Are there any cheap minis left?

[AndyDRZ]

Hello,

I'm only going to have about 8miles of commute (all backroads) from the new year. I'm planning on selling my S2k to clear some debts and need a cheap runabout.

Now, this sounds like the perfect excuse to get myself a mini but it seems these go for a few thousand pounds even for a basic one.

So, are minis now for enthusiasts only that want to spend loads keeping them tiptop or are there still some bargains out there?

Cheers.

[annodomini2]

AndyDRZ said:

Hello,

I'm only going to have about 8miles of commute (all backroads) from the new year. I'm planning on selling my S2k to clear some debts and need a cheap runabout.

Now, this sounds like the perfect excuse to get myself a mini but it seems these go for a few thousand pounds even for a basic one.

So, are minis now for enthusiasts only that want to spend loads keeping them tiptop or are there still some bargains out there?

Cheers.

Define cheap, a runner with MOT starts about £1500, but will probably need work in the near future.

[AndyDRZ]

When I bought my Studio2 about 9 years ago, it cost £750 and had a year mot... that's what I was hoping for this time round too!

[dogfather]

From recent experience with purchasing 4 minis within the last few years. I bought a 92 mini mayfair in nov 06, it had 6 mths mot and tax and looked ok on the out side but a bit damp on the inside so evidently needed work in the near future, (this 1 is now 90% restored) it was up for £750 but i got it for £675 and to date its has cost me about £1500 and a lot of time, thats without the engine which is my nxt to do.

at the beginning of 2009 my buddy was in the same situation as you pretty much so he went looking for a mini to run to work and back and repair inbetween, he seen one on Ebay with a horendous wide body kit with a huge spoiler on the roof and painted in a flip purple, (sory bob but it was horrid)he bought it outside of ebay for £800, to cut a long story short it was an absoloute lemon in every way so it had to go.

then we saw a 13i 1999 cooper for £900 so we went to veiw it and it needed a complete scuttle,floorpans,outer sills,doors,half boot floor section and a few outer things but he bought because it wasnt to bad, it drove well with a decent engine, infact on the way back he got into the 100mph club with ease......then somone drove into it and they wrote it off and i think the book price was just over £2000 and thats what he got paid out.

now he has a 1979 clubman estate running on 10s with s calipers which needed a complete floor (which we are doing in 4 sections), a boot floor (which they dont make anymore),rear valence and closing panel,rear step,all 4 doors repairing,front driver fitch panel,both door steps,passenger scuttle corner repair panel,both scuttle closing panels,a passenger wing and a partrdge in a pair tree. he bought it for £1100 and has spent about £500/£600 on panels and thats just the start, so to answer your posted question (are there any cheap minis left), in my opinion no there isnt unless you find somone that has no mini knowledge and wants to get rid of 1 cus its in the way or your willing to put a lot of time and effort in and repair 1 yourself. hope this helps and sory if it upset you. merry xmas and happy hunting.

[AndyDRZ]

dogfather said:

Lots of helpful stuff.

Thanks for the reply. That answers my question nicely.

I suspected this would be the case. The nice ones a rare now so you either need to spend a lot to start with or, if you can find a cheap one, it will need lots of work.

I don't mind replacing mechanical bits but I've got no experience with bodywork/replacing floors/welding and it sounds like this is what the cheapies will need.

As I'd only get about £5- 6k for my S2k at this time of year it really isn't worth me swapping to a mini (From the financial side before I upset you all)


Back to the drawing board

[Flipatron]

You can still buy cheap Minis, just bought a 1.3i cooper SPi for £350. It needed a little welding to the sills but was fairly mint. There were one or two bits missing though.....

















Engine
Interior
Glass
Wheels
Loom
Doors
Bonnet
Boot
Lights
Bumpers

It did come with a log book though!

Oh for the days you could buy a Mini with T&T for £50, bought a few in my time.

Edited by Flipatron on Thursday 24th December 20:54

[greggy50]

Mine currently owes me 2k see profile
Mate brought one for 1k and looks pretty solid floor looks good and so do sills one of the doors is on the way out but it was recently sprayed as well and runs nicely took to mini garage asked for anthing wrong to be repaired and got a bill of £250 in the end for various jobs so stands him £1250 for a tidy example of one that has started first time evertime for the last 3 months and done decent millage without any issues.

[toast boy]

I've been looking for a decent shell for a while to rehome an engine that I've currently got in a shell that's a bit worse for wear. The one with the good engine in has a shell that is repairable but will need a fair bit of welding (a lot more than I've got time to take on at the minute) but is a complete car apart from that. That was £500, with no MOT tax or test about 6 months ago. The new one has a good shell, almost no welding to do, very little rust and comes with glass, brakes and suspension but nothing else. That was £500 also. So no, I don't think there are any good cheap minis left!

[Steve Devaney]

What's even worse is that my freind who works Toyota has had the second classic Mini at the dealership under the scrappage scheme!
Told my girlfriend who owns a lovely (Hertage re-shell) '71 1000cc and it brought tears to her eyes.....
I hope there aren't too many other horror stories like this.

[Cooperman]

I think I've just bought a 1967 850 which is rust-free, but has been poorly restored in terms of welding quality, for £600 including a box of new parts like brake hoses, pipes, etc.
It needs me to get the engine running, sort out the body issues, for example, it has no A and D-post capping strips and the front panel needs re-painting, plus a lot of the welding needs a bit of grinding back and checking/re-welding.
I have heard it running about a year ago and I know the box is OK too.
About £500 plus my Grandson's and my time should see it in 'gfood' rather than 'concours' condition. I reckon then it'll be worth c.£2800. However, we might keep it for a while and use it next Summer to go to some Mini shows in company with our also newly-acquired Innocenti 1300 Export.
I guess I'll be open to sensible offers eventually