05: 38 I love this guy. When Jay asks "can we open the hood", the guy (instead of rushing to comply like every other guest) replies, "Ya, we'll get the hood open for ya' in a second", then continues to talk and talk. He wasn't about to be rushed. In fact it took him almost 8 more minutes of talking before he actually opened the "bonnet". Jay took it all in stride, however. :-)
This more than any episode I've watched shows the depth of Jay's knowledge and enthusiasm for all things automotive. I have a new respect for Leno for keeping pace with this particular guest's knowledge.
Love vintage Minis ... as a Canadian I purchased many: 849cc, 998cc, 1071cc and 4, 1275 cc Cooper S. Great little cars and they still put a smile on my face every time I see one.
One of your best episodes yet. Mr. Reid is very knowledgeable and I love the fact that he didn't show any animosity toward the Honda engines like most people here in the U.S. do, it truly shows his professionalism and passion for racing and building great Mini's. Hope his company succeeds even more and wish him 100 more years.
Jay, we enjoy all your videos but I don't think I've ever seen you more engaged with a guest and their car. You looked like you were really enjoying yourself and the cameras just happened to be there. Thanks to you and Graham Reid.
They were made up until 2000 in this shape, with a 1.3l fuel injection engine. You could import one, it's still called a 'classic' mini, without being a classic age wise.
The body didn't really change much from '59 to 2000. RHD, LHD, there was some engineering involved for that, but Canada has tons of LHD. I upgraded mine to a Metro 1.3 w/throttle body fuel injection and electronic ignition just to make life easier, plus a bonus of ~20 bhp. I got 50mpg until an oxy sensor wigged out, dropped me down to 42. Tip: They do NOT like full size Corbeau 5 point harness racing seats. 22 inch seat back means you can't recline if you've got the bolt-in rollcage installed.
I used to work at our family business which was only about 400 yards from Heriitage Mini which is on the corner of Pomona Ave. and 17th street in Costa Mesa, CA , they always had more than a few Mini's parked on the curb by the shop, pretty cool to see them on Jay Leno
Late to the show but what an excellent one. Nice to see someone who knows his stuff when it comes to Minis. Two “oldish” guys talking cars from the days of my youth. My first Mini was a ‘59 Austin Seven, that was followed by a ‘63 Cooper with a 1071cc. Oh boy who would have guessed all those years ago they would become so collectible, back then we drove them to death, junked them & moved onto something else. Big thanks to Graham for sharing his knowledge & enthusiasm for our Iconic Mini. Long may your happy childhood continue 👍🏻. One of the best episodes I’ve watched.
The first production original steel rims didn't hold up in the incredible cornering of these cars, they bent them and they were the "weak link" which when strengthened (thicker steel) allowed the incredible road holding Mini to beat everything in the corners on a "twisty" road course. I loved my '67 850, but it had been set up to race by the original a previous owner who bought it new in Germany. 1275 cc Austin American block, with an MG 1100 head I agree with all the praise of this guest! I smile any time I think of a Mini and this is a great Leno segment. Thanks Jay!
March, 1965: My black-on-white Austin Cooper S; four guys and their luggage, Chicago to Daytona for the motorcycle races. Fabulous time... especially launching the car out of the infield tunnel and getting airborne!
Holy jeez! Don't remind me. Or at least don't let my mum hear about that! I got her bog standard Mini 1000 airborne off a hump back bridge on several occasions when I was approximately 19. Hmm, yes, it was around 1972, and if I remember to tell her, she'll probably laugh her dear old grey head off!! :¬D
I really like these episodes where he has specialists like this Mini Cooper expert on the show. You can see without much effort that this guy really knows these Mini's like the back of his hand, and is also super passionate about these little cars.
This video brought back memories of bombing around Europe during the early 1970's in a Cooper "S". Genuine 'go kart' handling, phenomenal cornering and road feel. You'd possibly feel a bit beat up on long drives but it was always worth it. Great video!
I grew up near Brainerd Int'l Raceway (BIR) in central Minnesota, 10 turn road race course with a mile long front straight used for drag racing. The classes that had Minis were hilarious, I swear the drivers never lifted or shifted the whole way around. They would get eaten alive down the straight and into flat-out turn 1, and then slowly reel the larger cars in on the twisties.
