1987 Mini City E 26000 miles from new
Discussion
A friend of my uncle needs a bit of advice concerning a car which originally belonged to his late father. It is a Mini City E in white, 998cc. Date of first registration: 3 August 1987. Mileage: 26,000 from new. The owner describes the condition as very good but there is 'some minor cosmetic rust to the seam by the headlights'. The vehicle has a new battery, 4 new tyres and an MOT certificate valid to 5 Aug. 2010. It has 6 months road tax. It has been very lightly used in recent years. It has been in the same family ownership from new. Would anyone be able to give me any advice as to what it is worth?
Difficult without some pics, but it will be worth a reasonable sum. 80s Minis which were once seen as the less desirable models compared to the earlier models or later Coopers are now fetching quite a bit, especially the ultra low milers.
Almost certainly worth £2000 to someone, maybe more if the bodywork doesn't need too much and the interior and mechanics are all good. Bodywork is of course expensive. My Mini is akin to Triggers new broom when it comes to panels and one thing I've learnt from 17 years of Mini ownership is that there is rarely just a bit of superficial rust!
Almost certainly worth £2000 to someone, maybe more if the bodywork doesn't need too much and the interior and mechanics are all good. Bodywork is of course expensive. My Mini is akin to Triggers new broom when it comes to panels and one thing I've learnt from 17 years of Mini ownership is that there is rarely just a bit of superficial rust!
26 thou isnt particually low miles on a mini - a mini advertised as 'low miles' will normally have less than 10 thou
id say your car is probably worth 1500 - 2000 if its as good as it looks in the photos.
the problems with minis like this that have little use, means that they spend a lot of time just sat around in garages, which unless they are very dry, just let the cars fester away, so why the exterior body work may look fine, stuff like brakes and clutchs start to seize up and what not, then once they start getting used a lot they have a lot of niggly problems.
a trader local to me has a 16 thou from new 96 car that he has been trying to shift for over a year now - he wants 2000 for it, but the old lady who owned it has managed to put parking dents in every corner and its rusting for england - its going to need wings, front, a panels, scuttle, doors and a back valance before long.....
his main pitch is that its 'only done 16 thou', my response was 'yeah, but its felt every single one of them'
id say your car is probably worth 1500 - 2000 if its as good as it looks in the photos.
the problems with minis like this that have little use, means that they spend a lot of time just sat around in garages, which unless they are very dry, just let the cars fester away, so why the exterior body work may look fine, stuff like brakes and clutchs start to seize up and what not, then once they start getting used a lot they have a lot of niggly problems.
a trader local to me has a 16 thou from new 96 car that he has been trying to shift for over a year now - he wants 2000 for it, but the old lady who owned it has managed to put parking dents in every corner and its rusting for england - its going to need wings, front, a panels, scuttle, doors and a back valance before long.....
his main pitch is that its 'only done 16 thou', my response was 'yeah, but its felt every single one of them'
Looks pretty straight and honest. I think I probably wasn't far off. Is that a dent on the offside wing or is it the light?
There is clearly some rust on that seam with the front panel. You do see a lot of Minis where this sort of rust has been filled and the car given a blow-over "restoration" and the big ££££ asking price. Trouble is, to address this rust you can very easily replace the front end, a door may need a re-skin, then you think might as well paint the rest as well... bingo - £4K spent without trying.
Advertise at £1995, I reckon someone would buy it as a medium term project/rolling resto. Try and use it, if it has been sat, some of the ancillaries, clutch etc... may fail but so what, they're cheap enough to replace.
There is clearly some rust on that seam with the front panel. You do see a lot of Minis where this sort of rust has been filled and the car given a blow-over "restoration" and the big ££££ asking price. Trouble is, to address this rust you can very easily replace the front end, a door may need a re-skin, then you think might as well paint the rest as well... bingo - £4K spent without trying.
Advertise at £1995, I reckon someone would buy it as a medium term project/rolling resto. Try and use it, if it has been sat, some of the ancillaries, clutch etc... may fail but so what, they're cheap enough to replace.
xxplod said:
Looks pretty straight and honest. I think I probably wasn't far off. Is that a dent on the offside wing or is it the light?
There is clearly some rust on that seam with the front panel. You do see a lot of Minis where this sort of rust has been filled and the car given a blow-over "restoration" and the big ££££ asking price. Trouble is, to address this rust you can very easily replace the front end, a door may need a re-skin, then you think might as well paint the rest as well... bingo - £4K spent without trying.
Advertise at £1995, I reckon someone would buy it as a medium term project/rolling resto. Try and use it, if it has been sat, some of the ancillaries, clutch etc... may fail but so what, they're cheap enough to replace.
No, it is not a dent, strangely it seems to have appeared on the photo when I compressed it. The only fault that I have been told about is the rust you can see in the photo. The car is still used from time to time by the late owner's son. I will report back to him and see what he wants to do. Thanks for your help.There is clearly some rust on that seam with the front panel. You do see a lot of Minis where this sort of rust has been filled and the car given a blow-over "restoration" and the big ££££ asking price. Trouble is, to address this rust you can very easily replace the front end, a door may need a re-skin, then you think might as well paint the rest as well... bingo - £4K spent without trying.
Advertise at £1995, I reckon someone would buy it as a medium term project/rolling resto. Try and use it, if it has been sat, some of the ancillaries, clutch etc... may fail but so what, they're cheap enough to replace.
Sadly it seems that this thread is not going to have a happy ending. I reported back to the owner, who I do not know, that following advice received on here, the likely value of the mini is around £1500.
I have just received an email from him to say that he is going to trade the car in under the scrappage scheme for a new Fiat!!!!! I am about to email him with my thoughts............. I know it's only a mini but it seems a bloody shame to crush the poor thing. Maybe I am just being a sentimental old fool.
I have just received an email from him to say that he is going to trade the car in under the scrappage scheme for a new Fiat!!!!! I am about to email him with my thoughts............. I know it's only a mini but it seems a bloody shame to crush the poor thing. Maybe I am just being a sentimental old fool.
Gassing Station | Classic Minis | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff