Cars like this 1973 Mini 1000 started it all. Essentially every front-wheel-drive compact car that followed duplicated the Mini's groundbreaking design, although very few, including its modern namesake, have ever managed to duplicate its combination of endearing personality and go-cart-like handling.

Restored as needed over its life, this beautiful gold Mini is instantly recognizable anywhere it goes. And while you may think the current Mini is small, this one is positively tiny, which is the whole point. Similar to other British makes, Minis can rust in the most demonic ways possible, but this one seems remarkably solid and rust-free, and likely has always been so. The doors fit nicely, the hood gaps are tight, and the trunk seals up nicely, all suggesting a high-quality car that has always been properly cared for. New rubber seals were used throughout, and the slender chrome bumpers fore and aft look great, particularly up front where there's a set of driving lights mounted. I think you'll find that when you see this car in person, you'll have a hard time resisting it, which is all part of its charm.

Inside, the diminutive external dimensions are stretched to their limits in every dimension, resulting in a surprisingly comfortable passenger compartment, particularly for front seat occupants. Sturdy black vinyl forms the foundation of the utilitarian upholstery, but neatly fitted carpets and matching door panels soften the look and offer reasonable levels of noise and heat insulation. The steering wheel is, of course, on the right side thanks to its British origins, but British Leyland knew they were building a world car, so they cleverly mounted the gauges in the center of the dash. A 4-speed manual transmission sticks up directly from the transmission tunnel and offers decent action and positive gear selection. In back, two passengers will be perfectly happy for a cross-town jaunt, but if you're going farther than a few miles, it's best used for storage, although the trunk itself is surprisingly roomy.

The 1000 in the Mini 1000 name refers to the 998 cc engine, which was punched out to 1275 cc during the rebuild just 3000 miles ago. Ever since their debut, gearheads have been squeezing more performance out of the diminutive Mini's various engines, because the unique chassis with its conical rubber springs practically begged for more horsepower. There's also a new heavy-duty radiator to cope with the added displacement. The suspension offers a reasonable compromise between ride and handling, with the conical springs offering a modest amount of damping, so the shocks themselves don't need to be stiff to do a good job. The low center of gravity combined with having the wheels pushed out to the very corners of the body give it instantaneous reflexes, a feeling enhanced by the Minilite wheels (the original wheels and hubcaps are included) and relatively fat 165/70/10 radials. Yes, those are 10-inch wheels!

Minis are beloved for many reasons, but perhaps most of all for their combination of utility and performance. Call today!

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