MEET THE OWNER: JAMES MACBETH AND HIS MINI CITY

James is the Managing Director of Auto Windscreens and his Mini is a car that would have been unthinkable to the average economy-minded driver 41 years ago. No City would have featured an electric blue paint finish, alloy wheels and whitewall tyres, as this was the entry-level model. In 1980, a motorist who wished for reclining front seats, opening rear windows, reversing lights and fresh air vents, needed to place an order for the HL. Most owners were grateful for the ticket pocket in the driver’s sun visor and the ultra-stylish dogtooth check upholstery.

The MacBeth Mini also dates from a strange period in the Mini’s history. By the autumn of 1980, BL’s marketing emphasis was firmly on the Metro, and as the decade progressed, Longbridge planned to phase out the Issigonis design. However, the impact of the 25th-anniversary model in 1984 resulted in a change of fortunes.

Furthermore, as James points out, the time when the Mini could be seen on virtually every high street is now long past. Even when production ended in October 2000, they were a niche model rather than economical everyday transport. Yet twenty years earlier, the sound of an A-series engine at full spate was as familiar as hearing Adam and the Ants blaring from a branch of Our Price Records.

James came by his fine example some three years ago, and his aim was a joint project to be undertaken with his son. He immediately realised the sheer amount of work required, but no true Mini enthusiast shies from a challenge. So, over the past 36 months, the City has been refurbished to standards probably higher than at the factory.

Today the car now features that stunning paint finish, plus all-new glass and chrome work. All that remained was that crucial first post-restoration test drive, which took place last week. There James learned that the brochure claims of headroom that meets the needs of a six-footer were slightly exaggerated. He also rediscovered the joys of the ‘bus driver’ steering wheel, familiar to generations of Mini owners, combined with a distinctly limited range of seat adjustment.

On the road, the experience was unforgettable. This was partially because James opted to retain all drum braking, a set-up that requires a slightly different approach. There was also the fact that modern ‘small cars’ appear leviathan-sized compared with a Mini. James reflects that at one point, it appeared that a bus was on the verge of swallowing his car.

Above all, this Mini City provides more entertainment than a model costing three or four times as much. James’s son loves the car; the public reaction is one of delight at seeing a Mini, and the proud owner describes it as one of the funniest ever cars to drive. BL claimed that the City brought exhilaration to motoring, and for once, this was no mere sales hyperbole.

With thanks to: James MacBeth.

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