Craig Wallet
G40 Collection
After a number of Mini's throughout my university years, which served me well, I ended up buying my first G40. It was a 1991 H reg, black, with rare VW tinted windows. Got quite a good deal from the chap selling it as it needed a bit of work. The brakes were overhauled, suspension sorted, gearbox fixed and many other minor items ironed out. Sold it 6 months later, at a good profit, due to a new job overseas.
On my return I got down to the serious business of sourcing a replacement G.
Due to their rarity and my lack of wheels I ended up with a Corrado VR6.
What a motor. Quicker and far better handling than a G but not the same stealth appeal. After about a year of the Corrado my G craving got the better of me and I started looking for another one. Ended up finding one that sounded too good to be true. 2 owners from new, recon charger, 47,000miles and under 3 grand. Nearly bit the guys arm off for it. Don't think he realised what it was worth at the time. Only downside was it was white, but that grew on me after a while and added to the stealth appeal. Used this G as my everyday hack and ended up running a new shape Elise along with it. Although the Elise was my dream car, looked the business and drove beautifully I ended up having more fun in the G!
Once transferred to Scotland with my work I decided the Elise and G had to go as I missed my VR6 Corrado days and with far more open roads than down south it seemed to be the logical move (yup......I'm mad on cars and bikes and change my mind daily on which is the best combination). After another year of Corrado ownership once again the G craving became too strong to resist. So the Corrado was used as a weekend car and I ended up with my current G40, which a good friend (see James Scott) of mine sourced and inspected for me. It was a one old lady owner from new (for almost 11 years), 72,000 miles and standard as they come. Bargain at under two and a half grand if you ask me.
Haven't really ended up modifying my G's much as I've always ended up using them as an everyday car and I do a fair few miles.
Current car spec is:
As you might have guessed by now I'm mad on G40's so much so that I have just bought another one as a project and sold my Corrado VR6 (which I wasn't using much) to the old boy. Saw this one on the polog40 website and nearly fell off my seat whilst reading the advert. One old lady owner (again?), 58k miles and my favourite colour, Windsor Blue. Although the engine and mechanicals are sound the body is a bit on the tatty side. However, a full re spray is on the cards along with a number of engine mods. I hope to get about 160bhp, which should be straight forward enough, but I want this one to handle so an LSD and other suspension upgrades are on the cards. Watch this space.
The moral to this story is obviously don't sell your G, you'll regret it.