I have every invoice from any work that has been done to the car since it was driven off the lot in England in 1984. I purchased Trogdor when he had 93000 original miles, and I gutted him and redid everything. New carpet from Europe, new seats, I changed the panels of the interior to wood (the previous owner had put some ugly aluminum paneling in there)
I painted the car with Nason paint (part of the DuPont Family), however I did have a few runs in the paint. The driver's door could use a repaint someday. I tried repainting it and failed a second time, so gave up!
After the cosmetics, I did extensive research, and after a lot of study I did an engine swap to the Suzuki G-10 engine, (out of a 1993 Geo Metro). It's an amazing 3 cylinder engine that weighs about half the weight of the original engine, (maybe it weighs like 50 pounds!) and so it actually has more power than the original engine, but also has INSANE gas mileage - I haven't measured it, but they say its around 70mpg.
This is one of three Minis in the world with the G-10 engine swap.
After the engine, I pretty much changed everything in the car. The only part I didn't change was the back half of the exhaust pipe. The car is basically new - and it's sweet. And I didn't go cheap on any of the parts. I've only put the best into this little fella.
Planning on making the car pass smog tests in California, I also included the catalytic converter and charcoal box in the upgrades I did to the engine. So you have a modern fuel injection engine with emissions control in a 1983 classic car.
After much thought, I decided to leave the steering wheel on the right hand side. I could have very easily changed it, but the car is so small it makes little difference which side you sit on, as far as traffic goes, and it certainly makes a lot of people admire the car as they see you get in to the wrong side and drive away.
I've had many a crowd huddle around the car and take pictures. It's amazing how many people love the car!
It is also one of the few Minis in the US that has an original soft top. Call it what you may, convertible or sun roof, but it is cloth, it goes the extent of the roof, and it is electric.
Here is an extensive (yet not complete) list of all the parts I changed on the car:
- Paint, carpet, walnut interior.
- New Bride racing seats. (They have gotten a little dirty)
- New Original Mayfair decals
- Fog lights
- New door and window seals
- Sony XDP-PK1000 iPhone stereo system with subwoofer (valued at $1000) - you plug your phone in and it becomes the radio. Or you can use an iPod too.
- 8 (eight) Polk Audio speakers. This is how it went: I went to the car audio place, asked the guy which were his best speakers. He suggested Polk. So I said: "Give me eight of them. I want this little car to be like sitting inside a speaker!!"
- Door pockets to fit two of the speakers
- new chrome bumpers
- new blue (soft, or "street") coil suspension
- Suzuki to Mini Conversion Subframe
- G-10 Suzuki 3 cyl. Fuel injection engine
- inner and outer CV boots etc.
- I had new drive shafts made by the most recommended drive shaft company in the Tampa area
- new dolphin gauge set - I figured that a new car merited new gauges! The only problem is that I haven't gotten the gas gauge to work right yet.
- water heater valve so that the interior heating will still work with the G-10 swap
- new gear shift knob with the original Mayfair logo for this car
- stainless clutch line
- electric radiator fan
- new clutch master cylinder and new slave cylinder
- new front brake lines (rear is fine)
- all new hardware for front suspension - tie rod ends, push rod ends, bla bla bla..
- short shift shifter (G-10 one was too long for my liking)
- EFI 500HP electric fuel pump
- new gear shifter mount
- radiator overflow tank
- new horn
- new alternator
- catalytic converter
- a different grille - I didn't like the homemade one that was on the car when I bought it
- wiper motor. The previous owner had disconnected the wiper system.
- I also purchased a washer fluid tank but haven't found where to mount it in the engine compartment (little room!) but I will include it with the car for whoever purchases Trogdor.
- I also bought a second fuel pump which I will also give the winner if he or she wants it. (It's a little quieter than the one on the car right now.)
- high performance red spark plug wires
- radiator hoses
- all hoses are new - air, gas, coolant..
- all new sensors for the engine
- new wood steering wheel with the Mayfair logo (Actually it's the Austin logo they were using in 1983 for the Mayfair). I also have the original steering wheel in another auction but if the car sells first I'll give you the original steering wheel too.
- Airaid air filter and air intake kit
- sump guard, to protect the engine as it sits pretty low.
- new side mirrors
- new Euro headlights. Just to give it a newer front feel
- I had the alignment adjusted to be sure the suspension etc is ok
- new battery
- new Koni shock absorbers with lifetime warrantee. The guy I bought them from asked me why I didn't want the cheapest and I responded: "You don't understand!"
- I used stainless steel most of the time when replacing bolts. I must have spent well over $400 on bolts and nuts alone.
These are the things I can think of. I replaced so much more!!! It got to a point where I had purchased absolutely everything that I could find available that was compatible with this car.
With the car I will also include a magazine that it was featured in, in a former life when it was painted white with flowers, and all of the receipts for work done on the car since it was new (except a few that I forgot to save), and also some other literature of interest, like original owner's manual, etc.
For those who have not had a Mini before, do a google search on Mini parts. You'll find that they are all available, to the smallest bolt. And for the engine parts like spark plugs or whatever, just go to the parts store and ask for parts from a 1993 Geo Metro. Not that you'll need parts - there's nothing wrong with this car.
Phew! Long listing! Most of the photos were taken before I put the Euro lights and new side mirrors on, a couple weeks ago. One photo has the Euro lights and mirrors on it.
