Revving it up: The 1990 Rover Mini Mayfair Mk V
Hold onto your hats, car enthusiasts, because what we have here is not just any Rover Mini. This is a 1990 Rover Mini Mayfair Mk V, and it’s been transformed into an absolute beast by the wizards at Z-Cars of Kent in the UK back in 2003. Yes, we’re talking about a car with not one, but two rear-mounted 998cc Yamaha R1 inline-four engines. And, as if that wasn’t enough, they’re wired to fire up the rear wheels through two six-speed sequential transmissions. A Z-Cars Drivebox and a Quaife limited-slip differential ensure that all this power doesn’t go to waste. That’s enough to make most car fans drool!
The Mighty Modifications
This Mini isn’t just modified; it’s metamorphosized into the Terminator of its kind.
Among its many features are tubular front and rear subframes, a steel bulkhead for the cabin, and a roll cage to make sure you don’t end up like a pancake. Add a fuel cell, carbon fiber, and fiberglass body panels, and you have a serious piece of machinery. Not to mention those slick removable plexiglass windows.
- 13″ Compomotive wheels for a sharp profile
- Four-wheel disc brakes with Wilwood front calipers
- Adjustable coilovers to keep it grounded
- Barnett Racing clutches ensuring peak performance
- Spark a Sparco steering wheel and a curvy Curley carbon fiber dashboard
- A MoTeC digital instrument cluster that belongs in a spaceship
- Cobra bucket seats that hug stronger than your grandma
Oh, and this little demon was brought stateside around 2021. It found a new home when it was sold in December 2024 and is now up for grabs on dealer consignment in Arizona, complete with a clean Carfax and a Montana title. For any die-hard Mini fanatic, this revved-up “Twini” is a dream on wheels.
Aesthetic and Functional Updates
The rear cabin and trunk floors are history, making way for a Z-Cars rear subframe and a roll cage. The carbon-fiber front end can be removed in a jiffy, while Mini Sport fiberglass doors and Mini Miglia wheel arch extensions add to its mean stance. The car’s been painted in an eye-catching Flame Red, perfect for those who don’t mind turning heads.
The front end got some touch-ups from the previous owner, but those spiffy halogen headlights? Well, they’re purely decorative for now.
Additional exterior perks include a sunroof, clear taillight lenses, bullet-style side mirrors, and twin exhaust tips.
Performance That Packs a Punch
We’re talking serious performance upgrades here. Mounted on the 13″ Compomotive ML wheels are 175/50 Yokohama Advan A048 tires added in 2021. It’s all about control, baby, with servo-assisted four-wheel disc brakes, four-pot Wilwood front calipers, a hydraulic parking brake, and adjustable inboard coilovers.
- Servo-assisted braking with Aeroquip hoses
- Z-Cars rear radius arms
- Tubular wishbones for greater balance
- Negative camber lower arms
- Rose-jointed tie bars
- A new brake master cylinder, just for safe measure
Don’t ask about the odometer because, well, this Mini has no time for trivialities like tracking mileage. However, it’s got a Sparco steering wheel mounted on a quick-release boss and a futuristic MoTeC ADL2 instrument cluster that will keep you entertained.
Under the Hood (or where the Hood used to be)
The fuel cell is nestled where you’d once find the engine bay, coupled with a Pace alloy radiator serviced recently, all kept cool by dual electric fans. This engineering marvel includes two liquid-cooled 998cc DOHC inline-fours straight out of 1998 Yamaha YZF-R1s, protected behind a custom steel bulkhead.
No biggie if you fancy an acoustic symphony as the carbon fiber muffler and free-flow exhaust give you an exhaust note you’ll want to write home about.
If you find yourself at a crossroads of modern marvels and sleek design, why not venture into Dacia and Peugeot 2008, each offering unique charms of their own.
Fast and Furious
The six-speed sequential gearboxes are not for the faint of heart, sporting straight-cut gears that channel power to the rear in a dazzling display of mechanical prowess. And no, reversing isn’t a hassle thanks to an electric motor. Coolant lines cleverly running beneath the car ensure you keep cruising without a hitch.
With this kind of bold innovation, it’s little wonder the flame-red Mini remains a standout, straight out of a mechanic’s fever dream and into the real world.
