn't need tuning. Most of which were being imported from Germany & most important of all Japan.

Just bought a copy of Mini World (50 years of Mini Cooper)

Must say that is a VERY good issue can recommend it

Lots of MK I - Cooper - etc - really a interesting issue.

well done, keep up the good work.

Jens Christian

I have just read through the whole thread, and have a few comments.

Re: "Concours - I lost marks for glue on the headlining and soot in the exhaust pipe."

My parents will tell exactly the same story - they drove to a Birmingham show (90 miles or so) and the factory glue on the headlining got a comment, and the soot in the exhaust pipe got a comment.

Re: Young people with Chav'd bling cars. I used to have a modified Mini, a 91 City E which was deseamed, sportspack arches, all of that business. NEVER have I ever tried to pass it off as a Cooper though, it deliberately didn't have stripes for that reason. It was featured in MiniWorld back in 2007.









Not all of the young people are making terrible modifications though - my 1960 Van is to be a concours car, but will also get driven often. My parents have a 1968 Mk2 which has won countless awards since it was first shown in 2003 - It may not be bling and big alloys, but it draws a far bigger crowd.

There might be a large selling market for these modifications, but the general audience still likes classic.

ChrisB wrote:I have just read through the whole thread, and have a few comments.

1 - Re: "Concours - I lost marks for glue on the headlining and soot in the exhaust pipe."
My parents will tell exactly the same story - they drove to a Birmingham show (90 miles or so) and the factory glue on the headlining got a comment, and the soot in the exhaust pipe got a comment.

2 - Re: Young people with Chav'd bling cars. I used to have a modified Mini, a 91 City E which was deseamed, sportspack arches, all of that business.
NEVER have I ever tried to pass it off as a Cooper though, it deliberately didn't have stripes for that reason. It was featured in MiniWorld back in 2007.





3 - Not all of the young people are making terrible modifications though -


4 - My parents have a 1968 Mk2 which has won countless awards since it was first shown in 2003 -
It may not be bling and big alloys, but it draws a far bigger crowd.

There might be a large selling market for these modifications, but the general audience still likes classic.

Hi Chris,

1 - yes I agree, this "concours" is a bit TOO much, hence why I dont enter my car into such contests.
A car is suppose to be driven, not wrapped in dipers & cotton.
I have driven my Black "thingie" in the worst rain & storm, but only if there was a reason
And I dont want to polish the inside of my exhaust either outside must be enough.

2 - nice car with classic custom "mods" nice article - well done.

3 - agree, I know a few younger Mini owners, and atleast one of them, is harder on the subject of "originality" than I am
and belive me, thats hard he he .

4 - my experience too, hence the tip to the mags about more "history" and original cars.
can we see a couple of pictures of the MK II ?


Jens Christian

My Dad did all the work except the MOT, it is one of those true "One lady owner" cars which came with Original Bill of Sale etc.

Woaw - that is REALLY beautifull
thanks for posting.
give your Father full remarks from me, job WELL done
can see why it win so many prices.