Chris James I had an austin healy sprite with a 1275 and could blow away my buddies 2002 and anothers 610 datsun. At the time I had a 750 k honda built to the hilt and if I didnt enjoy that bike so much id had put that engine in my sprite
@@billygraham3287 That was the eternal story with those little beauties. If you got into a long section of twisties, especially gravel, they'd eat you alive. Depending on the kind of timed section (this is rallying) you were on, they could disappear around a corner and just vanish into the woods and they'd be long gone just as you hit the time stop behind them, their distinctive exhaust notes just audible in the darkness at two in the morning. You could make out their gear changes two miles away. Beautiful. I didn't have a Mini so I run what I brung, a '67 350SS Camaro that was tweaked a little here and there ( modded 850 cfm four-barrel, aggressive distributor setting, no air filter and traction bars.) This was during many a mid-summer all-nighter in Eastern Ontario. I killed them on the straights...you know the rest. Although once I was able to catch a Mini on a long gravel straight into a left hander covered with marbles and we both got there at the same time, me on his bumper. All he could see was one headlight and wall-to-wall grille in his mirror. When we started the turn, he piled it on and so I did this once, and it worked. I shifted the car left and hooked the two left tires into the ditch and kept the rims of my wheels below road level and used controlled centrifugal force instead of road surface traction and passed him on the inside ...in the ditch...and I wasn't coasting. The Mini left side window was filled with saucer-sized eyeballs when the driver figured out that he was being passed by something that to him was an aircraft carrier that apparently didn't care about the laws of physics. In a sane world ( I have *never* claimed to be sane) I whould have just slid across the corner and carried us both into the trees at about 100 kph and he would have been the filling in the sandwich. He backed off quite smartly, conceding the curve. The curve straightened into a long straight county road so I just popper up and hammered it. He never did catch me. Doing over 100-120 mph or 200 kph down a straight gravel road in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night is just a fukn HOOT! This was about 2:30 in the morning. NB - These were on sections of road that had been shut down for the auto club, SCCA, by the Provincial Police from a certain time to a certain time just so we could go hooning around the countryside in all manner of specialized machines, trying not to get ourselves killed, kinda. Good times, good times. Nothing like performance car war stories.... Hope you liked it. This is not fiction, btw....
Very interesting,. I got my driving license in the 60's and we all wanted a mini, ( I am from the UK), we learned our mechanics trade on the Mini. The "Holy Grail" for us young boy racers was 0-60 in under 10 secs, how things have changed. We used to polish our cylinder heads, fit twin 1.5 inch SU's, centre big bore exhausts, and of course bought all the Paddy Hopkirk accessories. The Cooper S versions, with the twin fuel filler caps were a must have. Of course everyone put go faster stripes, twin fuel caps, big bore exhausts, wheel arches and spacers(Which used to eat through your bearings), and a Cooper S badge, it was still slow. Of course we all fixed them using the official tools, a big hammer, and had great fun. Thanks for the video, and good to see an Iconic brand still appreciated.
I pitched in a few bucks to a crowdfunding campaign the Bonneville Mini team did 2 years ago. Speedweeks got cancelled, but I'm glad they came back this year and got a couple records out of all the hard work they put in.
graham and jay you guys both look like you would be a ton of fun to hang out with. i know so well the feeling graham gets from building engines and not working on things that dont excite you ( i hate routinue and being bored which is something i love about building engines ,cylinder heads and race bikes). i have been a motorcycle mechanic for the last 28 years and for the most part loved it. i never even considered it to be job really. but working in dealerships kind of soured me to it . i taught mechanics in college for 4 years as well just so i could get away from that daily grind and to try to pass on some of my knowhow on to the replacements of us older guys . after i finished that part of my life i finally decided that i couldnt go back to a dealership or ever work for anyone ever again. so i started up a small one man shop building classic 70's and early 80's muscle bikes and race bikes and motors and hot rod harleys. best thing i ever have done. by the way going to the salt flats next year with 2 bikes to race for the first time. great job with videos jay love them keep them coming always
I can relate as a kid I gravitated to anything mechanical I had fiats, triumphs, healeys. My first pro job as a mechanic in 1972, im 64, was in Renton wa with Scotty who raced minis scca. I worked on his and all his buddy's minis and they were fast along with working on all kinds British. lotus, jags, xk120, 40, 50, 100/6, 3000, mgtc, td, tf, a, b, c, alpine, tiger, rover and even a triumph mayflower and borgward isabella. I have pretty much worked on it all. German, swedish, Italian French but I still learn something new everyday. I had my own shop for 35 years. I do own a 62 lancia flaminia gt touring convertible 3c. Anyways this video brought back some memorys thanks.
Hats off to the New Zealanders for over coming the challenge of putting so much great stuff in the tiny engine space. A buddy had a Mini in the late sixties in Germany and it was a hoot to just ride in. Great traction even on black ice with four guys in it. Not a powerful car, just fun, like being in a go cart!
That Green Mini in British Green is all one could ask for out of any car, not just a Mini. Watching this motivates me to farther restore my 1970 BMW 2002 :)
Yeah keep watching buddy, I have been watching videos for the past two years just to help me get on with my project but she's still sitting where she's at lol
That was the colour I had, and with the white roof. Great mini ('67) until a drunk driver smashed into it just behind the driver's door post, destroying the back and spinning it horizontally. I actually got out without a scratch. Those were the days when you could do simple inexpensive mods like small steering wheels, wide wheels, extra instruments, racing seats and radios
I had a clubman estate back in the early 90s and the one thing I miss about it is what everyone is saying, how much fun it was to drive. Fantastic little car!
Yeah. Heritage Garage knows their stuff. They pop up on the forums alot etc. I have the Mini Bug. 2013 MCS. Wanted one since 16. Now I want the Austin or the vintage model. Jay said it right too when he said it's fun to drive a small car fast or slow car fast. I had a 2009 Smart Car that was modified slightly. Absolutely right fun. Although the older and newer Mini is much more practical. I kind of want to see what that base Model Mini with the 1.3 Turbo is like. Obviously it's not the S. But a Small Engine with a Turbo, has to be fun. Same goes for the Smart Car. They are turbo as well although to easily tossed by the wind and road. The Mini has always been Glue. Same with the Abarth. Good video!!! Aside from being a Cooper guy. You can tell it was an engaging conversation and you could see and understand the passion behind the older car and the Mini in general.
would love to meet this gentleman. knows his cars, knows ALOT. can hear some scottish or something in his voice. he speaks with pride on what hes done.
I had a 68 cooper S back in the 80s, this video brought it all back, even the sound. I prefer the sliding windows, the hollow doors gives a little more room inside. and have big storage in the bottom of doors, useful. great video..
Had 3 in my time, built a Cooper S replica from a ' new ' bodyshell.My favourite car since as a child in 1959, my mum's best friend had a new Morris Mini-Minor in cherry red, and she took me for a hair-raising drive through tight country lanes,its road-holding abilities was unmatchable at that time in a production car- and all from 848c.c !.For all their faults, they are aesthetically perfect,and still look as cool and sharp and timeless after 57 years, designed by a temperamental genious !.The BMW ' thing ' may be a good car - but it is NOT a Mini -it's fat and obese, this is the British Motor Corporation's masterpiece.
Jay just gets it. The supercar episodes are interesting and I like them very much but these episodes featuring more attainable cars are just awesome. Sweet mini!
I absolutely love the mini, in all it's 'configurations'. My father has been collecting old minis for as long as I can remember, so that have probably influenced me somewhat, haha! =P He got at least four standard 850s, two Cooper S 1275s, two 'pickups', a 'station wagon'. all of them from 1960 to 1970 and at least four Clubmans that I know of. And a gigantic storage full of engines. I grew up surrounded by mini-parts. And I really love all of it. .. Nice vid, you can tell Graham Reid really loves what he's doing.
When I was a young man I owned a 1000cc mini for a while. I had no engineering experience but put in a skimmed polished cylinder head with larger valves, skimmed flywheel and webber carb, electronic ignition and big bore hollow exhaust. It was the most fun I ever had driving, until a got an Escort XR3, which was insane!
I had an 83 mini Mayfair as my second car at 17 yrs old, 30 years later I've never driven anything that handles as good....and I've probably owned 50 cars
I smiled the whole time while you drove this Mini. in my 20's I owned 5 of these at different times. The latest on was a 1979, All were Canadian models as that's where I live. Took it off the road long term to do some speed mods including a tweaked 1275cc engine. Life and raising a daughter then got in the way. Sold it a few years later to a guy from California who trailered it away as a project for him and his son. I still miss that car all these years later and still wonder what ever became of it...
Are you Kiwi's taking visitors??? I've heard New Zealand is one of the best places to live, and many of is want to get out of the messes up countries we live in. 😜
Back in 1958 (first year of big back window) got a new VW 1200 Deluxe in the UK. Extras specified before delivery were Diamond Grey metallic paint, Windscreen washer, self-cancelling trafficators, fuel gauge, a front anti-roll bar, parcel shelf, Phillips Radio LW/MW, passenger sun visor, rear wing chip guards, full-length webasto sunroof. Kept the car 14 years repainted 3 times.
Love these videos with happy brilliant enthusiasts. Glad to hear you story about honoring tpur friends memory with his engine. I am working on a project with the same principle. Graham Reid, keep driving. Hopefully I'll see you & Jay Leno out on the road some time.
Great interview, a lot of knowledge, great quotes "well you don't need to stop, you just need to go fast" "when you start pushing stuff to the limits, sometimes the limits win"
I got sick of my Mini eng/trans breaking so I put a Honda civic 1237 OHC alu....5spd...(110lbs lighter off the front !)... with a Rayay turbo (no wastegate)...169hp/8000rpm. Took one day to do plus having the axles welded. Dependable , mild mannered and faster than anything. Much nicer than a VTEC conversion.Most fun car ever !
