Compare/Contrast Of A 1960s Classic Mini Cooper & A Brompton Together At Last!
 

I have finally had the opportunity to photograph my Brompton together with a classic 1960s Mini Cooper. These cars are very rare now around here. I think that these photographs do a nice job of illustrating where Bromptons were developed from. I always thought of my Brompton as a folding bike version of the classic Mini Cooper.

Nods in total agreement! Lovely photos!
(For those that don't know; Alex Moulton designed the suspension system on the Mini)

I have a Mini too! I bought it for $10..it was that bad. restored it myself, I can proudly say I made my first car...



Very nice Austin Mini/ look-a-like Morris

Speaking of which, my '68 deluxe, (that was ridiculously modded to Cooper S specs), had hydrolastic suspension. I heard that some of the guys in the factory used to try and drink the fluid as it was part alchohol......mad Englishmen? :lol:

That might account for the 'quality' welding on the mk one rear forks... :)

Thank you for all of your kind and generous comments. While I am on the subject, could anyone tell me if my Brompton could actually fit inside the Mini? I think the Brompton could (at least in the rear seat & perhaps squeezing in the front seat). The owner of the Mini was not present to ask permission to try it out myself.

The Brompton would fit inside the Mini in the back, but it might require you to remove the front passenger seat first. With Aussie Minis the seat was held in place with 2 bolts with wingnuts, it took about 20 secs to get the seat out. When I had my Mini I would remove the front seat, then take both wheels out of my racing bike, put it upside down next to me with wheels and gear in the back and head off to a road race....IN STYLE!!

If you can picture my 3 kids in the back, clothes bags filling every pocket and under the rear seat, on the rear parcel shelf, the rear trunk, (with it's 2 fuel tanks) total full of luggage, in the front my wife and I with side door pocket full.....AND 2 casseroles under the front seats, all heading off for a weekend away. Nicely modded 1330cc BMC engine humming away sweetly at 70mph, then yes....It should fit a Brompton.

What a pity they don't make the Mini any more. (The BMW Mini while nice is not of the same class. They lost the plot somewhere.) I have as a kid loved the Mini shape and always wanted one. Nothing has changed. Only the availability.

I may have to get a Brommie instead. ;)

Jur,

Up unto about the year 2000, the Poms were still making the Mini in it's original shape, I understand you can still get a new body which is known as a "Heritage" product, but unfortunately the costs of getting it here to Oz would be costly.
There are still some very good examples around, especially up here in the country away from the metal- eating coastal breezes. Buy one cheap and restore it, but you need deep pockets....mine drained me of approx 20+k

The original Mini was a revolution in small car design. Sure, there were exisiting small cars like the rear-engined Fiat 500s and the shrunken-standard Morris Minor, but the Mini was a complete rethink of what a car should be.

The obvious comparison in the bike world is the bikes of Alex Moulton.

Later, other cars would follow the seminal Mini, evolving the original paradigm shifting ideas - like the original Honda Civic.

An apt comparison in the bike world is the Brompton.

Best,
tcs

Yeah, nothing like high-polution engines powering flyweight chassis down the road, practically guaranteeing the occupants would be seriously if not fatally injured in any crash. Ah, those were the days!

tcs

So now we are surrounded by inattentive/incompetent drivers in multi ton machines. They are safe but anyone outside the cage is not.

Aaron:)