by MiniClubmanEstate » Mon Nov 03, 2008 7:56 pm
The best car I have ever owned is one of the worst built cars of all time. In the 1970's in between walkouts and other strikes bodged together was a small brown Mini Estate. This car was not jigged properly, packed with filler as a result of not looking like it had been put together right, wired from off cuts and other rubbish that was lying around the British Leyland plant and finally all of this might was protected by ziebart rustproofing.
This car triumphantly took to the roads and deteriorated over a period of 29 years, patched and MOT'd by the use of horrid moisture collecting over-sills.
I bought 'Smoky' at by the time the engine was ruined along with everything else. A full engine rebuild was required revealing even more shoddy Leyland workmanship. Eventually enough was done to allow Smoky to continue in service awaiting the next disasters to come. Many breakdowns after all of which Smoky continued home under power, a few years latter and I dread to think how much money has been spent in that time it was time for some major bodywork. Smoky required over £3000 of body work restoration for the last MOT which revealed genuine Leyland filler, some very uneven panel joints and other horrors.
Smoky is now after 30 years a reliable and practical car, one of the greats from the 1970's.
There have been many problems with Smoky since creation but all can be cast aside for the experience of driving an incredible small estate car with a unique style and character.
Regardless of finances Smoky will be maintained indefinitely, some people dream of their ultimate car, I have already got mine.
Andrew: PCV, IAM Car
Smoky - Pronounced as Smokey, a unique little Mini.