Driving a classic Mini for the first time

Once you realize it's not going to tip-over, you start taking each turn faster and faster!

[@rd946]

"Oh, sh*t, there's no synchros!" -- it's these hilarious, probably unintentional quips that keep me coming back!

[@ConstantinSPurcea]

You don’t realise how much synchros matter to you until you don’t have them. I lost the synchro in 2nd gear on my SW20 MR2 and it’s painful most times.

[@SuperAWaC]

mr. regular, you need to angle your head camera down a bit more so we can get more of that ＣＲＯＴＣＨ ＡＣＴＩＯＮ

[@Oneshotup]

bruh...

[@getataste]

I love how i heard the voice just with the writing

[@getataste]

timer tack bro

[@RegularCars]

haha!

[@d33b33]

Yup. My brain automatically went for 'nngh'-voice.

[@czarpeppers6250]

You know I never had much interest in old Minis before. Now I do.

[@coletrain407]

same

[@chameleon1001]

They're a blast to own and drive. I daily mine to work through town every day. It's literally the best vehicle for a city. I find parking everywhere. I can often park in absurd places because people think it's often a display to draw attention in front of coffee shops.

[@czarpeppers6250]

Walker Smithson Probably easier than parking my 88' Chevy Caprice wagon. But for having some fun on the mountain roads around where I live, the Mini certainly seems like a brilliant option for that. I've never been that big of outright speed, I prefer a responsive and sticky car. I didn't expect such steering response and lack of body roll on such an old car. Despite the fact I've heard people talking about that a billion times before, seeing is believing.

[@czarpeppers6250]

Walker Smithson Not that I actually have the money to buy it, but I was looking around on Kijiji in my general area and found this. www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/kelowna/1989-morris-cooper/1168990723?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true What do you think?

[@RegularCars]

NICE!

[@agenericaccount3935]

The sound of the gears is magical

[@totalmadnesman]

Really nice actually.

[@lindsaycole8409]

The original mini is so much more than the sum of its parts. It was meant to be cheap, efficient transport for the masses. It was a master class in packaging which also led to it being fun, stylish and still hitting all its core design goals.

[@ianthewright]

When people say "it drives like a go kart" they are speaking lazy hyperbole. Unless it's a classic Mini.

[@davidrossetti1061]

My classic feels like its glued to the road

[@yeoldegamer5112]

Am I the only one hunching trying to get a better view out? :D

[@archonix]

The mini experience.

[@aserta]

Arch Onix That made me snort my drink. Good one.

[@Scerttle]

Totally did lol

[@Seegalgalguntijak]

chest-mounted gopro would have been better for that car.

[@jamesbesing3372]

Yeah, that "hunching" feeling is all the time if you are over 5'10"... Stop lights are a nightmare

[@pogues1]

i passed my test in a 850 back in 1979 at 17, owned three minis , now a driving instructor. this is so good to watch.

[@Spac8]

So glad to see you driving the same car that I own Mr Regular! As I'm in the UK, much of your reviews are of cars that aren't in our domestic market, but to see a Mini on here is a bit surreal! Got a '73 1000 myself and adore it. Almost mint, one lady owner and 34k from new. Luckily I have the later "rod" type shifter, which is much more of a traditional H-pattern! They are so much fun to own and drive, and as you probably found, it's all about preserving momentum! Acceleration isn't great at all, but it can corner at very high speed for what it is, so the solution is, don't brake! Coming off the throttle a little early and down changing is all that's usually needed to set a Mini up for cornering! Also, just incase the owner isn't aware, that clonking when coming off the throttle is not normal, yes it is like a switch, but there shouldn't be drive-line shunt like that. It's almost certainly a broken/very worn stabiliser bar. They were fitted to Mini's after the prototypes kept warping subframes and breaking exhausts. If it's not that, either the subframe mounts are all but ruined, the inner rubber couplings on the driveshafts are dead, or the transmission has some very, very bad wear! Just a little friendly advice from a fellow Mini owner! :)

[@BigCountryGeorge2]

This has been my dream car for as long as I can remember! I'd rather have one of these than an E-Type or a Mustang. They have sooooo much character and there really isn't anything quite like a classic Mini :D

[@gootywooty]

Can we try a chest mounted camera angle? I'd like to see a bit more of the road .

