Southern Steve

The more I look at the new Minis, the more I realise what overrated crap they are!

Good shout, lots of the bits were sourced from the GM europe parts bin. The front axles were Vauxhall Magnum ( as on the Lima and Kallista) Though the pop up headlamp mechs were TR7, as I had to source a new motor.

I worked on this car about 10 years go and it's real bitza. It had lost some of the trick bits it had from new like the LCD instruments, in dash TV, radio telephone etc. I have a pic of it parked next to our MG Midget somewhere, real David and Goliath. Panther said it was capable of 200+mph, but it felt unsafe at about 15 to me!

The maddest car ever built?

I had 1300 the same colour which was a good car. Nica and comfortable, plenty of room in it. Eventually the oil light started flickering, so we fitted a 1750 Allegro Equipe power unit and its 5 speed box, paid £75 from a local scrapyard for everything we needed (rad, driveshafts, front end wiring loom etc). Left it badged as a 1300 super and it surprised few XR3's and Astra GTE's.

Nope it's got no fancy bits and looks like bog standard 1.2, but has all the toys I need! So torquey, goes nearly everywhere in 6th gear.

Harsh, no worse than 80's VAG switchgear which is nasty and cheap. But then I'm biased being a happy Renault owner. 2-0 litre 16v Clio 3, modern classic? Love it as it looks just like my mrs 1.2 version. A real wolf in sheep;s clothing

Column stalks were Renault 9 from memory, I think the steering lock and switch are Renault too, possibly the whole top steering column assy. Lots of the console switches come from the Renault parts bin as well

Know them well, use lots of Renault switchgear inside.

I have a few 35mm pics taken along the side of the Medway in this area from the late 80's. I'll have a look for them as they may be of interest.

Bi Turbo?

I assure you it was CX estate, Did loads of work on it about 2 years ago, including fitting A/C, fancy sound system, top of the range remote start alarm etc.

Having said all that French electrics are better than any VAG product. I seem to get far more VW's, Audi's and Skoda's with issues to repair than French stuff.

Gotta love those big CX estate cars! But everything they say about french electrics is true, believe me.

The Bedford Midi was an Isuzu, my brother had a petrol one once, bloody awful thing it was as well.