Alternative cars
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi all,

I am sort of fed up of the french Mini scene so I am trying to source other A-series engined options.

Being in France might close the door to models that were not imported.

Also, I don't want to spend more than a few thousands on this fantasy.

So, here is what I have in mind, please tell your opinion on the performance prospect of the cars as well as on the usual prices (including engine-less projects).

By order of appeal :
Frogeye
Midget
Mini pick-up
Marcos (saw an advert for a 2200£ one !)
Mini countryman
Austin 1100 / 1300
Allegro
Mini Moke

I know there are other but they are either too old or too different or not appealing enough


Finally, where to look ?
I had a search on the net but appart from ebay.co.uk, I have trouble finding those cars



Thanks in advance

Rusty by nature

Id try somthing rear wheel drive
frogeye
a35
midget
.

Realisticly the contyman, pick up etc is just a mini still

Marcos or cox gtm would be good aswell , plus you dont have to worry about rust.

Rick

my dad had an mg midget, although a 1500, and it went well. All though i did have a nut and bolt rebuild.

I think rick has said it well though.

if its the marcus im thinking of (minimart)
buy it!

THat is the Minimart's Marcos.

It is very appealing, yes.

I have to double check how to import cars from England especially those without an MOT.

Rusty by nature

What are the French import laws like? Would it be possible / practical to find a car in Kent then take it home on the ferry?

Also my concern about the Marcos is you don't get more engine bay room with them and I fear this engine bay is really not turbo friendly ...

Rusty by nature

Whilst frogeyes look nice, they only have a 998 as standard so don't fair as well as a Midget in the performance stakes.

On a side note this morning my Midget ventured out from the garage for the first time this year :)

get a metro, do they have them there!

allegro, brilliant car, you'll enjoy that!

midget, turbo it & its fun as!

any commercial type mini is good vans, pickups, mokes, etc etc

the mini scene can be a bit arse at times i dont go to shows or meets anymore as i find it a bit same old same old!

picking & choosing shows to go to & a differant approach to take with your car mauy help

i've ran a mini as daily drive since i passed my driving test at 19 & i'm thirty now (getting old)

i've now got a metro turbo daily, differant to the mini & a bit more daily practical!

as they say! a change is as good as a rest!

SKYLINES ARE LIKE CLITS, EVERY FLANGE SEEMS TO HAVE ONE: see this sticker on my silvia

the Search-section on this forum is blummin superb & simple to use, unlike some other forums, without the search-section & the help of this bunch of chaps on here i'll never be able to !!!Start the day with a 998cc turbo!!! :) i'm getting closer though!

Tom Fenton says: I have it all, make me an offer

Metro would be good as a mule for engine devellopement.

We have them and they are cheap (but everything is getting more expensive these days ...)


RWD sounds nice to my ear but how much am I looking for one of those that would not be a good looking pile of hidden rust ?

When I say performance prospect you can read ability to be driven everyday ie : brakes, weight / power ratio that is no more than 20 kg per HP and so on ...

Rusty by nature

i am fed up with the whole mini scene at the moment and have a hankering after another camper, karmann ghia or early 911

Cant go wrong with a vw.

I'd love a 21 window samba van!

You should see the Mini scene in France !

At the top of my mind is my neighbour who is changing to 10" wheels and A008 because : "they are so beautiful"

As for going to track, no way ...

Anyway, we are all different, are we ?

Rusty by nature

my current motors are
metro turbo daily as it has good load capacity for its size, econmical enough, fast enough to be a fun daily looks a bit oldschool & i can fix it myself! welding or mechanical

mini 998 turbo track car yet to hit the road/track but it will

my t25 pop-top DEVON campervan 1982 2.0 aircooled! its a great cheapholiday van & mine returns 26 mpg which is good for a 2.0 aircooled, 7 its happy to cruise at 70-75mph, it'll be converted to lpg when i have the cash! get another campert wolfie you know you wont regret it

i dont get too involved with clubs/scenes i drive what i drive cause i like them & can repair them!

my resons for not being in a club/scene are that someone always wants to be reguarded as top dog & i'm not that type of chap!

i spose it comes back to what you want from your motor!
i say go with instinct & buy what you like yourself & somat you can modify fairly cheaply if you wish to do so

if you want daily reliabuility & fin a nissan silvia is pretty good & cheap to tune, parts are readily available!

10" rims & a008's are pretty cool though you gotta admit;OP

SKYLINES ARE LIKE CLITS, EVERY FLANGE SEEMS TO HAVE ONE: see this sticker on my silvia

the Search-section on this forum is blummin superb & simple to use, unlike some other forums, without the search-section & the help of this bunch of chaps on here i'll never be able to !!!Start the day with a 998cc turbo!!! :) i'm getting closer though!

Tom Fenton says: I have it all, make me an offer

Sometimes things pop up on www.carandclassic.co.uk but prices always seem high.

I sometimes think that there are lots of pricks doing stupid things to minis, but I'm 100% positive that whatever group of people you associate with through choice of car there will always be pricks.

Stick with the mini, do your own thing ignore everyone else.

I personally have an obscure mini-based kit car (as well as 2 minis) it's biggest advantage is no rust.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

I somehow have bitten the bullet on that Marcos and I am checking how to get it road usable in France (all paperwork and some cash).

But, does the Marcos engine bay definitely rules out turboing ? (being less heat resistant and as much confined if not more than a round nose Mini)

Rusty by nature

Well I'm turboing my Sprint which is a GRP moncoque shell and the turbo will be next to the bulkhead. I think with some heat tap/cloth it won't be an issue.

GRP dosent actually melt, rather burns nicley, but you'd need lots more heat or a flame to ignite it.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

Calling Ian will be the second step.

His location is also much up north so not really cool but if a mini can fit in a Pug Boxer, a Marcos should do.

Rusty by nature

OK, because of french laws, kit cars are ruled out of the A-series alternative cars.

So now it is MG Midget or Frogeye that I'll be looking for.

Rusty by nature

picked up mu MG metro tonight, love it,
cant decide whether to turbo it or not....lol
mega jolt is on the list tho...

Metros are cool (seats are great) but I would like an earlier car.

I am looking for a 60's or 70's car

Rusty by nature

e type?
;lol

E-Type engine is not made of three A-series, is it ?

Rusty by nature