wuvvum Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 On a scale of 1 to 10 - with 10 being a Talbot Tagora turbo diesel stretch limo in beige - how shite is this thing? I'm not sure myself - it's sort of kind of a Mini, and Minis have way too much scene tax, but I think this is different enough not to be affected by it. It's an Innocenti Small 500SE. It's one of the last being a '93 (they brought this shape out in '74), and it's a sweet little thing, with... ...a delectable ribbed brown velour interior, complete with strip of fake wood on the dash. Here's the business end: 659cc of raw Daihatsu powah. 30 bhp in fact. And it does 60 mpg. I ended up driving it back from Coventry - towed it away behind the Subaru from its home just outside Redditch as it had been standing for some time, but it seemed to run happily enough so I decided to try it and see how far I got, and in the event it got home without missing a beat. It even had to tow the Legacy off the A11 when the Subaru's clutch went ( ), which is an experience neither I nor the car would like to repeat in a hurry. It also managed to keep its headlights all the way home, despite them looking for all the world like goldfish bowls (which made for some amusing rippling patterns on the tarmac on high beam). I'm really rather pleased with it, despite having paid a lot more than I would normally pay for a non-MoT'd small hatchback - I can't see it needing a great deal for the ticket and in the spring, when road conditions are kinder to Italian steel, it might take over the role of daily from the Renner Five. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baz Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Italian charm, combined with a lovely little Daihatsu 3-Pot? That's a definite 10 for me....Top work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrogeezer Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Cool - never realised they made them as late as L reg.My mum's friend had an Innocenti mini when I was a kid - it had some weird steering lock mechanism on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigstraight6 Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Yep, that's right up there in the shite stakes! didn't realise they made the them so late, thought they stopped back in the 80's.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRegieRitmo Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Love that interior! It's sort of Talbot Samba / Alpine at the front but with Fiat X1/9 rear lights. You do find some gems! Reckon it's the only one in the country? I've certainly never seen one over here before. Did they actually sell them over here? It's right up there with an Autobianchi A310 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedSparrow Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 They never sold them here, but I think the general view is that they should have done, to replace the mini. This was designed by BL after all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.welfare Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Wow! How rare? Superb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheggers Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 What a peach...top find sir!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRegieRitmo Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=220305138123 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greenvanman Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 ^^^^^^^^What they all said :)I used to have a model one of an Innocenti Mini as a kid, a Majorette I think. Top find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidel_Kakao Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Thats cool Love the interior There is a a bit about them on ARO http://www.aronline.co.uk/index.htm?inniminif.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sterling Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Definiately a 10, its old rare enough to shite. Lord Sterling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torsten2001 Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Highly desirable in my book! Saw one in Italy this summer and fell in love! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel bickle Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Nice, very nice. I'm sure that was ont'bay around a year ago -and i considered a punt then but distance coupled with a lack of need meant I let it slip by. No money either -if memory serves me right.Gonna use it -or sell it on as a nice economy model? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXrescuer Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 I love that and the interior is ace. Thanks for sharing the pics with us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrappylad Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 As you say, it is a sweet little thing. Nice colour too.You'll be wanting to get that o/s mirror replaced pronto for LH traffic driving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogweasel Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share Posted November 9, 2008 You'll be wanting to get that o/s mirror replaced pronto for LH traffic driving.Got it in the boot. Brand new in packet - cost £120 apparently. I've just got to get round to fitting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split_Pin Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Nice one - with the others here, didnt know they made them this late. I've got a 1/24 scale Burago model of one of these somewhere.How much Mini is actually left in it? Obviously the A-series is cone, but that looks like strut-tops in the engine bay pic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRegieRitmo Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 I've got a 1/24 scale Burago model of one of these somewhere.Pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share Posted November 9, 2008 How much Mini is actually left in it? Obviously the A-series is cone, but that looks like strut-tops in the engine bay pic?Aye, you're right. I don't think there's a lot of BL left in it to be honest. It's got coils'n'struts, as you say, and I think the steering is also different as the steering wheel is at a far more sensible angle than the A-series version. The daft pedal offset is still there though, as are the 12-inch wheels, and it still feels plenty chuckable (I'd love to have a go in a 993cc turbo version), but the more conventional suspension setup is a lot less bouncy than the old rubber cones. The basic bodyshell is the same though so I wouldn't have imagined it'd be too hard to convert back to Mini subframes if one felt the need and was reasonably handy with a welder. I'm quite happy with it as it is - 60mpg is too good to ignore, and despite its piddly engine it's not desperately slow in the way 2CVs are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 does it have a mini rear subframe? Thats somethign io've wondered about in the past when seeing these on garlic bay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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