Feel free to make an offer, however no low-ball offers please. Truth is I'm not THAT interested in selling Trogdor. It's a nice car, I don't need to sell him, and I'm not sure why I am making this listing to be honest!
Mini Classic Mini for Sale
Auto Services in Florida
Auto Repair & Service
Address: 1430 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Spring-Hill
Phone: (352) 796-3791
Auto Repair & Service, Auto Oil & Lube, Automobile Electric Service
Address: 3400 N Highway 1 (US 1), Cocoa
Phone: (321) 632-3175
Used Car Dealers
Address: 900 State St, Miami-Gardens
Phone: (954) 967-6988
Auto Repair & Service, Auto Oil & Lube, Automotive Tune Up Service
Address: 12890 W Colonial Dr, Oakland
Phone: (321) 236-5680
Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Parts & Supplies, Windshield Repair
Address: Pembroke-Park
Phone: (954) 447-0031
Auto Repair & Service, Brake Repair
Address: 2572 Tamiami Trl, Port-Charlotte
Phone: (941) 764-9815
Auto blog
Wed, 18 Jun 2014
BMW is planning a fairly extensive overhaul in a bid to recoup some its annual costs, with CEO Norbert Reithofer (pictured above) aiming to save three to four billion euro ($4 to $5.4 billion) per year to help keep the company's profit margins between eight and 10 percent, while also maintaining investments in production expansion and new tech. BMW's profit margins sat at 9.4 percent in 2013.
According to Automotive News Europe, Reithofer is none too pleased about costs at Mini and on the 1 Series, although neither AN nor its source story, from Germany's Manager Magazin, elaborate on what steps could be taken to improve losses on either project. That makes it hard to figure out just where the fat will be trimmed from.
What may happen, though, is that BMW attempts to trim 100 million euros ($135 million) from its German labor costs each year; a solution hinted at a few weeks ago by Germany newspaper Muenchner Merkur. While a dramatic cost reduction, 100 million euros still doesn't begin to even approach the savings envisioned by Reithofer.
Mon, 17 Feb 2014
Mini likes to make a big hullabaloo about the number of ways its cars can be configured, which currently stands at 10 million. While that figure is impressive, the BMW-owned brand is always looking for new and unique design variations, a trend that has seen a number of special-edition Minis pop up over the years boasting unique color and trim items.
For the new, third-generation F56 Mini, the British brand is at it again. Only this time, the cars are designed and chosen by Mini's fans in a new contest. Called "The New Originals," Mini teamed its 10 Final Test Test Drive winners with an illustrator to design their perfect Mini, one of which will become the next special-edition model.
The ten cars are currently being voted on by the brand's fans on the Mini USA website, with the winner set to be announced at the 2014 New York Auto Show in April. A total of 56 examples of the winning entry will then be put on sale, making this one of the most limited of Mini's many limited editions. Voting closes on February 19, so hop over to the page and vote for your favorite.
Tue, May 5 2015
BMW may not race in F1 any longer, and it doesn't compete with Audi and Porsche in the LMP1 class at Le Mans. It even shut down Mini's short-lived effort on the World Rally Championship. But that doesn't mean it doesn't race at all. In fact it's the current reigning champion both in DTM and at Dakar. So to highlight its varied motorsport programs, the German automaker had two of its top drivers swap rides. German driver Martin Tomczyk, who won the DTM title in 2011 and now drives for BMW, took to Nasser Al-Attiyah's Mini All4Racing Countryman on the sand dunes of Dubai. Meanwhile the Qatari driver, who has won the Dakar Rally two times now, took to the wheel of Tomczyk's BMW M4 DTM around Oschersleben in Germany. They even repeated the game of musical chairs at Hockenheim over the weekend. If anything, the promo clip shot by Red Bull just goes to show how different the varied racing machinery can be, and the challenges posed to racing drivers switching between disciplines. But lessons aside, it's a cool clip, so check it out above. Two champions swap cockpits: Martin Tomczyk drives the MINI ALL4 Racing, Nasser Al-Attiyah the BMW M4 DTM. Munich (DE), 1st May 2015. From asphalt to sand and back again: BMW DTM driver Martin Tomczyk (DE) and MINI ALL4 Racing ace Nasser Al-Attiyah (QA) both entered unfamiliar territory and took each other's cars for a test drive. As part of a video shoot for BMW Motorsport Premium Partner Red Bull in Dubai (AE), Tomczyk, a proven master of his trade on asphalt as the 2011 DTM Champion, took the wheel of the MINI ALL4 Racing, with which X-raid has won the famous Rally Dakar the last four years. During DTM testing in Oschersleben (DE), Al-Attiyah was given the opportunity to drive Tomczyk's BMW M Performance Parts M4 DTM. Two wins at the Rally Dakar are just some of the successes the rally driver from Qatar has had to date. He followed up his first victory in 2011 by winning in the MINI ALL4 Racing in January 2015. "Driving the MINI ALL4 Racing through the sand and over the dunes in Dubai was a fascinating experience and was so much fun," said Tomczyk. "The car has an incredible amount of torwue – and the test in the dunes was an amazing adrenalin rush even for an experienced race driver such as myself. It's totally different to driving on a circuit.
1971 austin mini cooper works rally tribute
1980 austin mini cooper 998
Completely devoid of german parts
Classic 1970 mini pickup
Austin mini cooper s no reserve mk1
1975 mini, 1977 mini, import mini, set of 5 mini's, classic mini