It all started when Miles decided we were going to do the Italian Job this year. What he didn't realise was that my mini just wasn't up to it. This resulted in a search for our ideal mini: Something as new as possible without being a BMW Mini, something that would last the trip in comfort (?) and style, not to mention something that would be great fun to throw around the twisty roads that wind through the Alps.

Why?

Why not it looks like fun……and c’mon its for charity so dig deep in your pockets and help us burst our target of raising £3000 for the UK’s leading children’s charity NCH (www.nch.org.uk).


Gav

Gav 33, lives in Stockbridge, Edinburgh and works as a business development manager (trying to sell people stuff). Gav likes sailing, is a serial wedding goer, and takes the occasional photo. Gav doesn’t like small spaces.

Miles

Miles, also 33, lives near Truro, Cornwall, and works for himself as a naval architect (colouring in boat pictures). Miles likes surfing, growing vegetables, and riding his bike. Miles doesn’t like long car journeys.


Wednesday, 25 July 2007

The Motor?

So we decided at least 2 months ago to enter the Italian Job this year. The mission was to find a replacement to the ginger minster. Armed with a brief case of scottish 20 pounds notes i flew down to Heathrow to be picked up by Miles at oh my god o'clock last saturday morning. I'd only booked a one way flight so was fairly sure we were going to buy the car!

So we picked up a 2000 Mini Cooper Sport. The family selling the car were gut
ted to see it go. The chap reckons its one of the last 500. I don't think it is, but since the glove box is jammed shut at the moment i can't reveal the plaque, or lack of that would identify it to be so. Anyone know how else we could identify it?





The car came with the original mini lites as well as the wheels shown above. We reckon the new wheels make it look a bit more tough! After a drive back up north to edinburgh i'm pretty confident that the we'll have no problems driving her to northern italy and back......

Why we can't use the Ginger Minster

The ginger minster is a 1986 mini city thats been around the block a few times. About 12 years ago i thought i knew a bit about minis so purchased the wee devil from a dodgy 2nd hand car dealer on the south side of glasgow. I managed to check all the normal bad mini spots but managed to miss the catastrophic problems. A new shell, paint job and many burst knuckles later she was on the road.


Unfortunately that was many moons ago and since i was a student at the time it was done on the cheap. 3 engines later, loads of help from the AA and some not so useful assistance from the Scottish elements has left 'da boys' in some serious need of some new metal!


Some evidence below: