Mini Clubman - The Mini Impersonator?

Greetings! :D
Much like the BMC 9X prototype I had covered before, the late 1960s and early 1970s saw a slew of potential designs created with the intention of replacing the legendary original Mini of 1959, but while the BMC 9X was an external project carried out by Mini designer Sir Alec Issigonis, the Mini Clubman was British Leyland's own in-house attempt to supersede the Mini with a new style, improved dimensions, and the promise of a hatchback, only for corporate turbulence during the merger of BMC and the Leyland Group to form British Leyland, together with a general disinterest by the management, seeing the resultant Clubman become merely a less aerodynamic facelift that struggled to find appeal, and would end its days after 11 years in production as the often forgotten Mini pretender.
All video content and images in this production have been provided with permission wherever possible. While I endeavour to ensure that all accreditations properly name the original creator, some of my sources do not list them as they are usually provided by other, unrelated KZbinrs. Therefore, if I have mistakenly put the accreditation of 'Unknown', and you are aware of the original creator, please send me a personal message at my Gmail (this is more effective than comments as I am often unable to read all of them): [e-mail]
The views and opinions expressed in this video are my personal appraisal and are not the views and opinions of any of these individuals or bodies who have kindly supplied me with footage and images.
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References:
- AROnline (and their respective sources)
- Wikipedia (and its respective references)

[@JulianAlpsNews]

Your videos, whether the cover cars or planes, are always such a joy! Thank you.

[@paultaylor7082]

The Mini Clubman estate was a brilliant little car. It had all the practicality of the Mini saloon, but with a decent sized loading area. Also the battery was hidden under the back seat, out of the way. My late missus had a red one, KJA 415P (1975 reg), for 2 1/2 years, from May 1987 to November 1989, before the rear sub frame gave way. It gave us over 2 years of trouble free motoring, at little cost. The surviving ones, in decent condition, start at around £10K, concours condition ones fetch £15K to £20K. A great little motor.

[@rjs1138]

I actually marginally prefer the "facelift" look of the Clubman over the Classic mini...such icons of design 🤩🇬🇧

[@TheStwat]

I had a 1978 clubman 1100 as my first car in 1991. I bloody loved that thing. Sadly I found it under a stack of cars in a local breakers yard a few years after I'd sold it. I was totally gutted. :(

[@julianshepherd2038]

I bet it was gutted too

[@skylined5534]

That eventually happened to mine as well! MRF488V... gone but absolutely never forgotten.

[@Jestersson]

I also had a 78 clubman 1100 it was brown. Sold it for scrap in 1994 for £30. It literally fell apart with corrosion and was a complete death trap. 1st car so I loved it though and tbh the engine was great.

[@staggabob]

My 78 Clubman was bright blue and an estate! My 1st car in '93 EPV512T :D I managed to carry 8 people 3 miles in it once, that could have gone horribly wrong :S I'd love to drive it again now just to remember how much fun it was at the time.

[@VauxhallViva1975]

I have a '78 clubman 1100 that I am just about finished restoring. Needs re-certification and new number-plates to get on the road legally, but almost there. It's a lovely car to drive. Always wanted a classic mini(none of that yukky BMW modern thing, thank you!), and always wanted a clubman model. Mine is in dark-green with white roof.

[@greaser5691]

It's a little bizarre, but I loved the old-school Mini, I had a '68 deluxe (998 cc, windup windows, mid-tunnel shifter, hydrolastic suspension) and a '75 'panel van' (that's what we called the estate here). I still have a soft spot for them. Thanks for this one, most enjoyable. Greetings from down under - Adelaide, Australia).

[@antonbruce1241]

Had one myself - a '66. Damned fun little car to drive!!!!

[@skylined5534]

Nothing bizarre about owning one of the best cars ever!

