Mini Gets Around

Apr 13, 2008 update to the Innocenti Mini Cooper project car

The Mini got a nice workout yesterday. First, it got a much-needed bath. Then we cruised over to the All British Car Club of Volusia County’s Golden Oldies Car Show at the Riviera ALF. We showed up about half an hour before the show’s end, but they still welcomed us with an info sign and a place to park.

Afterward, we drove down to New Smyrna Beach, Florida, for their cruise-in. Once a month, the town’s main drag is packed with hundreds of cool cars, from traditional hotrods and muscle cars to British sports cars, Italian exotics, kit cars, lowriders, woodies, American classics, rat rods, street machines and just about everything else. There’s even a section reserved for bikes.

We’re still amazed at how much attention the little Mini gets. First thing everyone asks about? The fuel mileage.

The Mini didn’t miss a beat during its entire adventure, although we need to install the proper shift boot. The ill-fitting one we currently have lets all manner of engine funk and heat into the passenger compartment.