I had the last of the"original" Minis.....
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Hello Arthur on this Beautiful, Sunny Sunday......Hatches battened down and eye of the storm due...........
Yes, that run out Mini was tempting, I was living very close to a dealership in Wiltshire at the time and did fancy one, but....I had previously owned a 1960, turn key, push button start Mini Austin 7 which quickly rusted and would die if you drove through a large puddle, until I fitted a plastic cover over the distributor that sat behind the grille ! So I never did own that one. The BMW R53 Mini though was an amazing piece of kit and the 2004-06 run out model with working gearbox was a treat. I did drive the original mid 1960's Cooper S with spare wheel on the boot lid in the same colours as yours, now that moved !
Back to Today and the 124 Spider though....At the price we paid for a Japanese technology, Italian Styled Sports car I believe we could not have done better with all models, be it Classica, Lusso or Abarth outstanding. I am surprised that Fiat sold the Abarth in the USA as a luxury model rather than a "Cosworth" or "Shelby" Dream Machine and only giving it 4 hp over the Lusso ? I am still experiencing drivers getting up close behind to see what I am driving and stopping at Petrol Stations, the Beach and car parks to explore and discuss, I expect many of our members are experiencing the same as very few people even know it exists whilst the MX 5 is known and Loved by many. Not sure the ND has gone down so well though and I wonder if, when the NE comes out it will resemble an updated 124 Spider. Cheers and Stay Safe
ron