Loved the pictures from your drive today! Yeah, its kind of a good thing that Erin got called in to work Saturday. Many benefits to going while most other people are working.
Hmm, that's interesting. My R53 was built at Plant Oxford; Cowley, Oxford U.K. Right next door to the original Morris plant if my memory serves me correctly. Though I have misspoken before...
MINI is a German car, that's how I see it. They are built in the UK, but are owned and built by a German car company. My Jetta was built in Mexico, but it's not a Mexican car, it's a German car. I understand the heritage too, and even used to have a classic, an 86 Mayfair, it really was nothing like these new MINI's. Two totally different cars built by two totally different companies. These cars are much more of a BMW than a classic MINI. We took ours to a British car meet once and it was really awkward parking next to gorgeous restored Healeys, MGs, Coopers, Triumphs, and Jags. This is what I believe though and I know most don't, so it's all in good fun.
1st Gen MINIs, while carrying much BMW DNA, retain enough Rover / British Leyland spirit to randomly unreliable and fickle, like some members of the Royal family. That's why they came with a British Leyland badge on the boot.
I'm confused! I don't know where I was conceived, I was born in D.C. lived all over the world, Grand parents came over on the boat from Italy(Dads side) Moms side just old american. I guess I better go look and see if there is a British Leyland badge on my but. First Gen more British then German, second Gen half and half, third Gen German.:lol: What were we talking about, I forget i'm getting a little rusty.
The Rotus was built in my hometown, it was a real small operation while it lasted but like so many things it just didn't last.
Yep, he's taking a little time off, getting some stuff straightened out. He'll be back better than ever.