[@rock-oz7eg]

It would be much better

[@shaggnar2014]

I think he doesn't want it to look too out of place. I mean like having a go pro on your hat is less obvious

[@gootywooty]

I'd think otherwise to be honest xD I doubt he would care much for how it looks on him seeing as hes inside a car :P

[@TheSalPic]

Why not both?

[@nimmen]

chin mounted would be best for the footage, maybe not so for the driver

[@1MotoXRacer1]

That transmission whine though

[@rock-oz7eg]

I like it

[@doctorferdinand1003]

it sounds like a ghost

[@uncreativename9936]

I was wondering what that was. makes it sound like a BTCC car though lol

[@TheMetalButcher]

Doubt it. It would probably be all you would hear if so. Many helical gears, especially older ones whine.

[@Corkoth55]

reminds me of a GTO with the rock crusher transmission

[@markdavis2475]

Great vid! Really bought back memories, I had five "classic" Minis in the late 70,s. Mine all had seat belts though! A really fun car to drive. Rebuilt the engines and gearboxes quite a few times, usually in my bedroom, thanks Mum! Mechanically they were actually quite complex. Lots of gears, seals and gaskets. Gearbox and engine ran on the same oil, i.e. the gearbox sits in what would normally be the sump! They really are quite spacious inside, as long as you dont mind your legs/arms/head being crumple zones!

[@JustcallmeGnarly22]

Granny shifting. Not double clutching like you should.

[@UCGhy34YYL0R3LirWIvhvxng]

I do triple clutching for 3x the power

[@WilliamLevesqueineX]

I know it's a joke but I really wish he would learn heel and toe... :P

[@czarpeppers6250]

It isn't too hard, I use to do it on my Volvo (not that I really had to, it was just fun to do mainly for smoother downshifts). Although it was more like toe and toe on that thing.

[@WilliamLevesqueineX]

I do it all the time in daily driving (and track driving obviously). It's just better. Quite easy to do in a Miata :)

[@insertnamehere1315]

I always do it on downshifts, or try to at least rev-match it, even on my modern daily driver. Got used to it from driving a truck with no synchros.

[@Boemel]

I love to hear him giggle :D these cars are the best. I LOVE the gear wine and burble engine note.

[@zakl300]

I own a 1963 Mini and it has everything you need because my dad refurbished it. It's a 5 seater, WITH seat belts. And it doesn't sound like that at all. Mine is silent. It's just that it hasn't been started in 6-7 years but it will start and still be silent just needs a gearbox and fuel change. He even made his own personalised wheels.

[@maxi2364]

I had a smile from start to finish watching this guys. Fantastic!!

[@ImissSaganCarl]

Very nice car. Excellent video. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@huberkarle9304]

Somehow i want to drive one now.. Never thought of driving a mini before lol. You should do more classic cars..

[@TheTofy99]

How much do they sell for in North America?

[@TheDatpussy]

+tofy rocks not many out there

[@DozIT]

The new MINI's are pretty awesome too, although BMW makes them they still have the incredible handling, and go kart feeling!

[@51StPi]

They both have a lousy gear change, that is about all they have in common, new Mini is not a bad car but it is no more go kart than a GTI.

[@johnbenton4488]

Have a go in one asap. I guarantee you'll not be disappointed.

[@Neontrifle]

I have had 3 Mini Cooper and everyone put a smile on my face when I drove them. They are not fast but feel fast and they go around corners like gocarts, just great around town'.......every Mini has a heart

[@yitznewton]

These behind-the-scenes follow-ups are the real RCR

[@gharycrawford6628]

Brings back many memories of my 67 Austin Cooper

[@Imnotreal23]

Back in the late 60s early 70s my granddad had one. I was told he painted it almost hemi orange and he would take the engine apart and put it together for fun. Always thought these were neat cars. Thank you for this video I'm definitely going to buy one in the future.

[@I_will_pet_your_dogs]

After the stress you went through with the Falcon, it's good to hear you having fun again, Mr. Regular.

[@mrbevan]

Here in New Zealand, being a former Britich colony we have/had a lot of these - one was even the 'star' of an iconic 80's film named 'Goodbye Pork-pie' - a car chase caper. The classic mini prank is to get a few guys together and pick some poor owners mini up from car park and move it somewhere impossible.