I had a Mini Cooper from 2003 to 2007 - bright red with a white roof - it developed a catastrophic oil leak on the M5 resulting in a completely fried engine. I had it rebuilt by an engineer who had been on the Cooper Works team - he put on fuel injection, gas flowed the head, slightly enlarged valves and added an absolutely beautiful stainless sports exhaust. The car was hilarious and great fun to drive. There were a couple of issues though - the breaks weren’t uprated so stopping could be a bit dramatic, and it was a real bugger to start particularly in the damp....once running it made a lovely sound with lots of pops and crackles on the over-run....plus reportably an occasional jet of flame - I didn’t see that (as was driving) but the boot got covered in soot...
Really great episode guys. Thanks so much for that. It's incredible how much horsepower they got out of the Bonneville mini and 10,000rpm on a three main bearing crank? Just amazing. Back in the day I souped up my 105e Anglia and got it to 105bhp at the flywheel on Webers but 6,500rpm was pretty much it with the stock crank. Some guys could race them and touch 7,000 or even a tad more very briefly, but it was always iffy. I'm impressed.
Great memories this brings back when I had a 970s in my old mini, basically a factory destroked 1275 that when taken to a slight overbore would give 999 for the under 1L classes.
.Love it where the guest says ". If it needs new tires, I get tires, I don't even think about it".. That's someone whose undaunted passion for his hobby lets him use the car he built for it's intended purpose and not keep it pristine and untouched like some trophy.
Good to see a fellow Scot. I had a mini years ago, fantastic fun. 40mph felt like 80mph because your butt was so near the ground. They take corners like they're on rails. I think everyone should drive an old mini once in their life.
05: 38 I love this guy. When Jay asks "can we open the hood", the guy (instead of rushing to comply like every other guest) replies, "Ya, we'll get the hood open for ya' in a second", then continues to talk and talk. He wasn't about to be rushed. In fact it took him almost 8 more minutes of talking before he actually opened the "bonnet". Jay took it all in stride, however. :-)
so glad someone noticed that. Loved it!
@@filterss
Why are you glad someone notice ?
Jay showed a bit of respect and moved on.
Click bait to keep you hangin on in there…
Will you please open this Bonnet now please !
This gentlemen is one of the greatest guests on the show. He knows his stuff and speaks about the car with clarity.
This more than any episode I've watched shows the depth of Jay's knowledge and enthusiasm for all things automotive. I have a new respect for Leno for keeping pace with this particular guest's knowledge.
His maws fae Greenock land of Shipbuilding in Scotland. Great watch I agree.
Love vintage Minis ... as a Canadian I purchased many: 849cc, 998cc, 1071cc and 4, 1275 cc Cooper S. Great little cars and they still put a smile on my face every time I see one.
One of your best episodes yet. Mr. Reid is very knowledgeable and I love the fact that he didn't show any animosity toward the Honda engines like most people here in the U.S. do, it truly shows his professionalism and passion for racing and building great Mini's. Hope his company succeeds even more and wish him 100 more years.
one of the best guest jay has ever had on. his story about his friend was something special.
Pure mini enthusiasts make a brew and view. Jay and Grahams skill and enthusiasm infectious. Another great show Jay.
Jay, we enjoy all your videos but I don't think I've ever seen you more engaged with a guest and their car. You looked like you were really enjoying yourself and the cameras just happened to be there. Thanks to you and Graham Reid.
Probably likes the guy cause he Scottish. Leno's mum was Scottish and he is half Scot.
Gorgeous little cars. I would love a classic Mini.
You can tell Jay enjoyed talking with this gentleman. He gets it.
They were made up until 2000 in this shape, with a 1.3l fuel injection engine. You could import one, it's still called a 'classic' mini, without being a classic age wise.
The body didn't really change much from '59 to 2000. RHD, LHD, there was some engineering involved for that, but Canada has tons of LHD. I upgraded mine to a Metro 1.3 w/throttle body fuel injection and electronic ignition just to make life easier, plus a bonus of ~20 bhp. I got 50mpg until an oxy sensor wigged out, dropped me down to 42. Tip: They do NOT like full size Corbeau 5 point harness racing seats. 22 inch seat back means you can't recline if you've got the bolt-in rollcage installed.
You might wanna head over to our channel. We have a video of a Mini with a Honda Turbo Bike Engine. :-)
I used to work at our family business which was only about 400 yards from Heriitage Mini which is on the corner of Pomona Ave. and 17th street in Costa Mesa, CA , they always had more than a few Mini's parked on the curb by the shop, pretty cool to see them on Jay Leno
Late to the show but what an excellent one. Nice to see someone who knows his stuff when it comes to Minis. Two “oldish” guys talking cars from the days of my youth. My first Mini was a ‘59 Austin Seven, that was followed by a ‘63 Cooper with a 1071cc. Oh boy who would have guessed all those years ago they would become so collectible, back then we drove them to death, junked them & moved onto something else. Big thanks to Graham for sharing his knowledge & enthusiasm for our Iconic Mini. Long may your happy childhood continue 👍🏻. One of the best episodes I’ve watched.
The first production original steel rims didn't hold up in the incredible cornering of these cars, they bent them and they were the "weak link" which when strengthened (thicker steel) allowed the incredible road holding Mini to beat everything in the corners on a "twisty" road course. I loved my '67 850, but it had been set up to race by the original a previous owner who bought it new in Germany. 1275 cc Austin American block, with an MG 1100 head I agree with all the praise of this guest! I smile any time I think of a Mini and this is a great Leno segment. Thanks Jay!
This edition of the show is one of the reasons I love Leno's garage.
I could listen to this guy describe grass growing and be utterly enthralled
March, 1965: My black-on-white Austin Cooper S; four guys and their luggage, Chicago to Daytona for the motorcycle races. Fabulous time... especially launching the car out of the infield tunnel and getting airborne!
great memory to have
Holy jeez! Don't remind me. Or at least don't let my mum hear about that! I got her bog standard Mini 1000 airborne off a hump back bridge on several occasions when I was approximately 19. Hmm, yes, it was around 1972, and if I remember to tell her, she'll probably laugh her dear old grey head off!! :¬D
I really like these episodes where he has specialists like this Mini Cooper expert on the show. You can see without much effort that this guy really knows these Mini's like the back of his hand, and is also super passionate about these little cars.
This video brought back memories of bombing around Europe during the early 1970's in a Cooper "S". Genuine 'go kart' handling, phenomenal cornering and road feel. You'd possibly feel a bit beat up on long drives but it was always worth it. Great video!
Best, most real conversation on the channel imho
Old Minis always makes me smile.
My grandfather raced these in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1961. Best small car ever built.
I grew up near Brainerd Int'l Raceway (BIR) in central Minnesota, 10 turn road race course with a mile long front straight used for drag racing. The classes that had Minis were hilarious, I swear the drivers never lifted or shifted the whole way around. They would get eaten alive down the straight and into flat-out turn 1, and then slowly reel the larger cars in on the twisties.
Chris James I had an austin healy sprite with a 1275 and could blow away my buddies 2002 and anothers 610 datsun.
At the time I had a 750 k honda built to the hilt and if I didnt enjoy that bike so much id had put that engine in my sprite
I love the old Mini , teenagers are still using them as a racer car in Chile
Had the Austin seven model when minis ruled the 60s
@@billygraham3287
That was the eternal story with those little beauties. If you got into a long section of twisties, especially gravel, they'd eat you alive. Depending on the kind of timed section (this is rallying) you were on, they could disappear around a corner and just vanish into the woods and they'd be long gone just as you hit the time stop behind them, their distinctive exhaust notes just audible in the darkness at two in the morning. You could make out their gear changes two miles away. Beautiful.
I didn't have a Mini so I run what I brung, a '67 350SS Camaro that was tweaked a little here and there ( modded 850 cfm four-barrel, aggressive distributor setting, no air filter and traction bars.) This was during many a mid-summer all-nighter in Eastern Ontario. I killed them on the straights...you know the rest.
Although once I was able to catch a Mini on a long gravel straight into a left hander covered with marbles and we both got there at the same time, me on his bumper. All he could see was one headlight and wall-to-wall grille in his mirror. When we started the turn, he piled it on and so I did this once, and it worked. I shifted the car left and hooked the two left tires into the ditch and kept the rims of my wheels below road level and used controlled centrifugal force instead of road surface traction and passed him on the inside ...in the ditch...and I wasn't coasting.
The Mini left side window was filled with saucer-sized eyeballs when the driver figured out that he was being passed by something that to him was an aircraft carrier that apparently didn't care about the laws of physics. In a sane world ( I have *never* claimed to be sane) I whould have just slid across the corner and carried us both into the trees at about 100 kph and he would have been the filling in the sandwich. He backed off quite smartly, conceding the curve. The curve straightened into a long straight county road so I just popper up and hammered it. He never did catch me. Doing over 100-120 mph or 200 kph down a straight gravel road in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night is just a fukn HOOT! This was about 2:30 in the morning.
NB - These were on sections of road that had been shut down for the auto club, SCCA, by the Provincial Police from a certain time to a certain time just so we could go hooning around the countryside in all manner of specialized machines, trying not to get ourselves killed, kinda.
Good times, good times.
Nothing like performance car war stories....
Hope you liked it. This is not fiction, btw....
You can tell when Jay is enjoying himself - he is just so happy to listen rather than talk. Great episode!
21 min. into this, I realize, this is just a cool conversation. Thx Again, Jay. Great guest, by the way. 😉👍
That was a great show, Jay. Your guest was knowledgeable and informative.
Very interesting,. I got my driving license in the 60's and we all wanted a mini, ( I am from the UK), we learned our mechanics trade on the Mini.
The "Holy Grail" for us young boy racers was 0-60 in under 10 secs, how things have changed.
We used to polish our cylinder heads, fit twin 1.5 inch SU's, centre big bore exhausts, and of course bought all the Paddy Hopkirk accessories.