[@EuropaSman]

My first driving experience was in an orange Mini Clubman estate with poor brakes at Beccles Heliport, UK, in the summer of 1989. I was 16 at the time doing a work experience over the school summer holiday. It was used by the ground maintenance guy. I remember I had to pump the brakes to make it stop. Happy memories of driving on the old World War 2 era runway.

[@General_Confusion]

Please go back to the old microphone.

[@decretumdeluxe9670]

Very muffled sound.

[@944play]

@@decretumdeluxe9670 Lossy compression artifacts...

[@Rich-on6fe]

Yes, whatever happened here wasn't good.

[@Rich-on6fe]

Furthermore, you won't eq this away. Just get rid of whatever new mic or setup you used here and go back to what you were doing before.

[@macjim]

@@decretumdeluxe9670yes, I previously mentioned the poor sound quality, a few weeks ago but I got shot down…

[@geecars6263]

The Aussie version of the Clubman was unique in that in addition to the Hydrolastic suspension of the MK1 it retained essentially the entire Mk1 chassis from the A pillars back

[@skylined5534]

Not forgetting those cool flush-fit door handles though.

[@saxongreen78]

All Aussie Mini were Clubmans after about 1971...production was shifted to PMC Enfield after the Zetland facility closed in 1975...ended production in August 1978 (along with the Valiant Charger and Falcon Hardtop - a dark month in Australian motoring history.) One of the very best.

[@ianstewartorr8455]

I went to Cornwall with Dorothy who worked with tempest of Cornwall I was 14 a long drive overnight from central Scotland and deep down the m5 at one of the services I heard Jerry rafferty baker st for the first time we drove in a mini clubman estate Dorothy was my second mother I miss her greetings from Scotland 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@philiprufus4427]

Went to Cornwall often from Glasgow in the late sixties as dad was from Devonport. First time was from Dundee seemed to take forever(2 days almost) not a mini though Hillman Minx,Brilliant Cars. My first car was 1959 Austin 7, I changed it for an Austin Champ in 1972. The Champ was in better condition than the Mini having only done 25000 miles on its Rolls desighned Austin 2'800cc engine,despite being built in 1952. The Minis Flexitor Rubber Suspension collapsed. I never lost my fondness for them though,and hired many later. Funny to think Alec Issigonis desighned both vehicles. Personally I think he was Britains best car desighner.The man was a genius, his x9 project could have saved Leyland I reckon,it was years ahead of its time,and the way things went eventually

[@jogarthehutt]

I did a 2 week trip to the isle of Wight in 85, and I have fond memories of the estate

[@jameswood4344]

Terrific! Has anyone noticed how amazingly long Ruairidh's sentences are? He could be used in schools, for lessons in syntax and punctuation and suspended clauses.

[@jamessergeant2136]

I can’t unhear them. The sentences just keep going! Every time I think a sentence is over, there is more to come.

[@Seminal_Ideas]

It's a life sentence. A long stretch.

[@KenanTurkiye]

When you talk about Mini, you have no choice but to maxi your sentences.

[@e28forever30]

Ruaridh is not a person, but AI. I can’t help it, but those long sentences make me lose focus on the subject. And the voice sounds VERY artificial, intonation of certain words always sounds exactly the same.

[@leifvejby8023]

Yes, and absolutely enjoy listening to a bloke speaking proper English!

[@badatfootball4698]

My first car was a 1098cc R reg Clubman in tomato soup red. Great fun and plenty of rust. I still miss it.

[@jonntischnabel]

Love how the guy was just spraying his colleague more than the car! 🤣

[@philiptownsend4026]

I saw that too. Not a goggle or mask between them. Hope they had good industrial injury doctors later on.

[@jimmeltonbradley1497]

I owned one of these back in the 80s - the traveller version. The brakes were awful and any sustained cruising at around 55mph caused serious overheating. Notwithstanding, I loved it!

[@bsimpson6204]

We had an blue 1100 Clubman in the 80's, never done as many repairs and replacments as on that car, we all loved it to bits,

[@DKS225]

The Mini Clubman version is to be honest was the only Mini Model i remember growing up in The 80's and i always thought that this was the same version in The UK as it was here in Australia at the time. How wrong i was when i watched The Italian Job for the first time Rory now i know what this example model is dubbed. Though i vaguely remember riding in The Mini Clubman once as a child. Overall this is another cracking clip Rory especially now the said model here in Oz examples of which are rare to say the least outside of a classic car meet.

[@sarkybugger5009]

My Mum had a 68 Mini 1000, and I later had a couple of Clubman estates, for the extra boot space. Great cheap cars, that stick to the road like the proverbial brown stuff to a blanket. Fun fun fun!

[@michaellee2746]

I had a 998 mini Mk 3 and it was great but decided to with help of David Vizard's book How to Modify your Mini, with racing cam, double valve spings , 40 Sidedraught Weber Carburetor. Head porting etc. Top speed when asked was between E-F on fuel gauge which was at the bottom so in the region of 160 km/h . It could beat 3L Fords. Since moving to Australia my second BMW mini (first was R58 Cooper S) is a Clubman JCW ALL4 . Also sticks to the road but very quick. As to space under the bonnet the BMW ones are even more difficult to work on

[@insertnamehere5146]

Learned to drive in one of those. I managed to pull the hand brake clean off the chassis pulling it up too hard. This did not impress the driving instructor, but I passed first time....which was nice :)

[@tugatomskanimation6370]

Your driving instrutor was probably scared that you'd rip his head off if he failed you. 😁

[@auntbarbara5576]

My favourite channel, i could listen to Rory speak about doorknobs for hours. Aunt Barbara adores you!

[@deanosaur808]

😅

[@simonf8902]

Built and sold in Australia. Relatively popular especially when it came with the 1275 motor.

[@peteryeadon946]

How about the story of the Mini Innocenti? A great and informative video as ever. So we'll researched. I always look forward to your latest releases.

[@Andrewjg_89]

The old Mini cars were so ideal for almost anything including showing off. And how they were made was so British.

[@robertholsey8006]

My first car in 1981 was a 1100 mini clubman in bright yellow BET490T. I loved the car and travelled all over the North of England visiting my friends at their different universities often with 3 or passengers. I changed the head lights, the gear stick knob, steering wheel and the radio. I cried when I sold it.

[@davidk3729]

Bought one second hand in 1972. 89 ARP. Guess that number would be worth a bit nowadays. First car was a 1953 Ford Popular. PKD 561. You never forget the first car number.

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Fantastic memory-jogger, this film. My first car ws a Mini, which I bought from my neighbour for £75 cash. In those days young guys like me could only afford old bangers! A year later one of the doors fell off in a pub car park, and my friend had to lean across me holding it in place while I drove home. It's number was 76EXC and I managed to get a "trade-in" deal for it on the basis of the numberplate. I then had a Mini Clubman Estate - SYG196R - which was one of the best cars I ever had in terms of fun and driving experiences. The double doors at the rear were great, such a cool idea for those days. Me and my mates used to go camping in the Lake District and Galloway and easily fitted all the gear for the four of us in the rear - we didn't need the roof boxes everyone seems to need nowadays for all their holiday luggage. Great stuff Ruairidh as always, thanks.

[@colwichjunction3366]

Nice vid, liked the clubman, especially the extra room under the bonnet! Can’t beat an original design Min tho, I’ve still got a 98 sportspack cooper…. Great work as ever👍

[@CortinasAndClassics]

Excellent film. Congrats on 100K

[@jerrybailey5797]

My dad had a Mini Clubman estate , it was an amazing little car , we had it packed to the gunalls when going on holiday and it was a plucky vehicle

[@sidneybell64]

I had one it was a blue estate we took it to spurn head loved the mini

[@MattBrownbill]

I had a Maxi and a Clubman. Great cars. I turned my Clubman Estate into a pickup. It was much more than a side-note in Mini's history.

