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 SEVERAL 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 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 !!) COVERING 3,000 MILES TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP .... TO ILLUSTRATE IT WASN'T A FLUKE BUT, '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 OF THESE 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?
 OURS IS NFS

**ORIGINAL VERSIONS WERE KNOWN FOR POOR VENTILATION, CRANKY ELELCTRICS, LOOSING MUFFLERS ON RAILROAD TRACKS AND CRACKED GEARBOXES LEFT ON ROAD DIPS & RR TRACKS

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 Rally 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, Chrome Grille/ Mirror faces/ Rear Boot Handle, "GB" Chrome Insignia,  Aluminum Faced Pedals, and custom ( to this version 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 MC-40 Shift Knob, Badged Rubber Mats and Leather Wrapped 3-Spoke Steering Wheel.. Additionally, each car is fitted with Special BBS Style 17" 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 Special Gauge package. 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 car list priced at over $30,000 with the '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'... we LOVE Ours.......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 !