The Mini Cooper Has Rockstar Status

There are certain cars that define a place and time. Cars that are so part of the culture that they helped to define it. The Mini is one of them. But why is that? Well, as Mr. Sumner Norman explains, it's because the Mini was ubiquitous–everyone bought one, be it moms shopping for groceries or international recording stars like the Beatles who recognized its universal appeal. And just like Beetles (the VWs mind you, not the boys from Liverpool) and Ford Model Ts, people began modifying Minis for racing almost as soon as they hit the marketplace.

Sumner's 1971 Morris Mini was not immune to this trend as it sports the Cooper's 1275cc engine along with its disc brakes. But the Mini was never really about horsepower, it's more about the handling and according to Sumner, the bends are where the Mini really comes alive for you courtesy of its rubber cone suspension. And raising your spirits is what the Mini is really all about.

In fact, if you're ever feeling down all you need to do is jump in the Mini and go for a drive. Peoples' response is just amazing according to Sumner, they cheer you on. Folks wave or flash the thumbs up or ask questions so often that it's by the time you get home you'll be in a better mood. Whether your day job is rockstar or not, a jaunt in the Mini turns you into one.







Drive Tastefully®

[andrewb.]

Here is a young man who understands style.

[yeco]

"If you want to be in a better mood, just take the mini for a short drive".

That is sooo true.

[shinrasboy]

A refined and fantastic video and a young owner who truly understands what he has. Brilliant

[nd]

Young folks like this give me a bit of hope for the future of our (obsession.) Well done!

[thomaswebb]

Why do people have to be such jerks with comments? He seems like a nice kid, and he obviously loves his car. And it's nice to see someone his age taking care of a vintage machine apparently on his own. More than most people twice his age can do, I am willing to bet. Most people can't even drive a manual 'box anymore, let alone properly, let alone one on the "other" side of the car. Keep it up, Mr. Norman.

[MartinKohoutekchannel]

Cool to see such a youngster with good taste in cars! Not like I'm old, but you know...

[JassonCascante]

This video makes me want to go and hug my classic mini.

[mity]

I love it when ordinary people's love for his or her car is evident.
Its not about how fast, or how economical. Nor even how it look.
None of that matter, when you love that one particular car.

[rosssoutherland]

Really enjoyed this! Great car! I spent
my 20’s in SoCal and really miss balboa, PCH & Laguna. I was running these hills back then in my 1972 BMW 2002. Thanks again for the video. Makes me miss those days!

[maprow]

I don't see anything wrong with changing the steering wheel to improve the driving experience. Just keep the original in case you ever want to bring it back to stock. Same goes for any other modifications. As long as you can easily bring the car back to stock, you may as well tweak a couple of things to make it more enjoyable.

[thimble]

Give that kid the ten thousand dollars!

[arkhsm]

Great to see a clued-up young fellow with as much character as his car. Loved the line where he says "it goes British on me ", haha !!

[drveritystrange-fish]

Good all round appraisal. And you're right, one of the best things about these cars is that, despite its celebrity status, no-one feels intimidated by its presence, so everyone just smiles right back at you! ;-)

[tonydeighton]

First car I bought in 1979 was a mini 100. 4 cars later I got a mini 850. My wish I'd kept them. Brilliant cars and this channel is great. Keep it up you American mini enthusiasts. Britain is watching and really enjoying the content.

[TheSevanovich]

Awesome car.
Nothing strikes that chord like classic cars do. I'm glad there's other young guys like me that are into these things. Cars like this mini embody a period when automakers had soul built soul into their products.

[brighton_dude]

That is a very nice Mini.

I live in Brighton & Hove in the UK and each year the Mini owners club has a big event in our city and the place is full of minis.

In the early 70s my mother bought a red Mini with the 850 engine. It was second-hand. I was too young to drive at that time. Our Mini was very reliable actually and it was a much loved car. We kept it for many years. It was the most basic Mini. The door windows were the sliding type and the door handles on the interior were not handles at all but cables that hung across the door. You pulled down on the cable and the door opened.

[dhoosee]

Great car, and the owner is a very well-spoken young man, which is a LOT more than I can say for many of the younger kids these days.  This guy loves his car, has a lot of insight into it as well as background knowledge about it, and truly appreciates it!    On the other hand:  Bieber driving his LaFerrari acting like a gangsta is a perfect example of a twat! 

[FilipABARTH]

This was my dream car when I was a kid, and still it is. Now I own Citroen 2CV, but I hope someday I'll have this beauty. Great car!!!

[susheergovindaraj]

Such a nice and cute looking car to look at...Happy to see a pristine conditioned car to drive around and enjoy every minute of it...Long live this beauty..

[cisium]

I love these cars. There are two in my neighborhood (I live in the USA) and once this summer they pulled up at opposite ends of the main intersection. All we needed was a Triumph or Norton bike to pull up and it would have been full-on surreal.