Mini SUZUKA

Mini is SUZUKA is something different from our more standard recipes. Wider wheel arches, deep dish rims, fancy blue coolant hoses and putting the center of gravity even lower to the ground. this Mini is simply made to put some rubber onto the track. And what better way to do this in a Japanese fashion style. Here we have our first JDM Mini, better said; “Japanese Drift Mini”

Background
JDM originally stands for “Japanese Domestic Market” where cars were specialised for the Japanese Market. Following Japan’s tremendous industrial and economic boom after WWII there was a huge demand for improved innovation, performance and luxury options in general but specifically cars. A lot of luxury systems were therefore only featured in those JDM cars. (Little background for the MINI Classic history; in the 90’s 45% of all mini’s produced found their way to Japan, mainly with options like Automatic gearboxes, Aircon developed for Japan only and lots of cabriolet conversions.)

Japanese Drift Mini
Another cultural highlight in Japan is drifting, and that is exactly where this Drift Mini comes into play, especiallly designed for the Japanese market. This mini features a hydraulic handbrake that will block the tyres hydraulically making sure you can catch that short corner. The engine under the bonnet has an improved A+ 1275cc, Evans never aging Coolant, Silicon hoses, Safety mass switch, Aluminium Intake manifold, Maniflow double-pipe exhaust and the show goes on with new disk brakes, adjustable tie rods, extra engine mounts, high torque starter motor, HiLo’s, new drive shafts, semi-slick tyres and loads of extra’s more. On the inside we find bucket seats, roll cage, leather finished door cards with new door pulls, leather dashboard with loads of meters to keep track of oil pressure, temperature, revs, time, etc…. You’ll get to steer with a true sports steering wheel and so it goes on and on.

The Japanese MK1 look
This car is painted in a deep red, topped with a sleek black roof and fenders. The white accented stripe across the bonnet is nice nod towards the colours of the Japanese flag. Aesthethically she’s been given a through MK1 look with the same inconic rear lights as the first mini’s build, Monza fuel cap, stainless fog light, MK1 license plate holder and boot handle. If we go to the front we find an Austin MK1 grille with easy take out buttons to get to heart of the car. Glass orange early blinkers,  Austin Cooper badge and even chromed wiper arms, just like the first mini’s had. All of this is put onto 10 inch Cooper ’S’ styled rims but then in a deep dish version. The lightweight DOWNTON mirrors are fitted onto rally inspired brackets to keep them sturdy even on the track. The inside features Smiths original clocks and traditional Cobra seats with corresponding seat sliders. Another unique feuture are the switches on the center, here the dashboard is first welded in and finished smoothly after which new MK1 switches have been installed together with a centralised choke cable.

Ps. car comes with original belgium COC / CvO “gelijkvormigheidsattest”

Join The Build: Make This Your Mini SUZUKA
We are currently in the build phase of this remarkable classic, lot’s of decisions to consider, designs being developed, parts being crafted, all in order to tranfrom this unique MINI into the best version of a Japanese Drift Mini.

This is your chance to join the journey! Since the car is a work in progress, you are more than welcome to bring your own vision and preferences to the table. We see this as an opportunity for the new owner to truly “Make this your Brooks Build.”