The Cooper S versions, with the twin fuel filler caps were a must have. Of course everyone put go faster stripes, twin fuel caps, big bore exhausts, wheel arches and spacers(Which used to eat through your bearings), and a Cooper S badge, it was still slow.
Of course we all fixed them using the official tools, a big hammer, and had great fun.
Thanks for the video, and good to see an Iconic brand still appreciated.
These are the guests that are the most fun to watch and listen to.
I pitched in a few bucks to a crowdfunding campaign the Bonneville Mini team did 2 years ago. Speedweeks got cancelled, but I'm glad they came back this year and got a couple records out of all the hard work they put in.
great guest. knows his stuff.
His passion shows
yea this will definitely be one of my many favorite episodes of JLG.
yes..really neat to see a guy so up to date on his cars..wow.
Y
props to jay - hit all the proper questions. Amazing . not sure why there would be a single down vote. currently 70
This guy is the best, most knowledgeable and down to Earth guest Jay has ever had on. I love this guy.
Wow Graham Reid is a great guest .I like when he told Jay " If you need to stop , there's a parachute on the back".
Back in the early "80"s" I had a 1968 Mini Cooper S 1275 Mk 2. I loved that machine! Thanks for the memories, Jay!
Definitely one of your better and more entertaining interviews and car discussions you have had Jay. Thoroughly enjoyable, likeable Scotsman.
graham and jay you guys both look like you would be a ton of fun to hang out with. i know so well the feeling graham gets from building engines and not working on things that dont excite you ( i hate routinue and being bored which is something i love about building engines ,cylinder heads and race bikes). i have been a motorcycle mechanic for the last 28 years and for the most part loved it. i never even considered it to be job really. but working in dealerships kind of soured me to it . i taught mechanics in college for 4 years as well just so i could get away from that daily grind and to try to pass on some of my knowhow on to the replacements of us older guys . after i finished that part of my life i finally decided that i couldnt go back to a dealership or ever work for anyone ever again. so i started up a small one man shop building classic 70's and early 80's muscle bikes and race bikes and motors and hot rod harleys. best thing i ever have done. by the way going to the salt flats next year with 2 bikes to race for the first time. great job with videos jay love them keep them coming always
Graham Reid is my favorite guest so far in Leno's Garage series. He is my kind of guy.
You can always tell when a Scotsman has lived in USA for a long time. They sound like Mr Ried.
Passion!
MAN! The most delicious episode I've seen. All killer no filler! Thanks Jay and Graham.
What an absolute joy to listen to a guy with such passion!
I can relate as a kid I gravitated to anything mechanical I had fiats, triumphs, healeys.
My first pro job as a mechanic in 1972, im 64, was in Renton wa with Scotty who raced minis scca. I worked on his and all his buddy's minis and they were fast along with working on all kinds British. lotus, jags, xk120, 40, 50, 100/6, 3000, mgtc, td, tf, a, b, c, alpine, tiger, rover and even a triumph mayflower and borgward isabella. I have pretty much worked on it all. German, swedish, Italian French but I still learn something new everyday. I had my own shop for 35 years. I do own a 62 lancia flaminia gt touring convertible 3c. Anyways this video brought back some memorys thanks.
Hats off to the New Zealanders for over coming the challenge of putting so much great stuff in the tiny engine space. A buddy had a Mini in the late sixties in Germany and it was a hoot to just ride in. Great traction even on black ice with four guys in it. Not a powerful car, just fun, like being in a go cart!
This is the first time I've seen Jay surprised by so many of the unusual comments that Mr. Reid made. It looks like Jay is learning something too.
I love these vids you can really tell when Jay has someone in his shop that he really likes. Especially when you see a 35min+ over the average 25min.
One of the first cars I drove as a kid, handled like a go kart. Great British classic that punched well above its weight.
Clicked right away when I saw a beautiful mini in my sub box.
Modern MINI owner and watching this had me smiling just like driving a Mini/MINI does. Great episode.
That Green Mini in British Green is all one could ask for out of any car, not just a Mini. Watching this motivates me to farther restore my 1970 BMW 2002 :)
Mind your finger tips on that "hood"
Yeah keep watching buddy, I have been watching videos for the past two years just to help me get on with my project but she's still sitting where she's at lol
Love those Beemers ... 2002 especially ... classic cool.
SpyderRios
Good Luck with your rebuild, love the 2002 perfect for urban use, imho, 4 on the floor, w weber downdraft
That was the colour I had, and with the white roof. Great mini ('67) until a drunk driver smashed into it just behind the driver's door post, destroying the back and spinning it horizontally. I actually got out without a scratch. Those were the days when you could do simple inexpensive mods like small steering wheels, wide wheels, extra instruments, racing seats and radios
Thanks, Jay! I'm inspired. That nugget of truth about having fun with a simple car that has great handling really rings true for me.
