My first car was a Mini. Well, actually, it said “Austin Seven” at the front and “Mini-Minor” on the bootlid – it was a 1969 model and we’ve all forgotten it didn’t become just “Mini” until later.
I acquired it about 1970, when it had seen a bit of life, ie was fairly tired. It cost me £90. It looked like it was black but the logbook (does anyone remember them?) stated it was blue – and, sure enough, when I washed it, blue paint came off on the sponge.
The driver’s side slidy window was misaligned because the door was bent, so had a tendency to land on my lap when I slammed the door. This also meant lots of water coming in when it rained – but that was OK as the bungs in the floor were missing, so the water eventually drained back out again.
My (now ex- but at that time pregnant) wife and I drove it from Bristol where we were at that time to Banffshire (NE Scotland) to visit her parents once or twice. It took two days….
Eventually it was written off when someone tried to overtake me as I was turning right, and replaced by a 105E Anglia Estate (but that’s another story).