Ah the Mini – the first car that I can remember my Dad owing. I even remember the registration: BHN 9N on a maroon 850. We went everywhere in it, including four up on a camping trip to Paignton, from Co Durham in 1976 (great summer!) with a trailer that seemed bigger than the car, on tow. That limited us to 50mph all the way.
We made it there and back without any breakdowns, mainly because my Dad maintained the hell out of it, which as any car nut knows is absolutely necessary on a Mini. Spot welding, plating, the Haynes manual and WD40 were all requirements of happy Mini ownership – the happiness coming from working on your car, which is mostly a lost art these days! I had many a happy day helping my Dad with all that was required to keep his Minis going.
Having said all that, I do prefer the maintenance-free approach of modern motoring, but because of my early experiences with the Mini I know how to maintain oil and coolant levels, tyre pressures, bulbs, fuses, and more importantly, why. My one regret with the Mini is that I have never driven one, as we got rid of the last of our Minis the year before my driving test! I really should find one out there…