[@pordzio]

Seems You had a really good time :) Man. You should get in touch with youtuber truckerhiob. He's a polish guy living in North Carolina and he has imported pretty much THE classic polish car - fiat 126p - small polish/italian car with a 650cc engine making ~23 BHP new and with more character than many of newer/better/faster cars.

[@francistheodorecatte]

MALUCH

[@n3ums90drew2]

23 bhp wow that some horses blesss there a guy near me with a 5 port turbo 160 bhp mini very quick lol 😁

[@iamandreja]

I did a review of Maluch (yes, it is Polish made but the original is Italian, called Fiat 126). Letter P in Fiat 126p title stands for Polish. You can check it out if you like, it is not funny as RC reviews but maybe it will entertain you. Oh, and it is a rear engine, rear drive car, great fun in the snow or when it's wet :)

[@TripReviews]

This video takes me back 45 years to my first car, a /64 VW Notchback, 1500 cc with a 4 speed and dual Weber carbs. I learned to drive a standard with that car. I will never forget how to take advantage of downshifting to stop as the car had no brakes, just the handbrake on its last notch. Scary!!

[@MyJon64]

You can't help but smile when behind the controls of an A-series engine with combined gearbox!

[@ffejeroni1]

It's fun to see you get the hang of it and start ripping it a little more. Great car to review.

[@cuppasteve]

Your giggles at this car are the same kind any man makes at a stupid poop joke and it warms my heart.

[@shanehnorman]

Thank you for this; it brought floods of good memories. Is this a Mini-Cooper? It has the harder exhaust note of a Cooper, also the intake noise of its twin SU carburettors, and the remote gearshift (early Mini 850s had a long and imprecise lever, sprouting directly from the 'box). It's also got the later indicator/ horn stalk; the early Mini's horn was in the steering-wheel boss and the indicator stalk had a disconcertingly-bright flashing green light at its tip. The owner rightly spent a little time on explaining the idiosyncrasies of the gearbox, but I'm surprised he didn't mention the classic tip for all BMC 'boxes without first-gear synchro. Frequently, it was impossible to put them into first from neutral, leaving one holding up traffic at stop-lights and junctions. The cure, quickly learned by most Miniasts, was to touch the lever against second, then slip, crunch-free, into first. Bearing in mind that the 'box shared its oil with the crankcase, those first-gear crunches could put a lot of metal swarf in circulation, despite the magnetic drain-plug fitted to all Minis. It was always a shock, when doing an oil-change, to see the pillar of metal filings clinging to the inside of the plug.

[@reckherdkek5685]

That thing looks FUN

[@coletrain407]

it feels like a go kart i would think

[@RegularCars]

SO Fun!

[@vector6977]

Cord for a door handle just like the F40!

[@CHuzz7777]

I'm 6'5" and learnt to drive in my mum's mini clubman - there's more legroom in them than many standard sized modern cars plus it's more fun driving with a huge smile on your face!

[@nickbelanger5225]

I've always wanted one of these and now I want one more

[@lptomtom]

No seatbelts is really dangerous, but then again it's a '60s Mini, the ultimate death box, soooo...I guess it doesn't matter!

[@mattyb120]

quote from the designer "I design my cars to drive not to crash"

[@ItsDaFuzz]

But some dumb ass in a pickup truck can still crash into you

[@rockinchimp]

Marc Bolan found that out in the 70's unfortunately.

[@williamwoods8022]

All the later ones had seatbelts right up to they stopped making them in the early 2000s and five and a half million of them were sold new and then they were sold off to other millions over the years and I am willing to bet there were not any more people killed in these cars than any other.

[@williamwoods8022]

Most people driving their car into a tree at speed no matter what the car will be lucky to survive that.

[@andxx0r_the_second671]

I love the sound of an old small-engined car. Engine working hard, transmission whir, etc.

[@Spaz12isHipAimedFagg]

I love that Interior so much class

[@Beer-can_full_of_toes]

What I’ve gleaned from this ride is that the mini is one of the happiest cars on the road with ruthless capability in a tiny package.

[@matthewmurray3229]

This car has more in common with a vespa than any car on the road today! lol love it!

