Classic
DREAMCARS Mount Dora, Fla. (352) 385-1945
www.classicdreamcars.com
(CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE)
MINI
COOPER "S" (MC-40) MONTE CARLO 40TH ANNIVERSARY "FLYING SHOEBOX"
EDITION
IT'S BEEN 2-3 MODEL
YEARS SINCE THE REBIRTH OF THE CLASSIC MINI COOPER BUT, EVEN THIS
SHORT TIME SPAN HAS PROVEN THAT THIS RETRO REINCARNATION
IS NOW BUILT BETTER AND MORE ROAD-ABLE** THAN
THE ORIGINAL VERSION MADE BY OUR BELOVED BRITISH FRIENDS.
IT'S 'GOODBYE 'TO "LUCAS, THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS"
AND IT'S 'HELLOoo'
TO B.M.W. BAVARIAN
PRECISION ENGINEERING. TO
MAKE IT EVEN MORE DESIRABLE,
B.M.W. HAS SEEN FIT TO BUILD A SHORT RUN OF CARS DEDICATED TO
THE MINI'S MOST FAMOUS WIN...NOT AT A EURO RACE TRACK BUT,
AS ONE OF THE PROGENITOR'S OF THE
WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP,...
THE MONTE CARLO
RALLY IN 1964. THIS
CULTURAL PHENOMENON, CALLED THE MINI COOPER, LIVES ON
THROUGH THIS SPLENDID , UPDATED COMMEMORATION TO THIS MEMORABLE
RACE. DESPITE UNBELIEVABLE ODDS THIS LITTLE CAR BEAT THE
PANTS OFF AUSTIN HEALEY, MERCEDES-BENZ, VOLVO,
CITROEN, SAAB, JAGUAR, M.G. AND EVEN FORD... FORAGING THROUGH
BRUTAL WEATHER CONDITIONS TO BEAT A TANGLE OF OTHER COMPETITORS
WITH A HUGE LEAD. DRIVEN BY PADDY HOPKIRK / HENRY LIDDON, IT TOOK
FIRST PLACE ( BY 30 POINTS !!) AFTER 3,000
MILES TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP .... NOT AS A FLUKE BUT, AS
NORMAL PRACTICE... IT WENT ON TO WIN THE THREE MORE MONTE
CARLO RALLYS. THIS LATEST FACTORY CREATION IS A DEDICATION TO
THE CAR & HIS WINNING EFFORTS. A LIMITED EDITION OF ONLY ONLY
1,000 COPIES WERE MADE
AND EACH IS NUMBERED WITH A PLAQUE. SO, OUR THEORY IS: IF YOU'RE
GOING TO DRIVE SOMETHING 'NEW'...WHY NOT PICK A
COLLECTIBLE CAR FOR THE FUTURE? SORRY, OURS IS NFS
**ORIGINAL VERSIONS WERE
KNOWN FOR POOR VENTILATION, CRANKY ELELCTRICS, LOOSING MUFFLERS
ON RAILROAD TRACKS AND CRACKED GEARBOXES LEFT UON ROAD DIPS
THE STORY:
This 2004 Special Edition BMW Mini "MC-40"
#286 is finished,
just like the 1964 original, in Chili Red complimented by a White
Roof. It features a copy of the Original English Registration
Plate affixed to the Bonnet (Hood) reading "33EJB"....exactly
as it was on the Original Monte Carlo Rally winning car.
Each Mini also carries Commemorative Decals in the exact shape
of the old Monte Carlo Identification Logo behind the Registration
Plate and on the Rear Flanks. B.M.W. dedicated this car to the
vintage Rally Theme by fitting each car with $7,000 in
extra equipment including Driving Lights, Rear Foglights, Matte
Chrome Monte Carlo Shift Knob, Three-Spoke Steering Wheel, Paddy's
original Numbered #37 Plates (removable) for each
door, Custom Badged Rubber Mats, Aluminum Faced Pedals, and
custom ( to this car only) Red & Black Panther Leather Seats.
It also carries the Supercharged 163 hp motor w/
6-Speed transmission, Carbon Fiber Dash and a Unique Plaque numbered
with each cars I.D. # (1-1000) signed by the actual driver, Paddy
Hopkirk plus a Special Shift Knob, Badged Rubber Mats and more.
