1965 Morris Mini Minor - Jay Leno's Garage

Steve Nelson bought this Morris Mini Minor at 17 years-old, and now, 40 years later, that original charm shines again thanks to Graham Reid and his team at Heritage Garage.
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1965 Morris Mini Minor - Jay Leno's Garage
• 1965 Morris Mini Minor...
Jay Leno's Garage
/ jaylenosgarage

[@williamtaylor8728]

I'm a Briton and my very first car was a new Morris Mini Minor. I bought it in May 1962 and for a 22 year old in England at the time it was rare for such a young man to have a car, never mind a new one. It cost £492, 14 shillings and 6 pence I saved almost every penny I earned as an apprentice electrical engineer. My dad added some money and I took out a loan of £8 a month for 3 years. It was the love of my life and seeing this one today brought tears to my eyes. I wish I had my car now, it was tartan red.

[@TheGeezzer]

Wonderful memory you have there and even remembering the price. My father tooled up to make the tools that made the car at one of the plants, Castle Bromwich I believe. Glad that you loved Issigonis's vision.

[@PaulSimon2003]

I love youre story man. Only love 🥹

[@nodak81]

My first car was a free gift. Of course it was also a complete basket case that needed constant repairs just to keep it on the road. 1983 Chevy Monte Carlo. I kind of wish I had it back now that I can afford to actually do something with it. Back then though I had no job and was going to tech school and she got me there every day. Well, nearly every day. lol

[@vampirewolfboi]

Wow,great job

[@GustavoTomilhero]

That's why I don't accept offers to buy my Beetle here in Brazil. Whenever someone tells me how sorry they are for selling their classic car, I think, "I'll never have that."

[@frglee]

As a Brit, it really warms my heart to see these cars on American roads, and to know they are loved and cherished.

[@SnakeyUk08]

+1 :)

[@cobracharmer6178]

frglee ; I'm a 60yr old yank in Maryland. When I was a kid, my friends and I would get on our bikes and pedal ourselves over to the Jaguar dealer to check out the new models. XKE was really cool. Looking forward to visiting England. Wife and I were in France in 2012 to pick up our daughter who had just completed a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS. Saw a couple of Mustangs. 65 coupe V-8 and 69 convertible. I love it when I see you blokes (is that a bad word?) and our German cousins pull out American iron at their local car shows on youtube. Cheers mate!

[@cobracharmer6178]

frglee ; I learned about the Mini on a "Mr Bean" Show. Ever see the episode where Mr. Bean goes into a building and comes out later to find his little Mini run over by a British armor personnel tank? (don't remember the name of the episode) I was just as heart broken as Mr. Bean. :(

[@bighands69]

It was the labour British government that destroyed the car industry by nationalizing it so as to suit the unions.

[@SgtSteel1]

+bighands69 Yes. Sad but true.

[@VitalityMassage]

The best thing about Jay is that he's like a regular guy.

[@justel4835]

He is a regular Guy. Like every guy. One the Bankacount is different.

[@albertseabra9226]

Yeah, it takes sophistication and a lot of class to sound like a "regular guy"

[@tots16]

This has to be the most down to earth interview I’ve ever seen. Literally just your average man and how he maintains a classic car.

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Jay is the best

[@anthonyblore1651]

Agreed. A joy to watch.

[@danieljones1861]

I think the reason for that is because it is also a really down to earth car. In more ways than one.

[@michaelgregoirejr688]

Y5t5tt55 you get yt5tttt5ty66tt5t55t5t555t55t555

[@michaelgregoirejr688]

Y5t5tt55 you get yt5tttt5ty66tt5t55t5t555t55t555

[@mechanical_rizz]

Steve's a work friend of my dad's and by extension mine. A really nice genuine guy who knows so much and somehow manages not to sound condescending. He told me how awesome Jay was and how great his day was at his shop. Apparently made him feel at home and gave him as much time to play in his shop as he wanted. What a nice man Jay is for sharing all this.

[@Shadowfax-1980]

I always wondered if the guys Jay invites get to also have a tour of the shop.

[@grizzlygrizzle]

Jay was also nicer to his guests on TV than most hosts, even when they were difficult, awkward, or nervous guests. Craig Ferguson was very much like Jay in this regard.

[@onthemarketblog6444]

Royalty had them ? you mean the saxe coburg gotha dynasty , royalty is just made up like their titles as they live in palaces , charity is voluntary subservience to monarchism is not democracy, god bless america ..

[@cardude5323]

@@onthemarketblog6444 as made up as God...

[@lisakaz35]

Doug DeMuro said something similar (he profiled Jay's F1 but Jay drove the car, given its current value). Doug made a separate video on the background of making his segment.

[@jimrod307]

"These are the sorts of roads this car was made for..." whilst driving on a straight 100ft wide equivalent of a UK motorway (highway), nah Jay, you should try them on a real 15ft wide (both lanes combined) twisty UK B-Road! That's where they really shine - full speed ease on roads a modern Ferrari would struggle with.

[@dorientjewoller113]

Or drive it on the pavement, as I do sometimes with my Classic Mini Cooper.

[@dcan911]

I think they dubbed that voiceover on the wrong shot, if you look at the scenery on the next shot...

[@triplem9805]

Those were exactly my thoughts - in fact, I scrolled to the comments to say so! But you were there first. The only car I've driven that came close to a Mini for fun on the twisties was a Peugeot 205GTi.

[@bernlin2000]

I've heard, though, it has a suspension that would let you feel tiny pebbles on the road, so I hope they're cleared off well XD

[@triplem9805]

@@bernlin2000 Yes - Minis were the motoring equivalent of the fairy story about the Princess and the Pea!

[@mikemarlin7731]

Jay, you made Steve feel like a King. This was a special day he will always remember, thanks for doing what you do.

[@raneenelson5180]

Sound like you know Steve....

[@Jimmy_Watt]

@@raneenelson5180 Sounds like he's just a nice guy.

[@ericgeorge5483]

Definitely the most iconic car we Brits made. Originals go for huge money now and I rarely see one.

