Registry: 1973 Leyland Mini

1973 Leyland Australia Mini Window Van* modified with unleaded head on otherwise standard 1098cc A Series engine, electronic dizzy pack, relays, 8.4" Metro disc brakes, 5 12"x5" mag wheels 165x60 12" Yokohama tyres. Auxilary radiator added for One Lap. [in 2011 - Hi-los & Koni Sport adjustable dampers added up front - in 2014 Hi-los & S Brake drums at rear & 4 cone Alex Moulton Smootha-Ride springs, 4 new knuckles & on car adjustable HD lower arms & tie-rods at front]].

* the 'square nose' Minis were known as Clubman Window Vans until March 1973 when Leyland Aust. reverted to calling all models Mini.

Bought and prepared this Mini to drive One Lap of Australia during 2011 the 50th Anniversary year for Mini in Australia.

Drove 22,000 kilometres over 70 days on the One Lap. Booked too late for ferry to Tasmania and Tasminifest in Hobart. Another 7,000 kilometres driven on Prologue/test drive to/from Sydney, The Rylstone Rally, Mini 50th Week on Sunshine Coast & to Brisbane Mini Muster.

Returned to Australia in October 2013 to drive to Melbourne for Ferry to Tasmania, 2 week tour of Tasmania, attend the biennial Tasminifest on Nov. 10th and return to Queensland via Great Ocean Road, Ballarat, Echuca & Murray River, Lightning Ridge & Toowoomba.

Another 8,000 kilometres/5,000 miles added to Odo since I returned to Australia. Have only needed to replace Quinton Hazel style drive shaft u-joints after 25,000 miles in use.

Shipping plan was put in place to bring ROO the Window Van home to Canada. ROO was delivered to shipper in Brisbane on Monday, Nov. 25th. ROO got to Vancouver's RoRo port on Tuesday, January 14th. Soil Exam was clean. Customs docs completed, tax & duty paid early on the Friday morning. Authorization from Terminal to make pickup received mid-day Friday and ROO driven from the dock in the afternoon.

Provincial safety inspections was passed with flying colours Monday, January 20th...however, Commercial Vehicle Safety & Enforcement (CVSE) inspection said side marker lights & reflectors were needed (as all Minis imported to Canada in the 1970s had them). CVSE inspector accepted LED lights mounted in City Flairs (amber at front/red at rear) and stick on reflectors (same colours as lights). Glass was all good and new sealed beams were installed (to dip to the right vs. left for RHD Mini). With delays, ROO was finally registered, licenced, insured and driven home on January 25th...in sunshine!

Go to - http://www.MiniAdventureCanada.com - for 'One Lap' trip story

Since January 2014, ROO was prepared for a transcontinental trip to Ontario/Ohio/Wisconsin & home. In 2015 & 2016, ROO was entered in the VMC's Fall Escape, was at Mini Meet West 2015 in abbotsford, B.C. and in 2016 headed south to San Diego for Mini Meet West. ROO was also on the grounds for Vancouver & Portland ABFMs.

After entering the ALCAN 5000 Summer Rally 2018 in December 2016, thought was given to preparing ROO for the August event. With a chance to access an OEM Cooper head in January 2017, an 1185cc power unit build was planned and suspension upgrades.

The preparation included taking an OEM 12G295 head to Australia (I went over in April as we were going to cross the Gibb River Road in May/June) & by Greyhound & Rivercat from Brisbane to Parramatta where Graham Russell picked me up. Hardened exhaust seats were installed, seats cut for Paul Ivey race valves, cam was ground & lifters faced, and Graham cleaned up a bit under the seats. Then back to Brisbane with modded head, valves, lifters, cam, +100 pistons & Cooper S valve springs.

On getting home, the old block was stripped, mag tested, bored & decked. Crank was cleaned, checked & journals polished up standard/standard. Center main was machined for strap. Rods were cleaned, checked for round and all rotating bits were balanced. Engine was assembled with all new bearings, oil pump etc. Transmission was stripped and rebuilt with A+ main shaft, new close ratio laygear, new 2nd & 3rd gears, new forks, new competition layshaft & baulk rings, new crosspin diff, new outputs and all new bearings, out put bushes & seals.

Suspension got new road/rally doughnuts & GAZ adjustable dampers at the corners. New steering rack, new hubs, ball joints, bearings, CVs and a laser alignment.

Sadly a bearing failure saw ROO on the Sweep Trailer at Johnsons Crossing, Mile 836 of the Alaska Hwy. Power unit to be completely stripped & made right. One change will see the Rally clutch spring out as it is very much on/off and not suited to regular driving. The S spring will go back in.