30 replies to this topic

[olds_kool_lews]

I find that '85/'86 minis on C and D reg tend to fair well rust wise, i had an '85 auto a few years ago that cost me £80, the shell on it was near mint! Shame i cut it up lol

[wardyxxx]

Lets be honest, out of these three which looks the least desirable:
 

 

 

 
Basically the 80's were an era where the Minis were a bit boring, they replaced chrome and vinyl with grey plastics and velour and generally didn't put much effort into making the Mini stylish. Of course there's nothing to stop you taking advantage of the lower prices and customising it to make it look nicer

But they're all pretty in their own little way! :)

I do like seeing a completey original 80's mini. They're certainly different!

[1984mini25]

Rust wise my 25 was as horrendous as my current MPI.

yep but, the mpi would have been half the age of the 25...

[MaxAndPaddy]

The same thing could of been said about pickups and vans not that many years ago

 

Just you wait the 80's minis will have their day, and the people with them now should be chuffed they bought theirs at the low point!!!

 

[some1158]

 

 

Just you wait the 80's minis will have their day, and the people with them now should be chuffed they bought theirs at the low point!!!

 

 

I hope so as mine's a totally unaltered 1989 Racing, complete with the white plastic wheeltrims! Not that I want to sell it.  I wanted an 80s Mini in original spec, partly for nostalgic reasons because I remember as a kid seeing the flow of LEs from 87-88 on into the 90s. Living in Birmingham there was always something on the latest LE in the free paper and I would write off to Austin Rover for the brochures, which I still have.

[Tanya]

Late eighties/early nineties Minis are my favourite.  I guess partly as I passed my driving test in 1989 and all I could afford at the time was a 1979 Mini City that constantly broke down and I had to park down hill so I could push start it in the morning.  I remember looking through the brochures at that time fantasizing about which Mini I would buy.  Then there were the limited editions  I don't care how much you guys laugh at them - I loved them then and I love them now (providing they're standard of course!).  I know they're only bits of trim etc, but I don't care.  However, apparently I have terrible taste in most things, which is quite handy for me as generally it means that what I want to buy is cheaper.  While I understand why people like early Minis, I don't like them particularly, it's late eighties/early nineties all the way for me

[Mk1Dave]

I would really really like a bog standard early 80's city.

[Tommyboy12]

I think the unfortunate truth with late 80s/early 90s Minis is that they are the car of choice to modify because of the price advantage already mentioned. Original ones are going to be pretty rare soon. I cant remember the last time I saw an original late 80s Mayfair/City.

[JimminyBob]

Pretty easy to put back to standard in most cases though providing they haven't been deseamed or roof chopped etc.

[Chris99]

 

Rust wise my 25 was as horrendous as my current MPI.

yep but, the mpi would have been half the age of the 25...

 

 

The 25 was 14 years old when I got rid of it and needed virtually every panel replaced despite the previous owner having resprayed it. The water dripping on my right foot was the last straw! Couldn't have afforded to fix it and it was back in the happy days when a reasonably sound replacement cost me £500 with a years MOT. Going to spend rather more than that on getting the MPI back in shape....

 

 

Late eighties/early nineties Minis are my favourite.  I guess partly as I passed my driving test in 1989 and all I could afford at the time was a 1979 Mini City that constantly broke down and I had to park down hill so I could push start it in the morning.  I remember looking through the brochures at that time fantasizing about which Mini I would buy.  Then there were the limited editions  I don't care how much you guys laugh at them - I loved them then and I love them now (providing they're standard of course!).  I know they're only bits of trim etc, but I don't care.  However, apparently I have terrible taste in most things, which is quite handy for me as generally it means that what I want to buy is cheaper.  While I understand why people like early Minis, I don't like them particularly, it's late eighties/early nineties all the way for me

 

Totally with you, always looked in envy at the blue 35 when it was new.  Quite fancy a Sidewalk as a temporary car while mine is being restored but can't really justify another mini for a few months as they're so expensive now!

[jaydee]

I think because its a decade out for being tax exempt, but may be wrong

 

You're right.

Otherwise is just because most of them had nudge bars fitted! LOL

 

MK5s (89-92) are some of the best minis rolled out the production lines though. The majority of them are cheap, solid and reliable.

[jaydee]

Lets be honest, out of these three which looks the least desirable:

 

 

 

 

Basically the 80's were an era where the Minis were a bit boring, they replaced chrome and vinyl with grey plastics and velour and generally didn't put much effort into making the Mini stylish. Of course there's nothing to stop you taking advantage of the lower prices and customising it to make it look nicer

 

In all honesty...the sportspack.. 

[JimminyBob]

In all honesty...the sportspack.. 

 

 

 

I'm not a massive fan of them myself, I don't like big arches, in fact I think no arches at all looks best (and some 10" wheels). They do have nice interiors for the most part though.

[v8rumbler]

When a mini was made is , to an extent, irrelevant. Whatever your budget is:- buy the best car you can in terms of bodywork and mechanicals.

they are after all the same underneath.

[jaydee]

 

In all honesty...the sportspack.. 

 

 

 

I'm not a massive fan of them myself, I don't like big arches, in fact I think no arches at all looks best (and some 10" wheels). They do have nice interiors for the most part though.

 

 

100% agreed