[@ianlowden6168]

I love it how Jay takes great interest in not only supercars but superminis too. The car looks like it has just rolled off the production line. Beautiful. Another great episode.

[@CommodoreFan64]

In fact it looks better than production with the minor upgrades.

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

Better than factory.

[@harryballzack]

ian lowden when this show ended YT autoplayed 2018 Koenigsegg Regera. Yup not odd at all! Just showing interesting cars!

[@3PercentNeanderhal]

Id enjoy an episode or two on an Aussie muscle car like a restored Falcon XB. If he can do an episode on AMC Levi edition Gremlins......

[@frglee]

If you are very wealthy, now you can have a new handbuilt Mini off the 'production line'...www.davidbrownautomotive.com/news/mini-remastered-david-brown-automotive-launched-today-shoreditch-london/

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Anyone who drives a Mini always comes out with a smile on their face. Great car. Cheers.

[@ricardomierz8467]

Yeah, the smile on their face is when they make it home without being covers in oily dirt when it fails on the way home.

[@Hai_da]

@@ricardomierz8467 had a mini 3 years and it's never broke down once, you're talking rubbish.

[@citronr1]

I loved this particular show featuring that spectacularly restored 1965 Morris Mini Minor. Please pass my compliments and thank you's to Steve Nelson, not only for staying with the project to its completion but for choosing the color Clipper Blue as his color. That was the color of my very first new Mini. I bought my first brand new Austin Mini Deluxe Saloon for $1250 Canadian in 1966 right across the Detroit River from my hometown, Detroit, at the British Motors dealer in Windsor, Ontario. I've had another mini since, notably a 1970 Innocenti Mini Cooper III I bought here in Italy where we have lived since the 80s. Great car ... but as Steve knows ... the first version of your most special cars always hold a special place in your heart. You always remember everything, every detail about the very first one of those most extraordinary cars you were lucky enough to get your hands on. You never forget the first impressions, the first sensations no matter what comes after. The way it looked on that first encounter, how it sounded, how it smelled, how it took that first curve, How it started. How it stopped. How you worried over every little scratch or dent. How it felt let it go ... if you ever did. I'll never forget how much fun I had the first ...and every time ... I tossed that Mini into a corner. The only really obvious external difference between my Mini and Mr Nelson’s Mini was the wavy Austin grille. Watching you drive what appeared to my very first Mini back on the road …THAT was a special thrill for me. Thanks again. I watched that show twice. I'll be back.

[@raneenelson5180]

I love this car too.

[@stevenelson2461]

Thank you, the whole project and result stills seems like a dream come true.

[@rogerphillips1679]

You can tell that Jay really loves this little car.

[@bwinmaine]

This is nostalgia for me. My Air Force roommate in Fort Worth back in 1969 had a Cooper S this same color. He'd race it some weekends on courses laid out with pylons in a large parking lot and bring home the trophy despite racing against the supercars of the day. I still remember the sideways g-forces I would feel riding with him on the cloverleaf exit ramp just outside the Carswell AFB main gate. I was transferred to Upper Heyford, England in 1970 and immediately went to Oxford to buy a 1966 Mini 850, same color scheme as this one but completely stock, that I drove for a year and a half. Many fond memories! Like the time I stuffed my Mini full of guys well after midnight after a party - my story always had the number at 8 guys! - and got stopped by the police in some small town I'd never been in before and the cop let us go! I do remember getting it up to 80 on the motorway to London but there must have been a tailwind. This was the only car I ever had that I could drive routinely with the gas pedal pressed hard against the floor. It was the stock suspension that made this car so unusual. Hit a bump and the whole car seemed to lurch up. Take a sharp corner and there was almost no body roll. Amazingly fun to drive even with the tiny 850 cc engine.

[@misterthegeoff9767]

My first car was a 1982 Leyland Mini 998. I also once had 8 people in the car and got pulled over by the police. I think it's a Mini owners' rite of passage. As everyone unfolded themselves from the car the cops were laughing so hard they let me off with just a stern talking to. Even though that car was a mess of rust and bad wiring and drank a pint of oil for every tank of petrol I still miss it. You could do any job on the whole car with just a set of imperial spanners and a Phillips screwdriver.

[@SgtSteel1]

+Bill Walden Fascinating story. I remember as a young child, being in a Mini 850 in England on this one particular trip, probably in the late seventies; my dad was driving, my mum was in the passenger seat (obviously) and my sister and I were in the back seats. A rain storm hit us and the window wipers could not keep up! but we kept going through it and got to the Cotswolds just fine. It's weird, because for a pathetic 850cc engine, it took all 4 of us and our luggage for whole the weekend there and back and it just felt great. That car was around for years until my father upgraded to a Vauxhall Cavalier in about 1986.

[@nickmageebrown1981]

Yep it is a POS. BMW mini is much better.

[@timhancock6626]

@@nickmageebrown1981 There is one problem with the BMW mini. It's anything but mini in size. It's just a brand name for an ugly car.

[@vincentras2545]

nickmageebrown1981, maybe better but half the fun

[@risingembersgaming7740]

This is why I’m subscribed to Jay One week it’s a Bugatti, next week a mini

[@brokenacoustic]

I'd rather have the Mini! If you like Minis, be sure to check out Project Binky here on youtube, you wont regret it!

[@ricardomierz8467]

@@tigercat418 I always wondered what causes homosexuality, now thanks to tiger cat we all know, its when a guy gets pregnant and has a immune reaction to the pregnancy and immediatly becomes gay... Briliant!

[@natasmedia]

@Random Stuffs throw out front seats 😉

[@celt67]

@Random Stuffs About 4 miles from where I live in Scotland, there were two brothers back in the 1970s...George and Hugh Gracie... and at the time, they were the two tallest people in Britain. George was 7ft 3 inches,,,and Hugh was about 1 inch shorter.... They both (for some marketing reasons) were given Minis... they had to rip out the front seats and sit in the back. Here's a picture of George with his car. stuartfrew.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/image.png

[@jquest43]

Random Stuffs sunroof

[@ME-hr8dl]

Fantastic restoration, as an Englishman it's always great to see one of our classics alive and kicking in the US. A beautiful little motor.

