cd.thomson
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 09:41 AM |
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buying a classic mini
Mornin'!
Dax should be on the road by spring then I really need to start looking for a new car to bomb around in when the weathers bad. This becomes clear when
you spend half the time cycling to work sideways 
Wont have a lot of money (have to save for uni..again) but really like owning "special" cars. 2 doors is a must.
Soo I'm starting to investigate classic minis, any tips? pros/cons? is there a standard route that can be taken to "improve" them?
Worth buying one if I can't weld?!
Cheers
[Edited on 22/12/09 by cd.thomson]
Craig
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carpmart
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 09:44 AM |
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Easy to improve them!
Rip out the engine in the front and stick a Honda VTEC in the back, great improvement! 
However, answering your other question, its not worth buying one if you can't weld!
You only live once - make the most of it!
Radical Clubsport, Kwaker motor
'94 MX5 MK1, 1.8
F10 M5 - 600bhp Daily Hack
Range Rover Sport - Wife's Car
Mercedes A class - Son's Car
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 09:44 AM |
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Hmm there’s not much metal at all in a mini so you’d have to buy one that was in very good condition, even then their very flimsy.
I actually passed one on the way to work in the snow and I’m sure its great fun, what puts me off is getting hit by anything else as you’d be better
just bailing out and taking your chances.
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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cd.thomson
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 09:48 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by carpmart
However, answering your other question, its not worth buying one if you can't weld!
nuff said! 
might be worth learning though? I mean I've heard rumours that people build entire cars from separate bits of metal , I'm sure
patchworking a mini is a doddle in comparison!
[Edited on 22/12/09 by cd.thomson]
Craig
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 10:01 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by cd.thomson
quote:
Originally posted by carpmart
However, answering your other question, its not worth buying one if you can't weld!
nuff said!
might be worth learning though? I mean I've heard rumours that people build entire cars from separate bits of metal , I'm sure
patchworking a mini is a doddle in comparison!
[Edited on 22/12/09 by cd.thomson]
one problem with the mini is that like the vw beetle, a lot of the panels are crimped and spot welded flanges i.e. the huge gutters all round the car.
These are tricky to repair if they have rusted in the channel with an noramal mig. I've done it on my current bug project in a few places and it
needs very neat work.
I'm not trying to put you off but just pointing out that despite being a simple car it’s not very simple to repair than say a more conventional
body shell.
For example, the front needs very good alignment (using a jig) to be replaced as there's no front chassis rails to weld to and keep things
straight, just an inner and outer wing. The front engine/suspension sub frame is just held on with 4 bolts and requires the body to keep it aligned
correctly. So if it’s rusty and needs repairs this will not be quite as straightforward to rectify.
[Edited on 22/12/09 by Mr Whippy]
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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ali f27
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 10:05 AM |
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mini
Hi i have had numerous minis best car ever made yes they rust and build quality on late ones is crap but can be made to out handle anything i have
seen off a lot of so called gti hot hatches still own 2 as well as the 7 just buy 1
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nick205
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 10:09 AM |
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What about another 205?
Granted a non GTI 205 may not be "special", but they're dead cheap and don't suffer from tin worm like other cars. The little
1.3 TU series engine can be quite peppy and as you know the cars weigh less than a tin of biscuits.
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alistairolsen
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 10:09 AM |
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IMO building my locost chassis was a LOT easier than doing panelwork in a paper thin rusty monocoque using pattern panels profiled by a blind
chinaman.
My Build Thread
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cd.thomson
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 10:17 AM |
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I can actually afford the insurance on a 205 gti despite my accident but fancy something different.
Sounds like mini's aren't the option to go for though.
I'd also considered a fiat 126 but id want to be heavily modifying it from the off whereas id be happy with the mini as standard until I had
some more wonga to throw at it.
back to the drawing board!
[Edited on 22/12/09 by cd.thomson]
Craig
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ali f27
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 10:23 AM |
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mini
find one to have ago in that will make your mind up bet you love it
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StrikerChris
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 10:25 AM |
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Hillman imp?!
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 10:34 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
I actually passed one on the way to work in the snow and I’m sure its great fun, what puts me off is getting hit by anything else as you’d be better
just bailing out and taking your chances.
In good condition they are no more dangerous the most other cars of the era, in fact safer than many. The problem is that a rotten mini has the
structural integrity of a wet paper bag, and there are an awful lot of rotten minis around.
If you want to own a classic mini then you either need to pay the money demanded for a really clean one or get yourself familiar with welding (unless
you know a mate who will help out etc.). Well worth having a drive in a nice one though, even with a 34bhp 848cc engine they are a lot of fun to
drive, and a well sorted 1275 is a blast to drive through B roads.
One big bonus is that its probably the best supported "classic" car around, there is pretty much nothing that you can't buy new and
tuning options are huge.
[Edited on 22/12/09 by MikeRJ]
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cd.thomson
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 10:45 AM |
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hillman imps seem to be suprisingly rare!
I think im going to try and get on a welding course at college and see how well I pick it up, then decide on the mini option then.
I could always buy a rotten mini and buy a reshell and just move the parts across!
