Press kit

Dakar Mini

Press kit: Story, photos and video of the Dakar Mini. Free for editorial use with credit.

01Story

JDM-Japanese Drift Mini inspired by the SUZUKA-Circuit

What we have here is our first JDM Mini. JDM originally stands for "Japanese Domestic Market," where cars were built and specced specifically for Japan. Did you know that in the 90's, 45% of all Minis produced found their way to Japan? Automatic gearboxes, air conditioning developed for the Japanese climate, cabriolet conversions. The Japanese always knew what they wanted from a Mini.

And one thing Japan has always wanted is to drift. That is exactly where the SUZUKA comes into play. She carries a hydraulic handbrake that locks the rear tyres on command, wider arches to keep those semi-slicks tucked in, and an A+ 1275cc under the bonnet that has been properly worked. Every part on this car is there for a reason.

A red car parked on gravel terrain between two concrete structures, with a dusty, atmospheric background.

THE CAR

•Year: 1979
•Engine: A+ 1275cc, Aluminium Intake Manifold, Maniflow double-pipe exhaust, Evans coolant, Silicon hoses, high torque starter motor
•Brakes: New disc brakes
•Suspension: HiLo's, adjustable tie rods, extra engine mounts
•Drivetrain: New drive shafts, semi-slick tyres
•Interior: Bucket / Cobra seats, roll cage, Smiths original clocks, sports steering wheel, leather dashboard with full gauge setup
•Extras: Hydraulic handbrake, safety mass switch, MK1 switches, centralised choke cable, DOWNTON mirrors on rally brackets
•Papers: Original Belgian COC / CvO "gelijkvormigheidsattest"
•Mileage: 11.257 km

•Year: 1979
•Engine: A+ 1275cc, Aluminium Intake Manifold, Maniflow double-pipe exhaust, Evans coolant, Silicon hoses, high torque starter motor
•Brakes: New disc brakes
•Suspension: HiLo's, adjustable tie rods, extra engine mounts
•Drivetrain: New drive shafts, semi-slick tyres
•Interior: Bucket / Cobra seats, roll cage, Smiths original clocks, sports steering wheel, leather dashboard with full gauge setup
•Extras: Hydraulic handbrake, safety mass switch, MK1 switches, centralised choke cable, DOWNTON mirrors on rally brackets
•Papers: Original Belgian COC / CvO "gelijkvormigheidsattest"
•Mileage: 11.257 km

SUZUKA is painted in a deep red, topped with a sleek black roof and fenders. A white stripe runs across the bonnet with on it a quiet nod to the Japanese flag. Aesthetically she wears a full MK1 identity: MK1 rear lights, MK1 licence plate holder and boot handle, Monza fuel cap, stainless fog light and the list continues..
Up front we find an Austin MK1 grille with easy pull-out buttons, giving fast access to the beating heart of the car. Glass orange blinkers match perfectly with the red and an Austin COOPER badge finishes the frontend. On the doors we have fitted DOWNTON mirrors with the rally-inspired brackets. All of this is sitting on 10 inch COOPER 'S' styled rims in a very very deep dish version (no spacers added)

She wears her identity proudly. BROOKS runs across her side in Japanese script, feel free to use Google Translate on those ;) On the tail, a custom SUZUKA sticker carries the circuit logo and the rising sun, all done in classic John Cooper style. Up front, a small red dot turns the bonnet stripe into one big Japanese flag.

On the inside we find Cobra bucket seats with seat sliders, a roll cage, and a leather-finished dashboard loaded with original Smiths gauges. A sports steering wheel in your hands. The dashboard is finished in MK1 style but with newly installed switches and a centralised choke cable fully integrated, giving this unique simple look.

At last we have the hydraulic handbrake. Pull it and she locks the rear tyres hydraulically; exactly what you need to nail that short corner. As the current owner Chun says: "Suzuka is just brutal."

02Photos

15 selected · full set in the ZIPAll photosZIP

Photography by Noël van Bilsen (@noelvanbilsen) · Please credit Brooks Motors / Noël van Bilsen