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

:)

[@roygardiner2229]

I was there in England in the Sixties, when it was all happening. My best mate in Liverpool had a red B-reg bog standard mini (like the restored one featured in the video) and the colourful, nocturnal adventures we got up to in it are too torrid to relate here. Jay Leno was absolutely spot on when he observed that the sensation of speed in the mini was more important than the real speed. The car cornered fantastically well, too. Thanks for rekindling very fond memories of a fantastic era!

[@Dude0000]

Roy Gardiner same with my brothers 1.2litre bog standard red death trap. Not a cooper, just the power without the offsets like brakes, wheels, tyres, and servicing lol. 1993 or 94 tho.

[@chopschat8415]

Parked up on Crosby beach?lol

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

:)

[@kanethompson708]

👍

[@rafaelmartinvannostrand2084]

one of the greatest cars of all time

[@WelcomeToTheMadness]

Seeing grown gentlemen coming out of these in Jamaica was always entertaining when I was a child.

[@keon5779]

I see you comment everywhere!

[@daryushdehnavi]

adam lz, doug demuro, b is for build to name a few... i see you everywhere too. i suppose we have similar tastes

[@daftbence]

@@daryushdehnavi It's more like gotta advertise his channel and where to do it if not on other car channels? I kinda hate these spammers, but I get it, you have to hustle to grow and at least it's not just spamming "please sub to me"

[@craiggardner1750]

Are you a clown or do you just see clowns coming out of these?

[@justicefireeatingdiscopand6989]

Ever know you wer from Jamaica thats cool as hell

[@rickylexy]

“The sensation of speed is much funner than speed itself.” That’s so true.

[@Aaronkt]

My father (a Scottish immigrant) drove a mini that he bought new across Australia from Melbourne to Perth back in the 60's , unfortunately the car didn't survive the journey (he hit a rock damaging the sump) but he did and met my mother.

[@jamesbyun8571]

Got one of these myself. A MKIII Cooper S. Owned it for 16 years and I’m never getting rid of it.

[@junonbaptiste8526]

I have nothing but respect for you Steve! You have to be a real car-person to get why he restored this thing when it was so far gone. I still have my first car from high school and I will NEVER let it go! I always liked these old-school Minis'. They're like go karts on steroids! (Restoration Blog soon Jay!)

[@packrcch]

I still have my first car also. I have struggled financially to keep it and don’t think that I would be mentally ok if I lost it. it means that much to me. not really sure why...

[@leemil]

I'm from Bournemouth so to find an American that can actually pronounce the name correctly is astonishing. Bournemouth is on the South Coast so it is one of the sunnier parts of the UK.

[@johnfrew2798]

USA rules the world sorry england

[@johnfrew2798]

Millwall or nothing

[@imapaine-diaz4451]

I'm 6'2 and my wife is 5"11. We traveled all over england in one of these! It was an interesting experience!

[@amfoy5919]

I'm 6'5" and I daily one of these things. Probably not the best idea since I've ruined the headlining by going over bumps but it's surprisingly practical. I find with any car that if you want to fit, you'll make it work; if you don't want to fit, you won't.

[@jimjonrs3932]

Did it have a sunroof?

[@tomfairall9009]

we once had five 6 foot plus guys in my mates one

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Awesome!

[@Anonymous-wq1rf]

Leaving the works carpark in 1970 my passenger said "Stop, stop, stop"! He wanted to see how Jim McMurdo, at least 6'6" tall, managed to get into his Austin Mini. I am sure he had the modification installed that allowed the driver's seat to move much further back, reducing rear leg room from minimal to zero.

[@jomaoliveira7949]

Don't understand why Mr. Leno doesn't have a car as relevant as this one in his collection... It was a milestone in compact cars!

[@frglee]

Agreed, this was a revolutionary and highly influentual car. Would make a very interesting 'restoration to stock' project car for Jay and his engineers as well.

[@harbourwoodlandvisitor2445]

Just driving down the road in the 90s in this tiny mini with evey one looking at us with a smile on there faces because I had 3 passengers who where almost the same size of the car inside. It was funny because the way you could fit very big people into such a small space.

[@rolandsuch]

Brings back memories of Paddy Hopkirk and Pat Moss / Carlsson!

[@simonchaddock4274]

There is one aspect of the original 850 Mini that often gets over looked. It went round corners as well as and in many cases rather better than most sports cars of the period! Couple that with a 'true' gas mileage approaching 40 mpg and it was a young mans dream. All this and it could carry 4 adults or even more students! In 1969 2 of us gave a lift to 4 girls that had missed the last bus from a dance. They insisted there was "safety in numbers" so a 50 mile journey in an 850 Mini with 3 girls in the back and one on my mates lap in the front. You can't do that sort of thing today!

[@grandy2875]

Simon, do you remember the "car stacks" where you tried to as many people in the car as possible? When I was a teenager, the young bloke across the road from us has a mini. We would all try to stack into it for fun. One time we had 13 in the mini, then we decided to go roller-skating...it was about a 13km round trip, over a mountain road...we had a ball in that little car. I ended up buying one myself and as a family, we had 4 of them over the years, including a fully automatic, which was pretty rare in Oz in those days...ahh memories :))

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Truly!

[@davidjones332]

@@grandy2875 It is believed that the record was 24 people in one Mini!

[@51WCDodge]

And you , very unhappy, as you had to drive and keep both hands on the wheel? :-)

[@geoffreyrobson4745]

Yes you can fit 7 passengers plus driver into a Mini although it does get a little tail happy!

[@MJ_Smoff]

I'm 20 now and when I was five we had a 1963 Morris 997 mc, it was osman green with a cream top. twin carb and ran on "AV gas" (aviation fuel) I loved the smell of it and only one guy who was 70+ knew how to tune carbs for AV gas. We sold it before we went to Australia and now that im back home in NZ I've now found out its still here in my home town in a local car show every year and i want to go see it. I could not click on this vid fast enough, brings back memories.