[@nlpnt]

The commercial models really should've had the Clubman front. Imagine a 1275GT pickup, a British El Camino!

[@MattBrownbill]

@@nlpnt well mine was stage one tuned, along with being chopped, great fun, it was!

[@deanosaur808]

@nlpnt I disagree, clubman front looks nice with bigger wheels and arches 🤤

[@MattBrownbill]

​@@deanosaur808those Weller 8 spokes with some fat Bridgestones on, looked great. And of course I had the arches 😊

[@whylie74]

I had a 1980 clubby estate 1100 as my first car back in the 90's, lots of fun, wish I still had it.

[@tz6414]

I had a 998 version, slow as a pudding, terrible brakes, crash protection of a tin can, how I survived as a 17 year old no idea. Mine was a 73 and dated , how it sold until 1981 I have no idea.

[@GSD-hd1yh]

I started in 1972 with a 1959 850cc Morris Mini Minor, followed later by a 998cc Mini Clubman Estate identical to the thumbnail, and much later on a 998 Mini with the classic nose. All were secondhand, the first and last costing just £60 each, and the estate was about £300 if I remember correctly. So much fun to be had for less than £500, and now a new bodyshell will set you back £10104. The first was wrecked when a Vauxhall failed to notice the traffic had stopped, and I was the one in front of him. The second was exchanged for an Opel Manta, and the last was an interim replacement after my car was stolen, before the insurance paid out. That Manta became known as the £36 car, because just about every replacement part I bought for it cost £36 at the time, exhaust, headlight, doorskin, tyres etc

[@gaufrid1956]

My youngest brother's first car in Australia was a yellow Leyland Mini Clubman saloon. My first two cars were Morris Mini 850 saloons (1963 & 1965).

[@artistjoh]

My first car was a brand new Mini Clubman Estate It was great little car.

[@michaelclarkson2218]

I've owned three Mini's over the years. Two Mini Clubman's. I passed my driving test in my first Clubman in 1974 which was an orange colour with dark blue vinyl interior. Later years I owned a red Mini Clubman Estate with a beige cloth seat interior with the 1098cc engine which performed well and packed quite a punch but the all drum brakes weren't too good. My third Mini was a metallic green Mayfair with brown cloth interior with the Clubman dashboard fascia. This one had the Metro 998cc engine but performed very well and had disc front brakes. I've had several different makes of cars over the years but the Mini was always a personal favorite of mine. I loved their handling and economy. I can't say that I like today's BMW Mini's which are almost as big as my present Ford Focus.

[@DavidPaulMorgan]

when I was a nipper, our family of 4 (me & my brother 10 & 6½) went to Belgium on the ferry, in our dad's brand new WAXnnnJ Clubman estate - the rectangular rear with the double doors. roof-rack for luggage & supplies in the boot zone. When I was in college my dad bought me his pal's white mini-clubman and that lasted me until my first job, 3½ years later. (we also had a variety of Allegros, Maestros & Montegos over the years! - pretty much the same engine except for my turbo-diesel montego saloon.)

[@drstevenrey]

I was an original Mini owner and lover. I always liked the new nose on the Clubman, but I could never get comfortable with the old original rear end. Front and rear of this thing did not match and together looked totally ridiculous. Besides, as a setting of priorities, I would have changed the rear first, most importantly to finally get a hatchback in there. I don't care about the nose, since the radiator was still in the left wheel well.

[@anthonystevens8683]

My first Mini was a very tired and one with a body that had more than its fair share of metal moth 1000 poverty spec but was a brilliant first car. The second was an old Clubman estate 1100 that was absolutely brilliant, so much better than my 1000 in almost every way..... apart from the look but really the benefits more than made up for that. Back in those days I used to service my own cars and distributor access was so much easier on the Clubman and never had to fit it with a new marigold rubber glove to keep the water out after adjusting the points and timing. If the Clubman had succeeded it may be that the new Mini as we know it may not have been born.

[@geoffburrill9850]

I had an knacked 1275 G.T. Clubman back in early 1990's, the styling might have been a bit off but was great fun, rebuilt it with MG Metro engine.

[@atatexan]

I foresee an excellent story by you chronicling the botched Mini Metro update after BMW’s acquisition. The BMW chairman, later fired, was nephew of Sir Alex Issigonis. Corporate soap opera.

[@atatexan]

Just saw this.Thank you, sir. Will do in the AM. I believe the ill-fated BMW CEO was Bernd Pischetsrider. Will find the correct spelling before tomorrow.

[@ST-ur7oh]

What a wonderful video. What happened the sound? Very muffled.

[@deanosaur808]

Probably sitting inside a mini 😂

[@damianleah6744]

I had the regular shaped mini as my first car, which I preferred. Classic

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

Austin made the "Futura" model, which had a backdoor to open!! My new 1966 mini was a Production Disaster, which never made me buy another British car, though I loved it highly. But when buying a new BMW 2002 I was showed how a car should/could be made, without having to bend the sliding window frame, with knee between the door and body, to be able to meet the rubber sealing on the body (The BMW didn't even have a frame round the windows)! And the paint peeling off round the outside hinges, + water coming in from the corners of the wind screen + several other places!! And don't drive too close to a car in front, during rain, because it will cut because an uncovered distributor in front.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Austin A40 Countryman in the UK - the very first 3 door hatchback - although it was marketed as a small estate car.

[@deanosaur808]

The distributor problem was an easy fix 😉 As for the 2002.. ugly long boot 😱

[@britishfilmguy]

My aunt had one for her first car, turquoise was the colour it was in. Was a rapid little car for its age 60mph felt like it was doing 90mph that's how rapid the mini was in its heyday.

[@davidk3729]

Funny you should say that. In the history of the mini I read that the prototype in 1958 was driven on the test track and went straight up to 90mph. It was decided that Production models would have the engine reversed, ie manifold, carburettor and exhaust to the rear. That meant the drive had to pass via an idler gear in the transmission. Top Speed reduced to just over 70mph. Should have left as designed, although it would be a bugger to adjust the points.

[@britishfilmguy]

@@davidk3729 yeah could picture the test drivers reaction when the speedo went 70, 80, then topped out at 90 mph wonder what his colleagues made of that after the test runs.

[@john1703]

I had a '72 round nose 1000, a '74 1275 GT Clubman with 10" wheels, and a '93 1.3 saloon, with 12" wheels and larger discs, all with rubber springs. The one I really wanted was a 1275 GT Clubman Estate. I note that you carefully omitted mention of the Austin Allegro and jumped straight to the Metro. Oh British Leyland !!

[@Phiyedough]

Yes, mention of the hatchback idea made me wonder why they didn't make the Allegro a hatchback.

[@williamwoods8022]

@@Phiyedough It was designed as a hatchback as was the Princess but the management didn't want any other cars in the range with hatchbacks because they wanted the Maxi to be the car to sell with that feature - really short sighted idiots when you think that most cars would have hatchbacks not long after this and not everyone wanted or liked the Maxi. The Allegro actually drove like a bigger Mini as per folk like Project Nigel test drives and these were actually excellent reliable cars as well contrary to the Top Gear numpties - we had two in our family at the same time - my mothers 1978 Allegro 1500 LE and my 1980 Allegro 1750 TC Equipe and both weer excellent reliable cars and that Equipe was a very quick car for bak then as well.

[@martinneumann7783]

Very interesting. Thanks a lot!

[@craigsibley8161]

Good stuff 👍👍👍

[@eveningstar3230]

I had Mini Clubman as 1st car, It was a great wee car!! A Hatchback would have been excellent!! Another opportunity missed!!

[@flipflopthong2]

The green Clubman near the end of the video is an Australian version with exposed door hinges and a vintage registration

[@2.fresh767]

Still the greatest car ever made.

[@clnre]

My Mini 1275GT was the most fun car I have ever owned.

[@drstevenrey]

In my mind, the Mini never needed a facelift or even an update. In fact, they could still build this car as it is today and it would sell like hotcakes. Would they still exist, they should build it like the very first series from 1959, including the outside door hinges and the simple grill, no chrome. KISS, keep it simple stupid and get rich. You could use the 899 cc Fiat (Giacosa) engine from Poland including the catalytic converter with 50 hp, great car all around. I would probably use the booted Riley or Wolseley version including the grill.

[@denisohbrien]

one of the main benefits of the clubman was the much larger engine bay, so modern twin cam engines fit much nicer.Ive a turbo k-series in mine.

[@denisohbrien]

and now im at 13 minutes into the video and its covered .

[@deanosaur808]

But they can also fit in the round nose too. Most conversions are now done on the round nose because more of them exist.

[@onlyonewhyphy]

Great mini documentary

[@KenanTurkiye]

I see what you did there, and that is no small accomplishment!

[@onlyonewhyphy]

@@KenanTurkiye ditto!

[@torgeirbrandsnes1916]

Great vlog as always! Keep up the good work!

[@stephenthorpe5926]

Had 20 different Minis in 60s and 70s Clubman estate Clubman 1275Gt cost me lot of money burnt oil had to be stripped and rebuilt last Mini owned 1976 pickup converted to 1100 great little van used it in my Vespa Lambretta shop pick up and delivery replaced by Hyndaui Pony Pick up more useable

[@stevie-ray2020]

Australian Mini Clubman S models which featured nicer trim & dash w/tacho, & were fitted with the 1100cc engine & Hydrolastic suspension. About 1980 I purchased one minus its motor to transfer the mechanicals from Mini Cooper S, which appeared to be one of the last to be built with Hydrolastic suspension. While it was even more of a brick aerodynamically, it was certainly superior in cooling & feeding air into dual 1.5" SU carbs on the modified 1310cc Cooper S engine running a rally-camshaft, headers, & straight-through sports-exhaust! Even though I liked the Hydrolastic suspension, the fore/aft pitching became annoying even at full height, so I bolted on a pair of front shock-absorber brackets, drilled the suspension-arms, then bolted on a pair of gas-shocks. Along with aftermarket adjustable suspension for negative-camber, & much wider rims, this setup made it handle like a go-cart!

[@philiptownsend4026]

I bet you regret breaking that S now ?

[@stevie-ray2020]

@@philiptownsend4026 If you're referring to the Cooper S, I picked it up cheap because while the engine & running-gear were good, the body was banged up too much to restore!

[@philiptownsend4026]

@@stevie-ray2020 What a shame :-(

[@mariannehuber5604]

I love that Car

[@macjim]

You could literally build a brand new mini as there’s a firm that can supply all the body parts, including the body shell, all you’d need to find is running gear and engine. I believe there’s an electric conversion model available too out there.

[@philiptownsend4026]

All true. There is a whole industry around the Issigonis Mini.

[@therealsnufkin]

My first car (1984) was a bright red 1972 Morris Mini Clubman Estate 998cc.

[@philipemery5503]

This vehicle was my favourite mini. I even managed to move house with my mini clubman estate. It was blue in colour and it even drove well in snow. Miss that car have had nothing like it since and the modern Mini is not really amini👍

[@Neil-Aspinall]

Basically they were go carts with a body. (the audio had not treble, very muffled)

[@deanosaur808]

Recorded in the boot of a mini 🤣

[@kineticdeath]

the british botch another potentially promising design? never saw that coming!

[@TheFrogfather1]

Colour me astonished!

