What is that?
The reengineering of the classic Mini by David Brown Automotive is a thing of beauty, but also a certain cost. But it’s more comfortable around Knightsbridge than on a twisty B-road, which is a balance that this limited edition Oselli edition, named after the famous engine tuner that supplies its modified 1450 A-series engine. cm3, is supposed to change.
The basics are the same as other David Brown modified Minis, in that they take a donor car plus a new heritage hull, which is supplied to original specs and then peeled off, coated and reworked. and basically sorted, before having the 125 hp engine installed, going through a five-speed gearbox and limited slip differential.
The 60-piece Oselli edition runs on 13-inch rims and the front track, as you can see, is about 5mm wider than the rear, while the suspension gets non-adjustable Bilstein shocks and a few ring changes; although less than originally, because DB wanted to maintain some compliance. He has.
What does it look like?
The interior is nicely finished with fixed-back bucket seats and a half-cage (and harness options), though none of this changes the Mini-ish riding position, or the fact that despite it it’s a small car, you don’t feel cramped.
It’s only 3.05m long and 1.47m wide, but the windshield is away from you like a modern Mini, while there is a short-legged, long-arm riding position. with a steeply inclined wheel that you get used to very quickly.
Likewise, the staggered but deftly weighted pedals, which lend themselves to the heel and toe you’ll need given that this SU dual carb motor doesn’t want to run cleanly under heavy loads below around 3,000 rpm. , while after that it drives impeccably clean up to a red line at 6500 rpm.
At full throttle, or indeed at partial throttle or no throttle, the non-power steering turns but still lets you know what it’s about, and because there is some compliance and rolls in the chassis, even though it is a car under 800 kg, direction the weight, feel and feedback are built in a linear fashion.
On track, this results in a car that focuses on its front end (as I understand classic racing Minis often were). When you turn for the first time, on a throttle or trailed brake, the Oselli Edition is very mobile and from the apex, under tension, the steering gets a little more sticky and the front grips extremely well. , while the rear somehow hangs behind, drifting around foursquare as if it were a trailer or on casters.
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-07-11 23:01:25