Craig
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 11:35 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by cd.thomson
I could always buy a rotten mini and buy a reshell and just move the parts across!
thought you wanted to buy a car to use while the weathers bad? it will be months just to get that done and far more expensive than just buying a good
example in the first place.
A welding course will only teach you how to weld, not rebuild body shells that is two totally different things.
I bought yet another very rusty beetle that I knew needed extensive work cos I wanted to rebuild another car. It cost at least £1200 in repair panels
(I still had to make quite a few) and I'll never get what I spent on it back but that wasn't the point of doing it anyway. Its fun to do
and very satisfying to see it put back together from something that was destined to go to the crusher but still a big commitment in time and money,
definitely not a quite fix.
If you want to learn how to rebuild classic cars that fine but don’t think it will be cheap or quick to do, cos it isn’t.
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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hicost blade
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 11:36 AM |
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Mk1 escort
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-ESCORT-mk1-1600cc_W0QQitemZ130353461932QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item1e59abfaac
or a
Mk2 escort
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mk2-1976-FORD-ESCORT-WHITE_W0QQitemZ300377703216QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item45efe80330
When it rusts into the ground, turn it into a Locost
Only problem is the 5 family doors, but who cares!?!
[Edited on 22/12/09 by hicost blade]
[Edited on 22/12/09 by hicost blade]
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cd.thomson
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 11:42 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
quote:
Originally posted by cd.thomson
I could always buy a rotten mini and buy a reshell and just move the parts across!
thought you wanted to buy a car to use while the weathers bad? it will be months just to get that done and far more expensive than just buying a good
example in the first place.
Sorry, what I meant was in future I'd like to end up with a car I can use all year round unlike my dax/road bike.
I'm after something a little special and really like minis - the welding/restoration side of things came up as this is obviously a consideration
with any old car but I don't intend on restoring a scrapper.
The rotten mini/reshell idea was me joshing around because it sounds like they're so bad!
Its hard to get across what you mean on a forum lol
ETA- I do like 2 door MK1 escorts which could be had for a similar price to the minis im looking at, but I presume they take just as much work.
[Edited on 22/12/09 by cd.thomson]
Craig
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stevec
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 11:49 AM |
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There is a garage on the A46 south of Nottingham near Ratcliffe on the Wreake that has loads of old mini's stacked on top of each other.
Bet you could get a cheap project there.
Steve
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 12:10 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by cd.thomson
ETA- I do like 2 door MK1 escorts which could be had for a similar price to the minis im looking at, but I presume they take just as much work.
Yes they rot very well, and they fetch ridiculous money these days. You could get yourself a tidy mini for the price of a very rotten Mk1.
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Jasper
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 12:29 PM |
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I bought a classic Mini last week. I wouldn't even consider one with a rotten body ( i hate welding old thin panels), which is most of them, but
there are a few around that aren't rotten, recon to pay £1.5k + for one that doesn't need lots of work.
However, they are really cheap to repair and SO much fun to drive. Drove mine back from Marlborough last Tuesday and really enjoyed bombing along the
A272 back home.
I paid £4k for a 2000 W reg Cooper Sport, FSH, completely immaculate, 60k on the clock, new MOT and tax and even a new set of tyres not even put on
the car yet. Owned by a mini club lady, who cried as I drove it away, it was very well loved. Book price is at least £5k on that car, just bought it
at the right time of year.
Gonna fit the Stage 3 kit in a few months time, takes it up to 90bhp which should be a laugh!!
It's a bit like driving a kit car, really brings a smile to your face, put you can use it all year round
If you're not living life on the edge you're taking up too much room.
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DarrenW
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 12:53 PM |
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Minis are easy.
1. Learn to weld.
2. Only bits to watch out for are between front and rear bumper.
I wish I had more time to finish mine. I'm assuming Jasper doesn't want to come and see mine now so if you are intested I can sort you
some pics out.
[Edited on 22/12/09 by DarrenW]
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Jasper
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 01:50 PM |
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Yeah - sorry Darren, didn't hear from you and saw one locally at a good price that needed nothing done, I'm sure you understand
Now if you had a been a bit closer ....
[Edited on 22/12/09 by Jasper]
If you're not living life on the edge you're taking up too much room.
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minordelay
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 05:03 PM |
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Chap I work with at college (panelbeater) has just bought an 83 mini 1000 as an interesting project. He's spent nearly £1200 on panels so far
and hasn't even started welding yet
1275 engines getting rare now, he paid 450 for full running gear out of low mileage MG metro.
I'm sure it'll be nice when done though, you've gotta love the mini.
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McLannahan
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 05:22 PM |
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Craig - What about a Mk1 Golf GTi?
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imp paul
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 05:25 PM |
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sod the mini get a imp sport  (Small) (Custom).jpg)
[Edited on 22/12/09 by imp paul]
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COREdevelopments
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| posted on 22/12/09 at 06:48 PM |
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Get a mini. it will put a smile on your face all day long. An imp would be great too but they are like rocking horse poo!! and have never driven an
imp before!
my mate bought a 98 cooper mpi. drives beautiful too. think it cost him just under 2000k
Rob
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