[@deanosaur808]

Nothing wrong with the clubman! It just needed bigger wheels and arches 😉

[@irsw51]

“Mediocre facelift” says it all. My first car was a maroon and white Riley Elf Mk 2 (998cc and Hydrolastic) so I drooled over the one in your video. It had a useful increase in power and boot space over the standard Mini and the Mk 3 had wind-up windows. When it was replaced by the Clubman it seemed like an inferior model losing the extra luggage space and gaining the longer front end. Style over substance although a more accessible engine bay was probably good for some. No doubt the Clubman was more profitable and in the 1970’s lots of old Minis had Clubman style fronts stuck on them. Sadly, by this time Riley and Wolseley (sic) had had their day but a hatchback would have been a real improvement.

[@deanosaur808]

The boot didn't suit the standard mini or the clubman, plus it looked dated in the 70s 🤷‍♀️

[@QuoPaperPlane]

4.04 Westgate Towers, Canterbury. Much has changed but the Roman structure is still there😄

[@street-level]

I think that the first British hatch-back was the 1959 Austin A40 Farina Countryman.

[@schanche1965]

1275 had 12" wheels with Dunlop Denovo run flats as an option

[@philiptownsend4026]

I had one of those. Got rid of them very quickly and fitted 12" ,Minilite look alikes with proper tyres.

[@user-s1o3nr532]

Another fine video - although I'd take issue with the mini ever being used for the "school run", simply because that wasn't even a thing back then as children used to walk to school or take the bus.

[@user-s1o3nr532]

@Retired Bore At the time - near Watford at a big comprehensive school. I was school age at the time. The idea of "the school run" being normalised would have been inconceivable. We cycled to school as well, although this was actively discouraged - I suppose that was a warning sign of the impending era of publicly condoned enforced car dependency. Back then though you only got a lift into school only if you were sick.

[@williamwoods8022]

Yep even into the 70s/80s here in Scotland kids managed to walk to school or get the bus. Now teh parents are driving their kids to school because they are scared their kids get knocked down by the heavy traffic too dumb to think that they especially are a big part of the cause of that traffic.

[@TheHylianBatman]

An excellent video, as usual!

[@DaveSCameron]

Quite brilliant, thanks again 👍

[@mattw8332]

For my first car in the mid 1990s I really fancied a Mini Clubman Estate. Ended up with a conventional round nosed 2 door saloon with the 998cc engine built in 1979. Still preferred the look if the Clubman though, I am somewhat biased towards 1970s era cars.

[@AzureOtsu]

a video on the electrostars and turbostars would be fantastic !

[@Volker_GR]

In one respect, the British model policy of the time was sustainable: naming all the variants makes you dizzy even today 🙂

[@JBofBrisbane]

6:50 - Nash Metropolitan being assembled in the background.

[@UncleBooBoo]

Thanks for explaining a confused and illogical story so logically. My mum had a classic blue Mini whose steering and brakes failed on more than one occasion.

[@factorylad5071]

The mini 1275cc 5 speed is on another level. You could fly along the fast lane in one.

[@schanche1965]

They never made 5speed 1275GT, if you wanted an extra gear the only option was to buy a complete Jack Knight 5sp gearbox

[@martinwoodworth3715]

I had 5 minis over the years. 2nd was a 998 clubman, 3rd was a 1098 clubman. That 1098cc engine was the best for a mini I felt. The last mini I had was a 1996 cooper & the 1275 just seemed so noisy compared to the 1098 & 998.

[@skylined5534]

The later cars had a lot more sound deadening. By comparison my own 1980 Clubman was hilariously loud compared to my mate's 1997 Cooper. The Cooper also had a 'built' (and therefore thrashed) MPi engine which spent a lot of time thraping up and down the Yorkshire Moors.

[@daviddunmore8415]

The BMC/Leylandmerrgeris an object lesson in how not to merge two companies with widely differing management styles and cultures.