[@benedictypx]

it looks quite fun to drive tho, so simple on the inside, which makes it a joy to drive

[@ooglefluffg857]

This is awesome! I've been wanting to drive something old and uncooperative since I sold my Fox and this looks like so much fun!

[@anthroism26mc]

"unCOOPERative". bravo, sir.

[@joshbriggsDayZBeast]

OK... classic Mini's handle really well, much better than any classic or fox mustang, I would like thousands of others decide it as the opposite over uncooperative

[@ooglefluffg857]

Josh Briggs I didn't mean uncooperative handling. The Mini is pretty much as far from uncooperative as it gets in that regard. I was talking more about stuff like the weird shift pattern and no synchros. My car was a VW Fox, as Raistlin Majere said. A foxbody Mustang does indeed have uncooperative handling. My car was uncooperative more because it was broken than because of old technology. I had to drive it with no clutch whatsoever on two occasions. Miss that car :P

[@TheTarrMan]

Wow, heated rear windows back in 66. With no transmission synchs I'm wondering if you can float gears (it's a semi-trucker trick). Considering that's from the 60's I'm surprised theres not a bigger ash tray. Cool little car.

[@alloytoo]

Actually there are tree ashtrays, one the front, two on either side in the back.

[@johnpearson492]

Everything about this review reminds me of driving my 61 Austin Healey Sprite. The controls are the same, the engine makes the same noises, the transmission has the same whine. I really want to drive a Mini now and see how it compares.

[@outwrite11]

Spent the first five minutes watching this ducked down to try and see further up the road without realising!! What a plank.

[@MrRandomcommentguy]

Classic Minis are awesome! I really want to own one.

[@velvetrooster5569]

I love this film and I've always loved this film.

[@ripmax333]

what an awesome fun little machine!

[@zackaboy1236]

Minis sound amazing!!!

[@andyhillhouse9813]

I love the gearbox whine you get in classic minis

[@iantownsend5480]

Got too love a Mini. I'm sure this car would of got smiles & waves in my local area

[@jaymorrison2419]

Wow, that's just such a happy sounding car.

[@tcz7742]

I had a 1961 stationwagon Woody. It had an 850 CC engine. I think 61 was the 1st year that they were imported into North America.

[@UseLessInLife]

The interior so reminds me of my dads landrover 89 the ash tray no rpm gauge and has that almost like youre driving a straight gear transmission sound. very British like.

[@turnerlarson12]

OH MY GOSH, DAT HORN :D

[@Bladsmith]

Meep meep!

[@lsswappedcessna]

EEE EEE EEE? EEE EEE

[@andynixon2820]

The mini is a perfect example of a wonderful British car - designed by a half italian , half german turkish man . Here in the UK everyone over the age of 45 loves them because it was their first car . But now we drive german cars because they don't leak and the heater actually works .

[@williamwoods8022]

Only thing is ALL German brands are the worst for reliability in the UK now all coming out as POOR in the ACTUAL Break Down charts for decades now.

[@lsswappedcessna]

but in classic German fashion, they're extremely expensive and overdesigned, so when something goes bad, das is nicht gut. At least old German stuff was big and loud and got shot down by American and British stuff, all the overpriced parts making a nice ball of fire and satisfyingly loud noise when the machine hit the ground with the force of a rhinoceros impaling a tree with its waste of oxygen Luftwaffe pilot still in his cockpit.

[@adorabasilwinterpock6035]

Alec Issigonis was GREEK not fucking turkish

[@jaseisonthecase1891]

Fab, my very first car was a mini like this one. They were really popular here in the uk. Jase

[@bhanson4917]

Those roads are waaay too straight to appreciate the real charm of a classic Mini. You need very narrow roads with hard, sharp corners... Then it is fucking MAGICAL.

[@davidrossetti1061]

And ya have to leave a mustang in the curves

[@bhanson4917]

@@davidrossetti1061 '79 Mini was my first car. I was young, impulsive, full of testosterone and lived in a place covered in the kind of roads the Mini was made from. I would never drive as irresponsibly as I did back then, but I did leave a Fox Body 5.0 Mustang in my mirrors back in the 90's on a particularly twisty bit of road (Vancouver Island has a lot of roads like the UK)

[@dondon4720]

No fuzzy dice in the mirror that seems like the best car for it, also the hula dancer :)

[@admiralbeez8143]

RCR before the OTT commentary. I have to say, I like this.