[@tigercat418]

Are you low carb

[@racerxyz8833]

OSMAN was Osama Bin Laden's last name when he was in the U.S., his full name was Tim Osman while he was here.

[@Soulvex]

all the minis I've owned and i never knew they did a 997, all mine were 998.

[@johndavey72]

Hi Michael, it's almond green with a old English white roof. My father had the very first Morris mini Cooper in 1961. ( in england) in those colours . Cheers.

[@johnburns4017]

Michael Semenoff A 1963 Mini with a 997cc engine was a Cooper.

[@CalvinHikes]

I got hit by a Morris Minor once. I had to go to the hospital to have it removed.

[@walterpalmer2749]

Clever ... got wit.

[@ianworley8169]

But for the fact that the Morris Minor is a completely different car. This is a Morris Mini....

[@marcryvon]

LOL !

[@ronanrogers4127]

Ian Worley ...indeed, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t hit by a Morris Minor

[@knightowl3577]

@@ianworley8169 They were originally called the Morris Mini Minor.

[@philgallagher1]

What a nostalgia rush! I'm English and have spent my whole 56 years in Liverpool. During the late '60s - mid '70s my dad had a number of Minis. We had an 850 and a Clubman (with the dodgy sills and rotten wood!). They took us all over the UK for many happy family holidays and my sister and I loved it! My favourite scary story my dad told us was that on his way to work one morning he went to change gear and the stick just came out of the floor as the transmission went the other way - through the floor!! (Yes - I can confirm that Minis were indeed susceptible to rust, but the engines were so simple that they rarely failed & when they did they were easy to work on). THANKS FOR THE REMINDER OF HAPPY DAYS!!

[@jennydonne8946]

This Mini comes from same town as me, the registration is a Bournemouth registration too, the LJ from the DLJ is a Bournemouth mark. So lovely to see. Greetings from Bournemouth

[@arrangrant4614]

Greetings from Bournemouth as we’re a seaside town the salt in air wouldn’t have helped the rust situation 🙂🙂🙂🙂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Exactly, as I once lived in Poole, and everything old was rusted there too...

[@englishhatter8805]

Same

[@rogbrown1458]

@@davidhollenshead4892 u used to live in Ringwood and bought a 997 cooper from e a w Davis in 1965. Rog.

[@ratty383]

As many people have said in these comments, the sound of this Mini is very much part of the soundtrack of my youth. These were everywhere, my Teachers, neighbours, family and later on my mates had shed loads of these and they were the go to car when you got your driving licence. Great little cars, a bit iffy in the wet with the spark plugs exposed to the wet weather but awesome to drive. It’s great to see an 850 given the same love as the coopers get. Great vid.

[@user-sy5yw2dj3k]

Jay has the enviable ability to host the most amazingly down to earth characters on his show. Why are all gearheads such happy nice people? We need more smiles for the miles.❤

[@mikebagwell8229]

I started watching JLG when I was 14, and I'm now 25. I've seen all the other YT car channels. This is still the best. It is the most interesting and educational.

[@HNPRacing]

I need one of these. I like my modern Mini, but I still want to have the real thing in my garage.

[@ldnwholesale8552]

You mean the Maxi!

[@HooptieDoodle]

I love these small cars, I too have owned a new Mini, but I think I prefer the ragtop on the old Fiat 500 - just a bit more functional and fun!

[@MichaelOZimmermannJCDECS]

HNP Racing You find very nice ones in Japan, but the prices are soaring now!!!

[@mrennick]

We bought a 998 about 18 months ago. To paraphrase Han Solo, “Its all true. All of it.” Great fun to drive and work on. Not to spend if you do it right.

[@miniac60]

I've got 2. One you can have, full disclosure, it's worse than this one was Lol

[@brapbrapbrapbrapbrapbrapbrap]

Waiting all week for my new jay leno fix while watching the old episodes

[@tabdougherty8549]

Really cool that a man could restore his very first car into his dream. A dream I think all car guy just get. Congratulations to him!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Brilliant stuff Jay - Who doesn't love a Mini Minor and what a fantastic example this is, it looks way better than any I've seen in England (and I remember them in car showrooms in my childhood). Makes me feel quite nostalgic as one of these was the first car I ever drove and my big sister had one as her first car, many a draughty, rusty, English mile was driven in that brilliant car.....seems like you really liked it too...thanks for posting as ever! Perhaps a Riley Elf next?

[@VramanNoodles]

I just like the mini because it's Mr. Bean's main.

[@chrissometimes7473]

@@VramanNoodles Of course Mr. Bean actually owned a McLaren F1 for about 18 years.

[@michaelmazowiecki9195]

I purchased my first car, a 850cc Mini, in 1969. I cost me 135 Pounds and i sold it two years later for 150! Replaced it with a 1000cc Cooper.

[@leemundoartist9932]

The classic mini engine sound. At one time you’d hear it on every street corner. Lovely.

[@thegit8698]

The mini was my first car, so much fun to drive

[@AstronomyWales]

Cymru am byth.

[@thegit8698]

@@AstronomyWales Da iawn 👍👊

[@Theforestbandit]

My brother had one and when i borrowed it .I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT . THAT WAS 40 OR MORE YEARS AGO , 40 YEARS LATER i AM STILL DRIVING MINIS, AND OWN A COOPER EXCLUSIVE. AND STILL USE MY FIRST MINI NUMBER PLATE

[@camhick1]

Currently restoring one myself in New Zealand. Great show thanks, Jay.

[@fotorabia]

My best friends Dad has a Mk1 floor start sitting for decades in a garage in Wellington...

[@bernardguynunns5658]

@@fotorabia His name isn't Hamish M... is it?

[@brotangyoust9252]

It's crazy aye, I'm 34 and remember seeing them everywhere and one could be had for $50 running with no wof or reg, now they're a 10k car in decent shape. I knew where a paddock was with a few wagons and about ten standard bodied ones complete but rusted. They all got crushed but wish I had a barn back then and knew ahead of time to save them.

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Awesome!

