On 10 May 2018 20:32:54 GMT, Bob Eager wrote:

There was a specific decision to move it from the engine compartment, as
discussed here (by a close friend of Issigonis):

"...he (Griffin) made some calculations based on facts about wheelbase,
weight distribution and centre of gravity which proved that really hard
braking could result in locking teh rear wheels and complete loss of
control. This being an incontrovertible argument it led ... to the
transfer of the battery from the engine compartment to the rear luggage
locker, so as to transfer some weight from the front to the rear, and to
the introduction of the rear-brake limiting pressure valve."

So clearly the battery *was* originally in the front. This is also shown
by an early photograph of the engine compartment, which shows the battery
(note that this particular version has the engine oriented the other way
round - later changed due to carburettor icing).

Photograph he

http://www.ancientgeek.org.uk/misc/mini_engine.jpg

I knew about the engine orientation issue but I never knew any photos existed.

Only ever experienced carb icing on one journey long ago on the middle lane of
the M1 on a very humid July day (not on a Mini) It scared the crap out of me.
Gradual loss of power over half a minute and then zero power and a lucky coast
with the clutch depressed to the hard shoulder.

No amount of cranking would make it start. 10 mins later the problem went away
only for it to happen again a few miles up the road when the ice in the carb was
obvious. The cause? Failure of the piping from the hotbox on the manifold
to the air filter inlet tract / mixer flapper so only air at ambient got to the
carb rather than something a little bit warmer. Good for more power but only
with very dry air.

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