Just bought this old Mini

[PatHeald]

I've just upgraded from a Griffith 500 to this 1972 998 Auto...

I've opened a thread in General Gassing looking for opinions as to what I should do with her...

[pic]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v154/PatHeald/mini2.jpg[/pic]

[pic]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v154/PatHeald/mini5.jpg[/pic]

All suggestions welcome.

Cheers :drink:

Pat

[rich 36]

Despite, the temptation to drag an old car kicking and screaming into the 21st century, if theres no rush, it could just as easilly be mothballed, for a bit longer, as another enthusiast would i'm sure be delighted to maintain it in that condition, for others to look at later.

I still think it might just pay you, to buy a lesser example, if thats really what you want to do to a mini.
see my profile;

the front car, was initially imported from Germany for conversion to trackdays, with little or no road use intended, but since this required such a lot of bashing about,
the rear car was instead fetched from Florence, and used instead with little regard for its lesser condition both in and out.
leaving front car on sale to recoup costs

[xxplod]

That Mini looks in superb original order. I'd keep it just as it is.

[RickApple]

Why dont you do a 'sleeper' conversion? Fit a 1275 or 1380 with the quietest throughflow exhaust possible, then upgrade the brakes, fit hi-los and sportier shocks while leaving it relatively normal in height, and perhaps get some wider profile tires? Would surprise anything on the twisties, while retaining its air of grandma on the outside!

[vrooom]

That sleeper conversion is good idea. keep that hubcap, etc its look business!

[xxplod]

I do like the wolf in sheeps clothing idea. A friend of mine who ran a mini-repair outfit had a 1964 Woodie. Totally standard looking, except for the Cooper S rims, and an RC40. Under the bonney lurked a 1380cc which put out around 120 bhp at the flywheel. That old Min seriously shifted!

If you do it, do it carefully so that all the period original bits are kept and can be put back. The vlaue of these Minis is only going one way.

[klassiekerrally]

What a great looking car!
If I'd have the money I'd answer your question with 'sell it to me'. But I don't.
I would keep this one as it is. Buy a second one and convert that into before mentioned sleeper.

[Ace-T]

IMHO don't do ANYTHING with that car - it looks an absolute minter! Get a £100 doer-upper to play with and leave that one alone.

Admittedly I am just about to pick up my mini that has been fettled a bit, but I have not done anything that cannot be reversed back to original easily. And mine is a Rover not an Austin.

Can you post more pics of the interior and suchlike? How much did you get it for if you don't mind me asking? It looks beautiful.

Ace-T

[PatHeald]

Ace-T said:

Can you post more pics of the interior and suchlike? How much did you get it for if you don't mind me asking? It looks beautiful. Ace-T

More pics to follow before too long.

I paid £1500 for her, which is probably too much for a car that hasn't been driven for 20 years.

I am just starting a fairly thorough overhaul, but the main thing is that the shell is nearly perfect and has never been welded.

It just needs one outer sill.

The colour is Black Tulip, an original, but pretty rare Leyland colour. It is the same colour as the 1275GT that spoiled Marc Bolan's last night out.

Cheers

Pat

[klassiekerrally]

PatHeald said:

I paid £1500 for her, which is probably too much for a car that hasn't been driven for 20 years.

That's a bargain!!! Over here you can just buy a pretty sad looking Mini for that kind of money, not one as good looking as yours.

[wedge girl]

What to do now? Sell her to me, she looks amazing.

[PatHeald]

I had originally bought the purple Mini with the intention of stuffing in a 1400, a roll cage, S discs and then doing a few hillclimbs and trackdays.

The conclusion that I have reached, which seems to accord with the opinion of everyone who has seen the car and the opinion of most PHers, is that it is simply too good an old Mini to hack about with.

I have decided to recommission her as an absolutely standard original 998 Auto.

Which rather left me back at square one, with no Mini upon which to base my hillclimb / trackday car.

So I have just bought this rather excellent little 1275GT. It is actually a Mini 1275E, which is a South African built car which has been imported. This one was built in 1983 and has S discs fitted.





No doubt lots of people will come forward and tell me that this one is also too nice to modify....

Cheers

Pat

[vrooom]

that is too nice to modify... i like the colour... and how hell u find those minis in vgc !!!

[klassiekerrally]

Again, it's MUCH too nice for what you want to do with it!
You've got to buy an old shed, with dull paint but good bodywork. Then you don't have to make us so jealous time and again!
And please:
Don't tell you bought this one as well for little money!

[PatHeald]

klassiekerrally said:

And please: Don't tell you bought this one as well for little money!

Nope, this one was rather more expensive.

I gave £2,500 for it.

Cheers

Pat

[klassiekerrally]

That still isn't expensive compared to the prices over here.
I think it's money well spent!
Nice pics too, what camera do you use?

[PatHeald]

klassiekerrally said:

Nice pics too, what camera do you use?

Just a point and squirt Sony digital camera.

I've no idea what model it is, but it seems to do the job.