20:23: Leno is like, "godamnn! he talks so fast that I can't cut him off like I usually do!"
Just sit back, listen to Mr. Leno & his knowledgeable guests & relax. What a great show! Thanks Jay...🥴
Thanks for another great video Jay! It's great seeing two old guys that haven't forgotten the joy of youth. Keep it up fellas.
Speaking of old guys that wont give up the need for speed try on You Tube
JOHN RENWICK VINCENT EPIMETHEUS now that's a shed
You might wanna head over to our channel. We have a video of a Mini with a Honda Turbo Bike Engine. :-)
I had a 64 850cc. Sliding windows, starter button on the floor. Fried my first 8track. Positive ground??? So fun!
More mad Kiwis at Bonneville; Burt Munro would have been proud.
I had a clubman estate back in the early 90s and the one thing I miss about it is what everyone is saying, how much fun it was to drive. Fantastic little car!
Yeah. Heritage Garage knows their stuff. They pop up on the forums alot etc. I have the Mini Bug. 2013 MCS. Wanted one since 16. Now I want the Austin or the vintage model. Jay said it right too when he said it's fun to drive a small car fast or slow car fast. I had a 2009 Smart Car that was modified slightly. Absolutely right fun. Although the older and newer Mini is much more practical. I kind of want to see what that base Model Mini with the 1.3 Turbo is like. Obviously it's not the S. But a Small Engine with a Turbo, has to be fun. Same goes for the Smart Car. They are turbo as well although to easily tossed by the wind and road. The Mini has always been Glue. Same with the Abarth.
Good video!!! Aside from being a Cooper guy. You can tell it was an engaging conversation and you could see and understand the passion behind the older car and the Mini in general.
would love to meet this gentleman. knows his cars, knows ALOT. can hear some scottish or something in his voice. he speaks with pride on what hes done.
A Scottish guy smashing it in Jay`s Garage .Love it .
I had a 68 cooper S back in the 80s, this video brought it all back, even the sound. I prefer the sliding windows, the hollow doors gives a little more room inside. and have big storage in the bottom of doors, useful.
great video..
"Never too old for a happy childhood" So true
Had 3 in my time, built a Cooper S replica from a ' new ' bodyshell.My favourite car since as a child in 1959, my mum's best friend had a new Morris Mini-Minor in cherry red, and she took me for a hair-raising drive through tight country lanes,its road-holding abilities was unmatchable at that time in a production car- and all from 848c.c !.For all their faults, they are aesthetically perfect,and still look as cool and sharp and timeless after 57 years, designed by a temperamental genious !.The BMW ' thing ' may be a good car - but it is NOT a Mini -it's fat and obese, this is the British Motor Corporation's masterpiece.
I love the classic Minis! Thanks for doing a bit on these special Minis, Jay!
Jay just gets it. The supercar episodes are interesting and I like them very much but these episodes featuring more attainable cars are just awesome. Sweet mini!
You can feel his passion. Good guy.
I absolutely love the mini, in all it's 'configurations'. My father has been collecting old minis for as long as I can remember, so that have probably influenced me somewhat, haha! =P He got at least four standard 850s, two Cooper S 1275s, two 'pickups', a 'station wagon'. all of them from 1960 to 1970 and at least four Clubmans that I know of. And a gigantic storage full of engines. I grew up surrounded by mini-parts. And I really love all of it. ..
Nice vid, you can tell Graham Reid really loves what he's doing.
"It woke me up to living life." Just like the last post I wrote. Very inspiring!!
I like how Jay lets the guest speak. Fantastic story and I really want that car.
your never to old for a happy childhood what a wonderful quote. :-)
When I was a young man I owned a 1000cc mini for a while. I had no engineering experience but put in a skimmed polished cylinder head with larger valves, skimmed flywheel and webber carb, electronic ignition and big bore hollow exhaust. It was the most fun I ever had driving, until a got an Escort XR3, which was insane!
I had an 83 mini Mayfair as my second car at 17 yrs old, 30 years later I've never driven anything that handles as good....and I've probably owned 50 cars
I went to Nelson College with Guy Griffith. He was a my best mate but haven't seen him for over 30 years. Congratulations buddy :-)
what a beautiful episode! with some words of wisdom to boot. keep em coming Jay
an absolute honour Mr Reid your a inspiration.
God, I would love to have an old Mini like that green one. They're gorgeous.
I smiled the whole time while you drove this Mini. in my 20's I owned 5 of these at different times. The latest on was a 1979, All were Canadian models as that's where I live. Took it off the road long term to do some speed mods including a tweaked 1275cc engine. Life and raising a daughter then got in the way. Sold it a few years later to a guy from California who trailered it away as a project for him and his son. I still miss that car all these years later and still wonder what ever became of it...
