Summer is fast approaching for those of us in the northern hemisphere, so it's timely to review cooling options for the Classic Mini.

The cooling system in the Mini has used the same basic style radiator since its beginning in 1959 up until the introduction of the twin point injected cars when the radiator was moved to the front of the car. The original Mini was powered by an 848cc engine and designed for the little back roads of the UK. The cooling systems demands were nominal. As engine capacity and performance demands increased so did the need for more efficient cooling. All of this had to be accomplished within the limited design space allowed for the side mounted radiators with production cost being a key factor. (even Plastic header tanks can be found on late model Minis!)