Dream Find.

[nobbybombshell]

Good morning,


I have come across a 1960 998 Mini. It has had two owners and only 50,000 miles on it. It has been garaged for what seems like the last two to three years and has been well looked after. The only thing that needs replacing is the sub frame. The rest of the car is great, just needs some spit and polish.

I have a couple of questions regarding this.

1. How much to get sub frame done (roughly)is it a big job?
2. How much would something like this be worth?

Thanks people.

>>> Edited by nobbybombshell on Wednesday 14th July 08:58

[plotloss]

Which subframe?

[nobbybombshell]

The rear one....(oops should have put that)

Cheers.

[Cooperman]

Assuming it's the rear you could easily do the job yourself. Usually you need to do the radius arm bushes as well. A rear sub-frame can be had for about £100 new and a kit to re-bush the arms is about £25 for both sides. Then you need a 13/16" reamer to ream out the bushes (borrow one).
The only thing I'm confused about is that there was never a 1960 Mini with a 998 engine, so presumably this is a later modification and this would de-value the car a bit. If it's really very clean I would think that with an original 850 engine it could be worth £2500 plus. What is the engine number in the V5? Could it be the 850 engine?

[plotloss]

Could it be a 997 Cooper at that vintage?

Yep rears fairly simple on the whole.

[nobbybombshell]

Thank you gents, the car is not modified so i will take it it is a 850. Great stuff about the sub frame i can do that myself NICE ONE. I can see myself having a laugh in this.

>> Edited by nobbybombshell on Wednesday 14th July 09:54

[annodomini2]

Can't remember exactly how but you can tell from the engine number if its an 850 or a 998. also how old the engine is.

[plotloss]

One of our esteemed members has a decoder on his website I think.

www.minispecial.com (could be .co.uk)

It was in a MiniWorld a while ago as well, I have a copy so if you get stuck stick the engine number up here and I will see if I can sort it...

[nobbybombshell]

Nice one guys, thanks.

[Cooperman]

If the engine number begins with an 8, then it's definately an 850. If it begins with a 9 it could be almost anything, as the 997, 998, 1071, 1275 and 970 all began with 9.
The 997 Cooper wasn't introduced until September 1961, and what a revalation that was at the time.
Bodywork guru Chris Spennewyn has a 1960 850 with 3000 genuine miles on the clock in all-original condition. It must be the oldest, lowest mileage and most original and unrestored Mk 1 Mini in the World.

[plotloss]

Thanks for the clarification Peter.

Amazing car that Chris has by the sounds of it.

I read something about an auction recently where they were selling a load of very low mileage special editions. Things like the 25, 30, British Open etc.

Some going for suprisingly low figures some for astonishingly high.

I think the 40th anniversary edition will be very sought after in future years assuming we are spared emissions nonsense...