[@kanethompson708]

👍

[@liveatvictoria6853]

The very first time I went to the race track here, (Western Speedway---The Oldest Speedway in Western Canada) There were two Mini Austins racing, we, my little buddy Dale his Sister & Mother all sat on a big rock, had a Lunch and watched the races, the Mini's which I grew-up thinking were Bloody Ridiculous Cars, were amazing, up on two wheels around the corner where we all sat. Was so cool, (40 Plus years ago that was and stuck in my memory) One was Blue the other was Green. Just Neat Cars!! Thanks for this one Jay.

[@Soulvex]

the would easily keep up with cars 2-3 times more powerfull on some tracks, always fun to drive or watch them. we still race them at goodwood in the uk and a few there keep up with big v8's (kind of) JUST because of their cornering speeds.

[@mikeaust1698]

Back in the 70s I used to go to speedway races in Tasmania. They were dirt quarter mile tracks. The Yanks came out with there big V8 monsters with wide tyres, that were used to racing on tarmack. Our local champion drove a Mini 1100 and he beat the pants off them every race.

[@tommurphy4307]

tell us more about the big rock

[@antraxxslingshots]

My deepest of Respect for the Guy bringing HIS Car back to life...and what a cute little car it is..well worth the effort i´d say. And im also glad to see that small car does not equal small story. Such a Car can tell way more then some F50 Garage Queen. Thanks for this Video!

[@lclarkwells]

My '66 Morris Cooper S, modified with boring, balancing porting and polishing the head, bigger carbs, a nice hot cam from Team Spreen Racing in NJ (the SCCA class C winners in the very early '70s), etc, got me in more trouble than any other car of my entire life (I'm Jay's age)! With all the engine mods and some suspension mods, it was a car that few others could keep up with on the "twisties!" If I hadn't wrecked it, I'd still have it to this day. I admire Steve Nelson.

[@bradleybprentice1497]

Loved it. At 15 my best friend bought a used 66 mini in the same colour. He had is drivers license before me. We spend many hours driving around northern Ontario lake country, camping and just being a couple of stupid teenagers. I had my first ever Big Mac sitting in that mini. McD's was just making its way into Canada back then. The mini days were over one snowy Canadian night on a lonely country road. After making a visit to meet a couple of new GF's, on the way home we ended up doing a 360 in the snow and then backwards into a telephone pole. I met the rear window latch with the back of my head. I was in the front passenger seat. The next morning I woke up with no memory of the accident at all or even the new GF I had just met. Temp amnesia due to shock. Glad it was not worse. Whenever a see a mini, I get a rush of memories!

[@MsJoao101]

My dad bought one of these for my mom back in the late 80's it wasn't new, it was a 1275 GT, it was red with a white top and a little white checkered stripe on the sides, different hood and front grill, roll up windows and the dials where on top of the steering column, a little MOMO steering wheel (that was fun to park), alloy wheels, wider tires (that helped even more with parking), i learned to drive in it. My grandfather my dad and i tore it apart and put it back together so many times i lost count. I can tell you a trick we learned for the distributor cap (the engine block is the same so it's in the same place). Because it stands low to the ground it picks up a lot of water and its prone to condensation it insulates the contacts and on cold winter mornings it wouldn't start (English cars go figure), my dad had the idea of making a little hole with a 1 mm drill on the back side of it, it allowed the condensation to evaporate, it wasn't perfect but it was better, instead of not starting at all, it took a little bit of time but it eventually came to life. In 1990 i turned 18 (legal age to drive here in Portugal) and i was able to get my drivers licence, it became my first car, my mom called it Joaninha (little Ladybug), because it was small and red i guess, so all my friends made fun of me because i drived a Ladybug, it didn't matter to me, a lot of them asked me for rides in it. I learned about 4 stroke engines with it, i even went on the first date with the lady a latter divorced in it. I 'll tell you that on a winding road there aren't many cars even today that can keep up with it, and the sound of that engine was glorious. The rust finally got to it and it got so bad i had to scrap it. There are still some rolling around here in Portugal and whenever i see one it sparks a lot of good memories of me my dad and grandfather having fun all dirtied up with engine oil and graphite messing about with the little Ladybug, it was kind of our summer holiday project, we went to my grandfathers house we laid all the parts on his garage floor and we took toll of what had happened to it that year, we could get used parts for it almost everywhere, there were a lot of them here, and they were cheap. Man i miss that car so much, so to see you doing a clip on a similar one, to me is a treat. Thank you Mr Jay Leno...

[@adrinathegreat3095]

In England we just put a Rubber glove over the distributor cap and it solved the problem.

[@aussiebloke609]

When I had mine in the late '80s, the usual thing was to take the black base of a 2 litre cola bottle (back when the base wasn't moulded into the bottle like it is now) and thread the ignition wires through the holes in the bottom. It helped keep the water coming through the grille from soaking the points.

[@boatfaceslim9005]

Yep, the distributor cap in the wet. I carried a can of WD40. Dry the HT leads with a dry rag and a quick squirt of WD40. Started every time.

[@51WCDodge]

I drove a 1275 Clubman prepared by Colin Clan about three days after I passed my driving test, scared the bejesus out of me!

[@51WCDodge]

@@adrinathegreat3095 Marigold by choice. :-) But never the pink ones ! You had tohave some street cred.

[@SpiritBear12]

My grandfather used to have a 63 Willis jeep wagon, which he modified for camping while hunting or fishing. I could go on about it, but my main point is, it was the second car he ever owned. The first was a used car be bought from his brother, a Ford model T. The second was the Willis which he bought brand new. When it came to the accessories he didn't want a radio in it which surprised the sales man who tried to convince my grandfather to get one. He stayed firm and said he didn't want it, it's nothing more than a distraction! OK, fair enough, it's his car, he doesn't have to have a radio if he doesn't want one. Here's the kicker... Whenever my grandfather took my grandmother shopping, he would stay in the jeep with a portable radio he would bring. When alone in the jeep he would kick back and listen to a ball game or maybe the news. I always though that was odd, but it did save on the car battery which was far more expensive to buy than house hold D batteries. As much as I like Jay, if I had a classic car, I don't think I would let Jay drive it. He tends to drift over the yellow line a little too much for my liking, which would make me nervous as hell!

