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
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Tue, Feb 2 2016
Everyone seems to have an opinion about what kind of car a Mini is, and what it says about its driver. For many, it seems, buying one is as much a fashion statement and lifestyle choice as it is anything else. And Mini is out to face those notions head-on in its latest Super Bowl ad. Set to air during the third quarter of the big game on the 7th, the spot brings in a star-studded list of celebrities. Tennis great Serena Williams, soccer player Abby Wambach, hip-hop star T-Pain, major-league pitcher Randy Johnson, skateboard legend Tony Hawk, and actor Harvey Keitel all feature in the 30-second spot dubbed "Defy Labels." The ad was produced by Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners and shines a spotlight on the new Mini Clubman. But you don't have to wait until Sunday to see it: you can watch it right here, and scope out the additional behind-the-scenes video below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. MINI DECLARES DEFIANCE IN STAR-STUDDED GAME DAY AD Woodcliff Lake, NJ – February 1, 2016... As more than 100 million viewers around the world prepare to tune into the big game on February 7, MINI USA is unveiling its star-studded 30-second spot today, set to air in the third quarter of the year's biggest night in television advertising. The ad, created by Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners (BSSP), embraces many of the labels the brand has experienced over the years with a very powerful message: it doesn't care what you call it. "Defy Labels," has its roots in the fact that everyone and everything is labeled but how you handle those labels is what matters. With defiance at its core, the campaign inspires people to shed the labels society has placed upon them and instead define themselves. "Ever since the first Mini was built in 1959, it has been labeled as one thing or another. It's small. It's cute," said Tom Noble, department head, MINI Brand Communications. "This campaign acknowledges those labels in a very authentic way while simultaneously showing people MINI is more than that. With the launch of the new Clubman, our brand is growing up, our products are more sophisticated, and its time to reset the conversation." The brand worked with an ensemble cast of athletes and celebrities to help start that conversation.
Sun, 25 May 2014
Remember a couple of years ago when Tony Hawk jumped over a Lexus LFA on his skateboard? Well that was nothing compared to what he's done here.
Sure the LFA is a more impressive car than a Mini hatchback, but that Japanese supercar was sitting still when the world's most famous skater jumped over it. And it was parked sideways. This time Tony's jumped a moving car, front to back. It gets even more impressive than that when you see what happens to the ramp after he's done with it, but we don't want to ruin the surprise.
The stunt was performed in celebration of the partnership between Mini USA and Hawk's Birdhouse Skateboards Tour, details of which you can read in the press release under the video below.
Fri, Jun 21 2024
While we get new and updated car models every year, its inevitable that we'll need to say goodbye to some nameplates as well. This time around, it feels like we have confirmation or reports of an unusually large number of vehicles being discontinued in 2024 and the coming years. We shouldn't be surprised. A large number of automakers are approaching their various target dates for electrification of their fleets. As such, some beloved internal combustion cars are going away, sometimes with appropriate fanfare like special editions. Others are slinking away quietly, killed by slowing sales and changing consumer trends. Of course, the end of production doesn't necessarily mean permanent death. Some of these models could be resurrected in later years ... and probably as an EV. With that in mind, here are the vehicles that are being discontinued in 2024 and beyond.  Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and Stelvio Quadrifoglio Alfa Romeo ended the production of its combustion-only Quadrifoglio models in April 2024 as the Italian automaker moves toward an electrified future. This isn't the end of the Quadrifoglio entirely, though, with Larry Dominique, Alfa Romeo senior vice president and head of North America, writing, "I look forward to presenting the next chapter in the four-leaf clover’s journey."  Chevrolet Camaro GM is ending production of the Chevy Camaro after 2024, but is sending it off in style with a CollectorÂ’s Edition. WouldnÂ’t it be cool, though, if Chevy brought it back as an EV?  Chevrolet Malibu Rumors of its demise have been around for a while, but now itÂ’s official. GM will end production of the Chevy Malibu in November of 2024. The assembly line in Kansas will be retooled to build the replacement for the Chevy Bolt.  Dodge Durango The three-row Durango is slated to be replaced by the Stealth nameplate after 2024. The Durango name could make a comeback later, according to rumors, on a body-on frame SUV based on the Jeep WagoneerÂ’s platform.  Ford Edge This is the last year for the Edge in the U.S., with the final unit rolling off the assembly line in April. On sale since 2007, the Edge topped 100,000 sales in all but three full years of production.  Ford Escape Newly refreshed for the 2023 model year, FordÂ’s popular Escape compact SUV is reportedly taking its leave in 2025 in order to usher in — you guessed it — an EV in its place.