mk1-forum.net

Okay, it's not a Mini derivative, but I am keen on my little Hornet too.
When I bought it almost fifteen years ago the idea was to restore it as a racer to take it to the track (I have to admit I was the typical boy racer with no experience in working on cars at all but with a fresh racing licence in my pocket).
After all these years it's only now that I am actually driving it. On the road.
It's very quick though and I am still tempted to outperform GTI's.

Looks a loverly car mate and top marks on the lakeside photo, very nice.

Very tasty.
Got a bit of a soft spot for non standard Hornets and Elfs.
What's the spec.?

Wow, nice car

Nice looking car !

Al

Thanks guys.

It's got a nice spec with 1290 cc, forged pistons, 266 cam and double Dellorto carburettors that I had never seen before I came accross these.
I need to have it on a rolling road for I have no idea at all what kind of output it produces, but now that it's been run in it feels pretty quick.

The gearbox is unaltered but comes with a quickshift. Suspension has Konis all round plus discs, Minifins and hi-lo's.

See another picture that my photographer (I am a motoring journalist) quickly made while shooting the other, slightly more expensive, car.
I will post a picture of the engine bay soon.

I love it! The gray is making me rethink my color choice of Fiesta Yellow for my Elf.

Great to see your car in here Jeroen. It's really stunning. Just as a period car should look like.

Just take it to the autotest at the mini club in October. Like to see it up close.

Roald.

What a cracking little car Jeroen!

I find it very interesting how the more unusual Mini derivatives are becoming more highly prized. Aften many years as the "unloved" variants they now seem to becoming many peoples Mini of choice. I include in this BMC variants as well as the non BMC ones.

Maybe Coopers & S's are simply becoming too expensive for most people to even aspire to owning.

mark

get it right

varients AND kit cars!!!!!

mk1 wrote:What a cracking little car Jeroen!

I find it very interesting how the more unusual Mini derivatives are becoming more highly prized. Aften many years as the "unloved" variants they now seem to becoming many peoples Mini of choice. I include in this BMC variants as well as the non BMC ones.

Maybe Coopers & S's are simply becoming too expensive for most people to even aspire to owning.

Thanks Mark!

And, yes, you are absolutely right on derivatives, variants, kit cars et cetera.

While working on the first 'Maximum Mini' book I was offered so many cars for which, unfortunately, I didn't have the money (and space) to buy them. But now, only a few years ahead, some have gone for prices that are way beyond what was asked back then.

The best example was a lovely Ogle that had to go for 8,000 GBP about five or six years ago. I was tempted, naturally, but, again, couldn't afford it then. Imagine my surprise when I walked in a London mews last year just to have a look at the car dealerships there to find out the very same car was in a showroom. This was at night, and so I came back the next morning to have a chat and see the car again. It was unchanged and was now offered for 20,000 GBP. From what I understand they sold it, too.

As promised, some under bonnet pics.
I believe those carburettors are pretty rare.
Oh - and does anyone know of a better way to attach the tea strainers to the ram pipes (they are taped now)?

A set of Dellorto FZD's. A rare set of twin carbs, I have a few sets of these, and a set on my Innocenti Cooper 1300 export, they sound amazing and make the car shift well. Are your's the 32.28's or the smaller type 30.24's ?

tjw89 wrote:A set of Dellorto FZD's. A rare set of twin carbs, I have a few sets of these, and a set on my Innocenti Cooper 1300 export, they sound amazing and make the car shift well. Are your's the 32.28's or the smaller type 30.24's ?

Hey - I didn't even know there were more types!
But I think they are the smaller ones.
You don't happen to have revision sets, do you?

What do you mean by revision sets ? The bigger size are more suited for the 1275cc engines or more, and the smaller sized FZD's are more suited for the smaller bore engines.

tjw89 wrote:What do you mean by revision sets ? The bigger size are more suited for the 1275cc engines or more, and the smaller sized FZD's are more suited for the smaller bore engines.

Well, I could do with some new gaskets, springs et cetera for them.
But let me check first to see what size they are.

Parts for these are very hard to find, as they don't make them anymore, but the only help on servicing I can give you is this, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DELLORTO ... ccessories

mk1 wrote:What a cracking little car Jeroen!
Maybe Coopers & S's are simply becoming too expensive for most people to even aspire to owning.

Probably true, and increasingly 'faked up' but more's the point it's nice to have a little variety ! Hornets and Elfs (Elves ?) do offer considerably better value for money than early Minis and they do have a sporting pedigree don't forget.
Here's a few snaps of mine
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=620