Here's the place to chat about all things classic. Also includes a feedback forum where you can communicate directly with the editorial team - don't hold back, they'd love to know what they're doing right (or wrong of course!)
rich. wrote:ive been looking for a cord for you & most mini people stare at me blankly when i ask if they have heard of one...
Yeah, I get that a lot too! I'll post the pictures again but he looks like (and indeed is) a mini, so people ask what's so special about him and point out the quantity of UK-based steel ones on eBay at any point in time.
Here's the car, one point for every one of the obvious visual differences spotted:
That's one of those little differences. The shell is moulded in larger sections than the panels of a regular mini, so there are no seams at the points where they'd be on a steel shell. It all helps to make the GRP shell of the Cord not only stiffer in torsion but much better at impact resistance than a steel shell, not that I'm planning to bend the bugger if I ever get mine home.
J "Home is where you park it", so the saying goes. That may yet come true..
On top of the seams Rich mentions there are not too many visual differences I can see...... I think there are a couple of ribs along the roofs length, obvious lack of A panels (but that comes with the deseaming), integral moulded arches and a difference in sills. There is a difference also in the door size / shape and b posts but I think that was a clubman thing on the classic mini ?
I like the way you think! Saying that, if they didn't do a standard height shell, I'd be stuffed because there's no way I can get into or out of a Sprint. I had a hurl in a genuine, 1960s all-steel Sprint back in the '80s when I was still largely mobile and had the greatest of difficulty getting myself into it and out, though the bit between was hugely enjoyable.
J "Home is where you park it", so the saying goes. That may yet come true..
Bloody hell Rich, its France you're in, not outer mongolia, thought we had it rough up here with the crappy interweb 