[@cobracharmer6178]

SpiritBear12; IKR! He knows he has to move the seat back but he squish's his self in the car 1st then moves the seat. I've seen him twist a hood while closing it. At least his hair is combed! lol!

[@denegillespie5767]

How I love the old Min Bin. I remember it as a specular drive. My then partner loved it but had one complaint about the cone suspension, it made her t@ts bounce so much. Needless to say I loved watching her drive

[@lilchris26]

Another Brit here, I had one of these has my first car. Mine was a Austin Seven though, the same with sliding windows etc. My parents bought it me on my 21st birthday in 1969 thinking I would get rid of my Triumph Bonneville, no such luck I run both of them. Another good road test of these old vehicles, love your videos Jay.

[@grayfool]

Minis are great. I grew up with these little wonders. I'm English, by the way. Evreyone had a min and you saw them in just about every street during the '60s, '70's and up until the early 2000's. I had five including a 998, a 1300 clubman estate, a 1275GT, and a 998 auto. Yes they made an automatic too. As ever Jay has something intersting to watch. Thanks for bringing back all the memories Jay.

[@petersurryez3277]

So, you also have 10 pairs of the same suit in your closet, and 5 pairs of the same shoes? And you have always ordered the same thing from the menu at the same restaurant for the past 30 years?

[@grayfool]

When were you in my house? Mind you, you didn't look in the garage or you would have seen the the Lotus Exige and the Citroën DS too.

[@Soulvex]

haha, i can still hear the sound of those automatic minis.

[@regsparkes6507]

Arguably one of THEE best cars to come from BMC. ( Oh, how I miss BMC cars in general ) I commented as above before I actually watched the whole video, but now,.I have to say, it is such a pleasure to hear Steve's comments and answers to Jay's questions. This chap knows his stuff but is not in a big rush to prove it, he politely waits for the question. This video is perhaps one of the more memorable ones that I have watched here because of these personalities. Well done, and thanks to Jay for this one.

[@bighands69]

It was the British Labour government that destroyed the UK car industry by forcing companies to merge as part of their nationalization plan. They did all of that to play to the unions. My father was a big union man but remember his mood changing as he felt it was starting to have a big impact on the automakers.

[@thomasleemullins4372]

It seemed the auto union would strike just as the car companies were recovering. I kept wondering if the lack of quality was due in part because of the labour union.

[@funckynell5688]

The management of the British Motor Co was so incompetent they did not know how much it cost to produce the mini , probably lost money on every one they sold. But without Govt. subsidy there would not have been this masterpiece and lots of jobs and expertise would have been lost. It’s a tricky one to insist that “ free enterprise “ is the only winner.

[@Jimmy_Watt]

"Like a guy with a big head, and a little body."- Jay Leno 😆 God bless Jay Leno.

[@cjstryder5441]

There's something about this car that just puts a smile on my face. And if you were to add the Benny Hill music that would be the icing on the cake😂

[@WeMuckAround]

Wow, I only live about half an hour from Bournemouth. Amazing to see such an amazing car from so close to home being run around by Jay Leno!

[@joshuarosen6242]

These aren't that rare here in the UK but that is in beautiful condition and Minis that are this good are rare everywhere. My mother had one when I was a boy and I have fond memories of it.

[@ChrisJones-cv6fb]

Nice job of bringing back a original mini. My first driving car was a 1973 mini 1000. Kept it running with shoestrings and bubblegum. Till it’s big backyard restoration 1982. Through a ton of parts at it a 1297cc sprite 997 camshaft 750 fly wheel , 1.75 SU and lots more, it now went like stink. But wouldn’t stop or corner like original I lifted it for the gravel roads where I lived. In hopes to keep the exhaust system on in place 3 inch ground clearance. Now with 6” could go any where. I sold it and always thought I would do another 15+ years ago picked up 1 a 76 mini 1000 then later a 67 copper 1275s. No time or money have moved then 5 times now, OH the dream one day. Jay great job of your little car collection.

[@laurieharper1526]

You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off... Great to see a Min in the California sun.

[@niacal4nia]

It matches Jay's jeans and white hair.

[@masher3618]

Wow.! These restored minis are nothing like the one my mum had brand new in 1971, it was built by a workforce constantly on strike and Put together so shoddily.

[@spana123321]

Masher unions and management at one another’s throats sadly

[@R08Tam]

My first three cars were Minis. What a beautiful restoration.

[@texas2627]

I had a 1964 Morris-Minor Mini, loved that car. Sold it to a TSgt. and he dropped some more money into it. Changed the Color, and shipped it to his next assignment. I spent 8 years in the UK. Owned 4 Mini's, a Maxi and a Opel Kadet. But the Mini was my favorite car. And still is, I so want one again. I have a restoration book for the Mini. My 850cc Mini always seemed to need a 5th Gear. Thought about taking a motor from Austin Metro and changing it all out for the 5speed in it.

[@TheTalkWatcher]

It would be cool, if Jay made and sold denim shirts with Jay Leno's Garage embroidered on them. I would buy one.

[@desertbrewcrew1974]

Yeah man, I bet he would make even more money selling some swag for his channel!

[@matthewmoore6688]

@@desertbrewcrew1974 www.lenosgarage.com/collections/apparel

[@tommurphy4307]

he would have to move to bangladesh, first.

[@desertbrewcrew1974]

@@matthewmoore6688 THANX A BUNCH

[@CarlVandenberg]

So he doesn't offer a JLG embroidered denim shirt, but he does offer a JLG air freshener in the shape of a denim shirt LOL. www.lenosgarage.com/collections/all/products/jlg-denim-freshener

[@kim007250]

Regular Guy , Regular Car.....Fabulous

[@davidmoore8412]

Wow! Nostalgia. I had a 1965 Morris Mini Minor in the same colour (minus the white roof) in 1972. I was a student at the time and I think it cost about £200. At just 7 years old (the car) it was showing signs of rust and the hydrolastic suspension had a leak on one side and required pumping up at regular intervals! This car was preceded by a 1959 Austin 7 Mini and followed by my brothers 1965 white Mini Minor which had a larger carburettor and different cylinder head. Memories!