[@Phiyedough]

I had a 1980 1275GT and it was the most unreliable car I've ever owned. It came with a warranty and the dealer had it more of the time than I did! They used to lend me a Clubman estate, which seemed quite reliable.

[@deanosaur808]

Don't let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch 😉

[@soapmonkey6357]

Best motoring channel on KZbin.

[@RHTeebs]

Hi! I was curious. I noticed that after the push pull trains video, but before the Picc Vic video, you uploaded a rail video in between those that has since been deleted. I know it was deleted, but, what happened?

[@alecbrown66]

The big thing with the clubman was that it had the fantastic 1100cc engine, which gave it masses of grunt.

[@johnbee7729]

The Elf and Hornet should have been the ones evolved to even higher trims. I wonder if the corporate executives ever realized the errors that they made when looking back from years later.

[@kaitlyn__L]

I had no idea the Clubman came in anything other than estate form! Though I must say, is this a new mic? The top end is missing, the bottom end is so pronounced. Maybe you’re just sitting too close for it though, if it’s more sensitive than your old one. Sounds very heavy on the proximity effect. There’s definitely less environmental reverb though, so I think you could get this one sounding good.

[@henrycook1474]

I thought something sounded different…

[@deanosaur808]

Maybe he was sitting in a mini while recording the audio :D

[@williamr3840]

The 9X (from front) looks like the MK 1 Ford Fiesta.

[@deanosaur808]

Looks like a dogs dinner to me 🤣

[@Rentta]

Audio is quite muffled on this one.

[@KenanTurkiye]

Perhaps he used a mini mic?

[@hazzalandy]

Is that Metro promotional clip filmed at Rufford Ford?

[@nobbyse16]

Great video, but the audio is rough. What happened to your mic?

[@moaningpheromones]

I don't recognise the people in this old footage. Where are they from?

[@BravuraLion]

I have seen other comments about this, but fix your microphone. Either go back to the old one of you changed, or change your EQ for recording. Besides your voice - the video is ok :)

[@tonyduncan9852]

Remembered frustration . . . I shouldn't have watched this. Well done, thankyou.

[@andybrowne7544]

Small point: the round-nose mini didn't get the Clubman binacle across the range until the mid 80s

[@deanosaur808]

The 1979 1100 special had it, but that was a limited edition.

[@Sparky68M]

I had the clubman estate 998cc in damask red an M reg back in 79 then later an 1100cc java green saloon a T reg 79 !

[@chrisross2916]

I had (as my 2nd car) a 1965 Morris Mini 850, and followed later with a 1967 Morris 1275 Cooper S. Guess which was more fun? 🙂

[@percyprune7548]

1979 Clubman Estate, lovely car and with the front forks & back wheel off could carry a motorcycle in the back. Like all Mini's, the rust fairy paid a visit too many.

[@oldfatbastad6053]

i would love a clubman, but, it would have to be in either of a few specific colours, its arse in the air and 10inch wide rim 4 spoke revolution wheels, typical 70s brown tan red interior.

[@deanosaur808]

Anything less than 12inch is no good. Even the wife agrees 😅🤣

[@robsmithracing]

Can you make a video on the Short Sunderland flying boat please?

[@WhiteDragon689]

A time when basic transportation meant just that... getting from point A to point B cheaply.

[@KenanTurkiye]

On the one hand we had the British and the Japanese with sensible and small/ish cars and the Americans with the thirsty land yatchs, imagine if the Americans went the same route as the British. Less pollution, less wars and ohh yes less people dead. :/ But of course driving across America in a Mini with 3 kids and a dog wouldve been problematic, but a Granada would have sufficed instead of an Impala.

[@everykenyan]

please go back to the previous video type audio :(

[@frederickbowdler8169]

The. Mini was never tested or developed early on and defects such as weight cooling etc never ironed out it was a knee jerk response to a petrol crisis and relied upon off the shelf components which were essentially mismatched with the design .