[@CapnFlappyJaw42]

This really makes me want a Mini.

[@burlatsdemontaigne6147]

Re; The ashtray being further than a comfortable arms length. People used to buy after-market switch tips that were several inches long, so they could operate the plethora of controls on that well appointed dash, from the reclined position. Ash just went on the floor.

[@JaredVeale]

Nice! brings me back.

[@scalezi]

i have got to finish mine now, miss that feeling.

[@corrodesthefilm]

That car looks fun as hell.

[@antivorg1239]

I live in the UK and I've got a garage down the road from me that hot rods old minis :D keeping the exterior intact but doing things like putting V8 engines in them, needless to say I'm saving up lol.

[@vector6977]

Guys use(correction, they still do) to rally race these with the same old school transmission. DAMN!

[@indenturedLemon]

Only 1st gear has no synchro the rest all synchro

[@jj72rg]

I recall vividly my first drive in one too… the steering wheel is angled like on a bus, have to reach forward to grab the top of the wheel. the pedals requires my leg to fold i develope a crank in the ankle, the gearing is so short you speed into third look down and still only doing 50, drives like a revesed go kart and you sit in tip of the engine, but fuck loved every minute of it.

[@kellykonoske91]

Ya don't double clutch standing still man! That just doubles your chances of crashing the box!

[@TheStwat]

Great channel glad I found it. Subscribed and whitelisted on adblock

[@Siknik64]

6:37 Just like the what, Mr. Regular??? Hmmm? Did the word "Delorean" come to mind??

[@MikaelJ97]

Or a tractor😂

[@stephenmikell2057]

This makes me want a Mini now

[@MrAbowker]

They have syncro on second third and top. That's not to say by now they are not worn out of course.

[@HiTecBanana]

Fix for the gearstick rattle is about $5 - flange on the bottom of the retainer spring.

[@matthewmclaren2143]

minis are crazy on the corners you could be going round a hairpin bend at full blast and you could still turn more

[@Andrei-xi5tu]

What an amazing machine

[@linusa2996]

Odd, I never had issues with my dads 1965 850 mini. It also had a push starter instead of the ignition key starter

[@dogalways]

Its nice of Mr. Bean letting you borrow his car haha

[@dougjones4007]

Ah to be in England in the summer time! Sitting in a English garden waiting for the sun 🎶

[@SoybeanGravy]

Do want! At least they aren't particularly expensive over here in Australia...

[@VulpesHilarianus]

I think the easiest way to fix the problem with accidentally missing a gear would be to just put a gate over it. That wouldn't solve the syncro problem, but it'd help with not skipping over into fourth.

[@BlackPhillip666]

roof liner simulator, sweet.

[@jasonhowes75]

Smooth mini 👌

[@ArthurSperotto]

This was AWESOME

[@pauljs75]

For what appears to be a "budget car" from that era (and in stock form - and not Clubman trim), it can actually scoot. A lot better than I'd thought it would be. So definitely not bad, even looks fun. Most other vintage cars in that tier are sloooow.

[@bensippel1022]

when you stumble upon a random car video and find out its filmed in your home town haha.

[@TomislavKolaric]

Very nice!

[@SimonLeeds]

I miss all these old cars.

[@blakslee720]

this as well as a classic fiat 500 are on my bucket list

[@jonnda]

My brother has a mg midget, so this was fun for me to watch.

[@kristyrie3255]

The original mini was way ahead of its time. I think it was the first car with a transverse engine and almost every car since has copied off it

[@Pigeonbutter8790]

Seems pretty spacious inside

[@sirboomsalot4902]

And they say the Trabant is bare, this doesn't even have door handles on the inside, just a wire!

[@stenhouse8569]

i like in the uk and so many people in my family have had minis my pap is 6.4 so him getting in and out was a sight

[@adamblaknovski279]

Needs new engine/trans mounts 2:55 will help gears shift smoother.

[@alpzepta]

It’s like driving Mr.Bean's car

[@ChimkenNuggers]

I want one so badly!

[@tahroo4262]

My 88 VW Cabriolet is "go-karty" too.. I can relate to this.

[@antonferreira483]

The car I learned to drive on, 1965!