[@AuxesisHyperbole666]

Both my aunts were teachers and had a succession of minis from the first one with the starter button in the floor, the sliding windows and the wire slung door openers to the mk2 1000 with window winders and door lever openers. My sister had them handed down to her - my first car was an ex-RAC minivan which I managed to squeeze 12 people in on a campsite in Cornwall summer of 73! Loved that car - like a powered roller skate, great fun on roundabouts. Filled it from empty for £5!

[@moparedtn]

The shot at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1495">24:55</a> cracked me up. "Tiny circus car passes in front of behemoth American musclecar" angle is pure comedy gold. :-) Jay loves 'em all and especially the ones with a story and this one is no exception. That's why I've always stuck with JLG - it's unique in the auto journalism world that way.

[@andrewchurchley5705]

Heartwarming to see them cherished in the USA, even with some variations from the original. Mine was an original Austin mini automatic (rare) 1 litre. It enriched my university days around Sheffield (UK). I did not know how lucky I was. You're right about the surprising size of the passenger compartment. You can do it in a mini!

[@alecball68]

I was born in 65 and this is one of my favorite cars thank you mister Jay Leno

[@geoffreyrobson4745]

Ooh the nostalgia! My first car was a 1963 mini 850cc, good fun car, except when going down a very steep hill in Kent the brakes failed. Managed to coax it home very very slowly. Spent 4 days with my fathers help under the car fixing the brakes, new wheel cylinders all round, tried new seals but the cylinders were just so worn, new pads all round, break fluid had soaked the pads. and finally a new master cylinder. With the repairs the car was perfect.

[@joelawrence56]

you mean shoes?

[@miscsilliness]

Jay brings gorgeous machines to me... therefore, I love Jay.

[@jaredmehrlich6683]

You wanna bump chins?

[@keithbeef]

Had my first kiss in the back of a mini. They'll always be special to me.

[@rogbrown1458]

Probably all you got unless you were less than 5 ft tall. Rog .

[@Woodgate425]

My first car was a 1959 Austin Seven (Mini) and have loved Minis ever since. Really, really wish I still had it!

[@majorpayne5289]

Woodgate425 -Yep, I think we all have those same regrets but this is the life we live ✊✌️

[@leonardberg5012]

I loved the story about the MOT (Ministry of Transport) test.. I lived in London in the mid-1970's and had a 1965 Mini station wagon with genuine wood panels, in fact that model was probably the last true "woody" built anywhere in the world. Just before I sold it I took it in for its annual MOT inspection, and the mechanic told me that he would pass it as long as I promised never to bring it back again! The same problem: rust. One of the most interesting features of the 850 engine (actually 848 cc) was that in case your battery was low, you could start it with a crank. There was a slot in the end of the crankcase, and a hole in the fender well that could accommodate a hand crank.

[@tempusfugit9796]

Back in the 80's i used to have a 1974 mini clubman 1000. Great little car.

[@Bfoxfield1]

I`ve driven loads of (real) Minis in my time and no other car puts a smile on my face like the Mini does. Think street legal go-kart and that sums up the Mini perfectly.

[@catey62]

Where I live in Australia, we used to have a big luxury car built by Holdens called the Statesman. and back in the early 80's a guy I knew where I live had one. he sent it to a special custom car building shop and spent many thousands having it turned into a beautiful street machine. while it was off being built he bought a Mini cheap to run around in, and when he got his Statesman back it was a gorgeous car to see. but he ended up driving his Mini more after that as he said it was more fun to drive. go figure.

[@moej.priest6861]

@@catey62 makes sense! very fun car!

[@RTLimYou]

My late brother used to have a classic mini together with other members of a club he used to belong-awesome car! Maybe some day I could project one, in his memorial.

[@alanrogers3241]

I had a '64 Mini Minor like this, I only drove it in the winter. One day I saw a few bubbles in the paint under the boot lid, so I attacked it with a screwdriver. We ended up going to the scrapyard, finding a write off with a good back end and replacing the whole section to half way up the rear lights and halfway across the boot floor, including the whole battery box. Battery may have been the cause of the trouble. In the same yard was a rusty mini van - different body but there was a nearly new sub-frame in it so we had that as well. Mine had the rubber suspension designed by Alec Moulton, who made the Moulton bike. Dad resprayed it in a deep metallic blue and we added a fake vinyl top which you sprayed on. It looked good. It was a skate, I loved driving it on the twisty roads, it slid better on those 4.50 x 10 crossply tyres.

[@stevecolwill9761]

I love this series, and interesting to see a vehicle I may well have seen in my youth on day trips to Bournemouth! I immediately recognised the DLJ index plate as having been registered there. Nice to see the owner kept the plates on and a sympathetic restoration job, too. 👍🏻

[@niceguy235uk1]

Loving the shout out to Bournemouth!!!

[@douglastodd1947]

i,m actually surprised how good the bodywork was for coming from the seaside, the way that Yank panel beater was speaking i was expecting a pile of rust. retired panel beater.

[@GS-sm3jo]

We all miss you terribly on The Tonight Show! Jimmy will NEVER fill your awesome very talented shoes.

[@ronenizem]

What a nice visitor is this guy... great choice jay .... you are the best !!!

[@garthhowe297]

Such a beautiful car. I loved driving the mini's when I was young. Jay's right about the sensation of speed... like driving a go-kart.

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Agreed!

[@wordreet]

So proud of Steve for keeping and nurturing his Mini! It's my favourite car of all time, since I've owned several and driven others. Shame you didn't get to shove it round some twisties. That's where a Mini shines, rather than on big in town roads.

[@smacdiesel]

Watching Jay get into this car confirms it was designed for young drivers. What cool car, love Jay Leno and his garage.

[@christinapaakkari7110]

We saw Steve today driving. Great story. I asked him if when it grows up if it will be a major 😊 We ran into you at the pizza joint a few weeks ago. You liked my piazza loving dog Chip. I drive a all stock all original 58 Apache Custom Cab.