Additionally, each car is fitted with Special BBS Style Cross-Spoke
Alloy Wheels in Anthracite Gray with Polished Rims ( which is
an exclusive feature to this car only). Then, they added all
the usual trick Mini Options: Premium Package; Automatic
Air Conditioning, and On-Board Computer. It also includes the
Sport Package which includes Dynamic Stability Control,
Sport Seats, Rear Spoiler, 205/145/17 Performance 'Run Flat' Tires,
Bonnet Stripe Delete, Carbon Fiber Dashboard, Xenon Headlights
w/ Power Washer, Alarm System with Motion Sensors and Chrome Mirror
/ Boot Cap. To complete the final touch we have added Hand
Sewn English Leather 'Union Jack' Headrests & Valve Caps,
Custom 'Union Jack' Flag on the Roof, "Mini Me" Bobblehead
Doll on Dash (and soon) Door Handle Chrome Caps, Exterior Chrome
Package and Custom Interior Accents (watch this site for further
"improvements") . This Pocket Rocket is a great Future
Collectible and is even
listed on many numerous Automobile websites as One of
The Top Ten Cars For Resale in America ! Kick the grud off
your knickers and 'get with it'... buy yourself the perfect
'Toy' .....a Mini
!
The History:
The Mini Cooper
is one of England's Great Sports Car Legends. It was an inspired
concoction that became the Rally Car of the 1960's, 1970's, and
then reappeared, to become a Cult Car in 2000. You've seen
them in the Mike Myer's Austin Power's film "Goldmember",
(quote: "It's Not the SIZE that matters !, It's How you Use
it ! "), and various other movies, frequently having the pant's driven off them,
including "The
Italian Job" ( starring Mark Wahlberg & Charlize
Theron). In fact, in their heyday- each of The Beatles
drove Mini Coopers! It all started in 1964 when Paddy Hopkirk
earned the term "Giant Killer" by simply wasting
the big V8 Ford Falcon's in the Monte Carlo Rally, coming
in First and Fourth Place ( after driving 3,000 miles - they won
by a 30 point margin!). Pitted against much bigger, better
cars like the Austin Healey 3000, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Citroen
and Saab, it went on to win the 1964 Tulip Rally, 1963 Alpine
Rally, Monte Carlo Rally in 1965 and 1967, as well as, 25 other
prestigious competitions. Because of it's maneuverability, low
center of gravity and front wheel drive, it could 'dance'
around the competition.. WINNING every time. In
fact, it would have won it's FOURTH Monte Carlo Rally if it wasn't
disqualified by dubious intent (a techinical lighting infraction)
by the French officials ! You will quickly find out that even
when driven to it's absolute limits, it still corners "flat
as a pancake". This car is the perfect blend of 'cute' /
unique looks, precise steering, terrific handling, uncanny balance
and the feeling of "I can get away with almost anything kind-of-car".
The Mini is the
brainchild of England's own (Sir) John Cooper, who for years
still received a $4 Royalty on every car built. Much like ( but,
not ) Adolph Hitler's involvement with the Volkswagen, the Designer
Alec Issigonis, designed the car to be "The People's
Car" but, humorously, never approved of the "S"
Model Performance version. British Motor Corporation (BMC) DID,
however, and they went on to build the "S" Model to
everybodies satisfaction. This new
Space Efficient, Fuel Efficient 'Econo-Box" has recently
been offered with a Supercharged Engine and (re) dubbed the "S"
Model. The Mini Cooper 'S' takes the "short -wide
car theme" to the Ever
Livin' Max and has
the wheels pushed out .... to the corners, as far as possible.
It's actually only 11.9 ft. long (almost a full foot shorter than
the Miata) however, it's not short on practicality. It
carries two large adults up front and two small adults, or leg-less
children in the back. Amazingly it seats drivers up to 6'7"
Tall as the doors open wide at 80 degrees. The ergonomic buck
for the Mini is the current BMW 3-Series so, all the basic controls,
pedals, shifter and steering wheel are placed, like the 3-Series
Bimmer, squarely in front of the driver...not, off slightly to
the side like most Front Engine Drive cars. The inside is a
Retro 60's Simple-but-Practical Look designed with the design
of tubular aluminum, carried out on the Dash, Armrests, Door Panels
and Shifter. The Dash carries a Monster Tachometer mounted on
the Steering Column with Matching Gauges set off to the side.
It's easy to read as the numbers are almost child-like in
proportion and size. Twelve Warning Lights give a 'Christmas
Tree Effect ' when you start the car and the Suspension feels
stable and balanced due to over sized anti-roll bars, front and
rear. If you're in a panic to stop, the Mini blossoms with
Monster Brakes on each corner. The ASC+T Traction Control make
it hard to make a mistake, no matter what the driving surface.
Best Part: it still gets 24.9 mpg while performing 0-60
mph in about 6.5 sec. We bought a 2003 Mini when they were first
introduced and (regrettably) sold it to one of our best
friends. When he wouldn't sell it back, we went searching for
another "Special One". We found it in the MC-40. The only thing we really hate about it
is.... once again, fighting to see who drives it each day
!