1961 Morris Mini Reviews, Pricing & Specs

1961 Morris 850. 73rd Mini built in Australia. Almost original condition. Only issue is the surface rust on the doors. Fun to drive. Costs next to nothing to run, as with all old cars, they do cost a lot when they brake down. I love the simplicity of the car, from the start button and high beam dipper switch on the floor, to the pumping windscreen washers, and the sliding windows, this is driving at it's rawest. Add to this the mighty 850 east west engine, with a massive 34BHP (thats 24 KW for the metricly educated!) All round drum brakes, and 10" wheels and you can start to see how small this car is. Although I must say that I have done over the 74MPH that it said was the top speed in the book, even if it is on a slight decline. All in all I love driving along on a sunny day, just crusin and getting the looks from on lookers who either have had a mini or wanted one. They all ask if it is a Cooper S but while i would love one, it is a tad out of my price range, besides, this is about as old as you can get in Australia, certainly in this condition. I reckon that this is a great ride, highly recomended.Dec 29, 2008

Character. This car has bags of it. Ok, you might find more creature comforts on a motorbike but the simplicity of the car makes it a great restorers car. For most cars of it's age, the car is pretty good when it comes to fuel economy, getting up to around 30mpg if you can keep your lead foot off the accelerator. Performance...right... this is never going to be the car's strongpoint with it's 850cc engine but the handling is brilliant, the mini later making a name for itself in the monte carlo rally. Oct 02, 2008