[@stevenelson2461]

Look forward to seeing you around town.😀

[@christinapaakkari7110]

Steve Nelson yes I’ll have my truck online in a few weeks see you around

[@oldrlh]

Down here in Aussie land i remember the Coopers being known as a flying brick even the cops used to use them

[@ToolkiT73UK]

They raced them in Bathurst too :)

[@MJTAUTOMOTIVE]

@@ToolkiT73UK .They won Bathurst in 1966.

[@jurgentreue1200]

Australian here also. The Cooper S was the Subaru WRX of its day. Won at Bathurst against the V8s. Before I was old enough to drive, a mate around the corner had a hot Mini Delux. Only 998cc but bloody fast. It used to give the hot Holdens and Fords a fright. He ran a 45mm Weber carby in it. Should have heard the induction roar.

[@bighands69]

The handling on them is amazing. They are great for small city streets and it was the reason the police used them. It is a pity the UK auto industry collapsed with all the labour party interference. I would say if they got further development they would have been a rival to the porsche 911 today.

[@ragimundvonwallat8961]

@@jurgentreue1200 ''998cc but bloody fast'' 80 mph?

[@pavlistarvmterramater3579]

Sir Alec Issigonis little masterpiece!!

[@steved3702]

I believe the design brief was 10 foot x 4 foot x 4 foot. Just slightly over when it was released.

[@frazzleface753]

A Mini always brings a smile to the face. There's just something about them. This one is a beautiful example and clearly very well loved and cherished. Alec Issigonis was a genius.

[@ericfriend]

I bought my tartan red 1962 Morris Mini-Minor in 1973 from my brother-in-law for my wife to learn to drive in as I had a company car at the time. She passed first time and drove it for the next 20 years when she got an Austin Allegro!!! and so it was put into a heated garage and there it has stayed until now. The registration is one of the last two digit, three letter combinations that was allocated prior to the introduction of the letter suffix. It has the long gear lever, with starter button and headlamp dip switch on the floor. I must get around to running it again, as it does not now need to be MOT tested or pay road tax for it, as the Government now class it as an historic vehicle!

[@russcattell955i]

Oh so good, one of the joy's of diving a BMC mini was that what ever the model from 850 shopper to 1275 Cooper S, they would corner at maximum speed, well maybe a lift off but no braking. What fun !

[@RichieRouge206]

Such a wonderful little car and it’s so heartening that he spent so much time and love on restoring it

[@Ronbc000]

My 850 Mini became a beast with the 1,100 cc short block assembly fitted to sump. Longer stroke requiring crankcase webs to be machined back for clearance. Surface ground head for 7.<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="361">6:1</a> compression, Cooper inlet valves & springs, 3/4 race cam, cooper exhaust, machined light weight flywheel, 2 SU carbs. Baulkring synchromesh, Pirelli rubber. Was rocked rolled & raced 😎 Them were the days.

[@TheSkskitey]

My first car was a 1966 Morris Mini 1,000 and i had a lot of fun in that . I had mine up to 80 MPH a few times but you certainly knew it at that speed . Great car and looking back a lot of memories of my youth . You had to keep them well serviced and things were always going wrong but a great little car all the same :-)

[@Flappatackle]

I shall never tire of watching "the larger gentleman" clamber into a mini 😬

[@douglastodd1947]

BAGS OF HEADROOM EVEN IF YOU 6FT6INCHES.

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Hahaha same

[@chrisknight6884]

Loved seeing this episode. My first car was an 850cc 1965 Morris Mini Minor, just like that, but in grey. I bought it in 1976. Loved it! I had to sell it and get something a little bigger with soundproofing as it was just too noisy screaming down the M3 motorway at 70 mph. Went round corners like it was on rails. The Hydolastic supension was great, gave a much better ride than the coils and shocks fitted to the example here. It semed much too lively over the bumps. Still I suspect that the parts would be very difficult to come by now.

[@davidhunt240]

Yeah, shame about the suspension. Lots of people are scared of anything out-of-the-ordinary so dump the hydraulic system in preference for coil springs and shocks. I learnt to drive in a Austin Mini 1000 - it spent many years going to the beach (for surfing with four surfboards strapped to the roof) until the sills rusted out and it was not viable to fix (needed complete stripdown and welding not worthwhile on a £250 car) My list of mods would be similar, but I would have put on an alternator, electronic ignition (lots of aftermarket kits were available in the 60s onwards) and put the guard on the front of the engine (no idea why it wasn't on there - stops water getting into the distributor when driving at speed in the rain) the rear side compartments are a handy place for a couple of speakers pointing upwards (a mod I did myself back in the day) and a radio/cassette taped to the dashboard :)

Shocks are hydraulic, they have oil in them!

[@grahamreid2765]

54 year old hydro bags are about as reliable as a 54 year old tire. There are no new hydro units being made. The coil spring replacement we use retains the comfortable hydro ride without fear of failure. Not to be confused with a coil over kit, these springs fit in the original location.

[@misterthegeoff9767]

@@davidhunt240 My old Leyland Mini had the far simpler solution to keeping water out of the distributor. Get a rubber glove, cut the ends off the fingers, stick the glove over the distributor cab with one lead coming out of each finger. Job done! Speakers in the side pockets would have been way better than the speakers in mine though, a previous oewner had cut 2 holes in the parcel shelf for 2 4 inch speakers and I had the head unit screwed down to the dashboard with wood screws.

[@-DC-]

Nothing you can't buy for a mini really huge parts availability and aftermarket support, a truly incredible piece of design.

[@johnybrokeit]

There were several moments when I laughed out loud and i'm sitting here all by myself in the pandemic working from home with just a very little bit of tears in my eyes from laughing LOL... i love these gentlemen, man, and their joy and excitement for these beautiful machines of the past! Sent this video to my dad, i believe he'll get a kick out of it too; he's about these peoples age : )

[@moosey62]

My parents had one of these. GLG-114B Some things you never forget! Like the freezing cold leatherette back seat - we wore shorts even in winter - and constant condensation.

[@terencejay8845]

Mine was WJA 518.