I love this old school attitude with racing
Great to see New Zealand firms advertised on the red Mini - Mike Pero Real Estate, Talleys (producer of frozen foods) etc. GO THE KIWIS!
Are you Kiwi's taking visitors??? I've heard New Zealand is one of the best places to live, and many of is want to get out of the messes up countries we live in. 😜
Really good episode. I love seeing someone who really shows their passion for their cars.
Back in 1958 (first year of big back window) got a new VW 1200 Deluxe in the UK. Extras specified before delivery were Diamond Grey metallic paint, Windscreen washer, self-cancelling trafficators, fuel gauge, a front anti-roll bar, parcel shelf, Phillips Radio LW/MW, passenger sun visor, rear wing chip guards, full-length webasto sunroof. Kept the car 14 years repainted 3 times.
Love these videos with happy brilliant enthusiasts.
Glad to hear you story about honoring tpur friends memory with his engine. I am working on a project with the same principle.
Graham Reid, keep driving. Hopefully I'll see you & Jay Leno out on the road some time.
British Motor Heritage Co. are producing complete body shells , including doors,boot lids and bonnets.
These old minis makes me happy when i see one passing on streets, very cool video again Jay!
Great interview, a lot of knowledge, great quotes "well you don't need to stop, you just need to go fast" "when you start pushing stuff to the limits, sometimes the limits win"
Great to see a Mini episode, and i love the guy. Dude knows his stuff, and seems to be a good guy. ..and that green Mini.. Me want :)
Owned all variations my fav 1967 1275. I was at Goodwood last year and these were by far the best to watch! My sec fav were the Lotus Cortinas
I got sick of my Mini eng/trans breaking so I put a Honda civic 1237 OHC alu....5spd...(110lbs lighter off the front !)... with a Rayay turbo (no wastegate)...169hp/8000rpm. Took one day to do plus having the axles welded. Dependable , mild mannered and faster than anything. Much nicer than a VTEC conversion.Most fun car ever !
donn GREG yes motor japan honda civic
I had a Mini Cooper from 2003 to 2007 - bright red with a white roof - it developed a catastrophic oil leak on the M5 resulting in a completely fried engine. I had it rebuilt by an engineer who had been on the Cooper Works team - he put on fuel injection, gas flowed the head, slightly enlarged valves and added an absolutely beautiful stainless sports exhaust. The car was hilarious and great fun to drive. There were a couple of issues though - the breaks weren’t uprated so stopping could be a bit dramatic, and it was a real bugger to start particularly in the damp....once running it made a lovely sound with lots of pops and crackles on the over-run....plus reportably an occasional jet of flame - I didn’t see that (as was driving) but the boot got covered in soot...
Really great episode guys. Thanks so much for that. It's incredible how much horsepower they got out of the Bonneville mini and 10,000rpm on a three main bearing crank? Just amazing. Back in the day I souped up my 105e Anglia and got it to 105bhp at the flywheel on Webers but 6,500rpm was pretty much it with the stock crank. Some guys could race them and touch 7,000 or even a tad more very briefly, but it was always iffy. I'm impressed.
Great memories this brings back when I had a 970s in my old mini, basically a factory destroked 1275 that when taken to a slight overbore would give 999 for the under 1L classes.
This guy is great, would love to see him on the show again. I can hear the Scottish in his accent and a bit of a US accent ?
yes he's been inthe US for 40 years so some would have rubbed off
He's back on here again in 2019 with a restored Mini.
He is definitely Scottish!
Lived in NZ for a couple years and mini’s were everywhere. They could park in the tiniest places you could imagine. Cool little cars.
that's the coolest accent ever... and what a car!
Great, great guest. I feel for Grahams emotional aesthetic about live and LIVING. I hope that Jay and him kept in touch after this amazing segment.
"Bar room bench racing", I love it!
My mother had one once. Love the green one. Beautiful!!!
Excellent as usual Jay! Freakin love this show! Look forward to it every week 👍
Lovely conversation. A smart guy never stops learning.
Great episode. Ya just gotta love this guy's passion for classic minis.
"everybody said they were crazy..which fueled their passion even more!" 😁👍Haha,classic! Thats the spirit !
as a kiwi proud of our motor history Bruce McLaren comes to mind love your work jay
Beautiful cars. Remember seen them back in the 60', in my old country, Uruguay, racing against Alfa Romeo Giulias, BMW 2002, Ford Cortina Lotus etc.
Thank you for putting this car on, Jay. This was fascinating!
.Love it where the guest says ". If it needs new tires, I get tires, I don't even think about it".. That's someone whose undaunted passion for his hobby lets him use the car he built for it's intended purpose and not keep it pristine and untouched like some trophy.
Great show. Very interesting. Great guest.
Good to see a fellow Scot. I had a mini years ago, fantastic fun. 40mph felt like 80mph because your butt was so near the ground.
They take corners like they're on rails.
I think everyone should drive an old mini once in their life.