Which mini?

[veevee]

I've been thinking about buying a mini to run on a classic policy, just for a bit of fun and as a runaround.

Budget £1000 give or take a bit.

Is this enough to get me anything reasonable? Which models/engines am I looking for/to avoid? I know there's probably a hugely in depth mini buying guide somewhere (feel free to point me in the right direction), but I'd just like some very basic info/advice.

Thanks!

[Cooperman]

To be honest, you won't get much for 31000. I do know of a 1994 Cooper 1275 SPI (Single Point Injection) for that sort of money, but it needs a lot of new body panels plus a new rear sub-frame and then re-painting.
Almost all £1000 Minis will need a lot of welding, new panels and paint, and that's without any engine or mechanical work which may also be required.
Buyer beware!

[veevee]

Ouch, what sort of money would I need to put up to get something drivable? Doesn't have to be mini-enthusiast-perfect. But pref not falling to bits, not needing any major mechanical work! £1500 seems to give a little bit more choice...

[haynes]

As cooperman pointed out, the main problem with Minis is rust.

The car might look ok from a distance but those tell tale bubbles in all the usual places indicate thats its pretty rotten underneath, giving the car a very limited life span or needing large amounts of cash/work to revive it and get it through its next mot.

Within your budget you'll be very lucky indeed to get a solid shell but they do come up. One friend of mine recently sold a very low millage automatic for £2000 and some other friends picked up a good project for under a grand, tarted it up and ebayed it (one of these guys is a professional welder).

The mechanical stuff is usually easy DIY, given the right tools, some mechanical know how, a hanyes manual and lots and lots of patence.

[FWDRacer]

2K - 1000cc Entry level - No Rust9ish) - Tax and ticket...

[Furyblade_Lee]

To get something that needs NOTHING doing to it will probably cost £3k in today's Market as a rule, but there are bargains to be had for less if you are lucky. But then, after the first shower hits the bodywork, it will probobly need something doing to it! :-)

[Iggle Piggle]

My experience would suggest that £2500 will let you find a fairly good condition car that has some work that will need doing at some point but will look and drive well. We bought ours with the knoweldge it had no body repair work done, so it looked good but had a few spots of rust. Our friends paid £300 more for a car that looked much nicer but has more filler than metal (it transpires). Also their engine and general car is shot so my advice is look for a mechanically sound car that has some telltale signs of whats to come.

Whatever you get though, it is going to cost you money to fix at some point as it would be a shame to let it rot because it cannot be affored to be fixed.