5 replies to this topic

[Frazer stuart]

Hi Guys,

 

Got chatting to a chap at the weekend who says that he has a load of mini bits that he's looking to get rid of. The most interesting is an engine from a Mini SX 1400. I hadn't heard of this special edition so after a little googling, I found a magazine article where they pitted the Mini SX 1400 against the ERA Turbo and BAC M-30. It appears that only 35 SX 1400s were made, by Peter Waller at Sussex Performance Engineering. Pretty rare! Bryan tells me that it's a genuine 1400, not a 1380.

 

The story goes that Bryan's cousin owned the Mini SX 1400 and crashed it. The engine was undamaged so 13 ish years ago Bryan bought it off him with a plan to put it into a project car. Unfortunately he hasn't got round to it due to bad health.

 

Anyway, he is looking to sell the engine, along with all his other mini bits (I'll list below). I said that I'd put it on the forum for him and see if there's interest.

 

FYI I don't know Bryan - My sister's car just broke down outside his house on the weekend so we got chatting. Seems like a very nice guy. I have just about seen one corner of the engine but couldn't reach it as he has a jam packed garage! Therefore I cannot confirm if it's what he says, nor the condition. I just said that I'd see if there's interest for him. He also has a load of other bits to get rid of, including but not limited to:

 

Rear radius arm reamer

Maniflow manifold

Loads of panels - Front panel, front and rear valences, wings, door skins, sills etc.

Sykes Pickivant Flywheel puller

Loads more, but best just to chat to him directly if you're after a job lot.

 

I haven't put this in the for sale area as I'm not actually selling it, Bryan is. Plus I don't know much about it, but feel free to tell me to move it to the for sale section. 

 

If anybody is interested and wants Bryan's details then drop me a PM. I'll try to get him on the forum in the meantime.

 

Frazer

[rich_959]

Interesting. Never heard of that. Article on the link.... about halfway down.

 

https://www.roblight...my-archive.html

[rich_959]

Motor

7 March 1987, Sussex Performance Engineering modified Mini

THE test car, D951 WRP, was a Mini Mayfair fitted with a 1400cc engine. By the Eighties, tuning fashion had turned against multiple carburettors and very wild camshafts. Carburation was provided by a single SU HIF44, or 1.75-inch SU (in old money). The performance figures justified this approach as 0-60mph was attained in 8.5s, and top speed was 104.5mph.

Motor wrote: “In truth, I’d forgotten what a Mini’s handling was like: now I’ve remembered, I’m unconvinced that all the dynamic progress made in small car design has been positive.”

The Mini SX retailed for £5862 plus £185 for Minilite-style wheels. 35 were made before SPE closed.

[sc-em]

I remember a chap in my town back in the 80s had a 1400 but I think it was just bored and stroked, rather than anything more special.  It was an all black clubman and spent most of its time racing around with a silver Cooper S. Happy days. Lol

[cooperd70]

Frazer,

Dzid you pass anyone's deets onto Bryan back in 2019? Do you know if he is still to sell it?

Cheers

[Shooter63]

One thing to be aware of is that as far as I know 74mm pistons (1400) are no longer available, so if anything is wrong bore wise the block is scrap, I'm pretty sure a few machine shops can sleeve a 73.5mm block but I've never seen advertised this service for a 74mm, but I suppose anything is possible if you have the money.

Shooter