Discussion
I last owned a Mini about 6 years ago and have been out of the scene as it were since. I'm looking for a project and rebuilding a Mini was my first thought 
Seems Mini's are a bit scarce nowadays, the local rag hasn't turned up anything as yet. A guy at work has offered me an '87 Mayfair 998, runner but been SORN'd for the last 5 years, needs some welding etc, for £500. I've not seen it yet but it sounds high to my ears. What sort of price are Mini's in that sort of condition going for these days?
Seems Mini's are a bit scarce nowadays, the local rag hasn't turned up anything as yet. A guy at work has offered me an '87 Mayfair 998, runner but been SORN'd for the last 5 years, needs some welding etc, for £500. I've not seen it yet but it sounds high to my ears. What sort of price are Mini's in that sort of condition going for these days?
Depends how much welding it needs and which bits are rotten. I'd go and have a thorough look round it first then re-consider your price. I'm sure if you looked a little further afield you could find something decent for £500!! For a car which has been off the road for 5 years it seems a little high to me.
The days of £100 minis in the local paper are gone I'm afriad. £500 doesn't sound too bad to me.
Check out www.minifinity.com theres always a few in the classifieds there.
Check out www.minifinity.com theres always a few in the classifieds there.
Mini prices really do seem to be going up strongly at present and £500 for a complete Mayfair seems quite reasonable these days. It does depend on how much welding will be needed as if. for example, the rear sub-frame mounting panels have rusted away then that's a really big job, although in practice, not too difficult if you are also fitting a brand new rear sub-frame.
For a complete restoration over a long period, a couple of hundred quid either way won't make much difference to the overall project costs. It's whether the car is complete and basically straight that's important as it's easier to restore an original body than mess about with one which has already been (badly?) welded and 'bodged' about.
I'm off to look at a 1966 car tomorrow, an 850, all complete but needing 'wings and things'. The asking price is £1000, but the mileage is alleged to be a genuine 47000 so it sounds quite fair. Of course, it will need a ground-up restoration, but what is an absoultely mint 850 worth these days? Quite a lot.
For a complete restoration over a long period, a couple of hundred quid either way won't make much difference to the overall project costs. It's whether the car is complete and basically straight that's important as it's easier to restore an original body than mess about with one which has already been (badly?) welded and 'bodged' about.
I'm off to look at a 1966 car tomorrow, an 850, all complete but needing 'wings and things'. The asking price is £1000, but the mileage is alleged to be a genuine 47000 so it sounds quite fair. Of course, it will need a ground-up restoration, but what is an absoultely mint 850 worth these days? Quite a lot.
After looking around some more £500 doesn't seem that bad. I paid £75 for my last Mini (that didn't need any welding either!) though that was 7 years ago and wasn't expecting prices to have climbed so much in the meantime.
I guess the days of picking up basket case Mini autos from Loot for £30 really are gone... <sigh>
I guess the days of picking up basket case Mini autos from Loot for £30 really are gone... <sigh>
I have just been offered a 76 clubman for 150 that been stood for 12 years ish. It looks tidy and has solid doors, wings, floor, boot floor, sframe etc but needs front panel inner and outer sills and door steps, shocks and brakes, and its recently been flooded so the interior is still soaking.
I just dont have time at present. I am sure someone will have it.
I just dont have time at present. I am sure someone will have it.
I just bought the 850 I mentioned. It has donre a genuine 47000 miles and has been dry-stored for 17 years. All it needs is a pair of front wings, a pair of (genuine) outer sills and a L.H. 'A-Panel'. It may also need a rear valence, but I couldn't see around the back.
The engine is dirty, but it will get a re-build as necessary with all new bits and pieces. It even still has a dynamo. I guess it's positive earth electrics too.
Inside the floor is all original and rust free, as is the boot floor and all the bulkheads.
What a find! Now I can't wait to get started on it.
The only question is whether to convert it to dry suspension to improve the reliability.Would it reduce the value when fully restored, or is a 'dry' 1966 car thought to be a better bet?
The engine is dirty, but it will get a re-build as necessary with all new bits and pieces. It even still has a dynamo. I guess it's positive earth electrics too.
Inside the floor is all original and rust free, as is the boot floor and all the bulkheads.
What a find! Now I can't wait to get started on it.
The only question is whether to convert it to dry suspension to improve the reliability.Would it reduce the value when fully restored, or is a 'dry' 1966 car thought to be a better bet?
Edited by Cooperman on Thursday 1st November 17:18
id convert it to dry whilst its in bits, especially if you are stripping it right down
if its been stood for 17 years the displacers will be bound to play up.
as much as i like the hydro cars, ive had ones that sulked and spoilt the car.
still, id get it home and pump it up and see whats what - if all the displacers look sound and pressure test up its would be worth leaving it as hydro - id guess it depends how damp the garage was.
id guess a dry car would be worth more - less to go wrong in the eyes of the common man!
any photos of the beast?
if its been stood for 17 years the displacers will be bound to play up.
as much as i like the hydro cars, ive had ones that sulked and spoilt the car.
still, id get it home and pump it up and see whats what - if all the displacers look sound and pressure test up its would be worth leaving it as hydro - id guess it depends how damp the garage was.
id guess a dry car would be worth more - less to go wrong in the eyes of the common man!
any photos of the beast?
I pick it up next week with my trailer. When I get it back to the workshop I can have a really good look at it. The plan is to strip it down to the last nut and bolt,then do the body, repaint (inside and out), and a very full restoration. When done it will be, effectively, a 'new' car. Currently its a basic model without even opening rear quarter windows, but it will be finished as a 'de Luxe' with everything appropriate for the year and model including a 3-dial centre binnacle. I guess I'll give it an white roof to go with its Island Blue paintwork. Rich, what pistons can you get for an 850 these days and can you get the 850 crank thrust bearings at std and/or +.003"? I hear that can be difficult.
Thanks, Rich. It'll be some time before I get around to doing the engine and box, but that sounds like a useful contact. As soon as I get the car home I'll take some pics and email them to you.
It's a long time since I had a standard 850, but this is a great find and it's a project my Grandson can help with now that he's finished his 998 Mayfair which looks really great too. He's 13 this month and I want to encourage him as much as I can and it's such a pleasure to work with him and teach him so much.
It's a long time since I had a standard 850, but this is a great find and it's a project my Grandson can help with now that he's finished his 998 Mayfair which looks really great too. He's 13 this month and I want to encourage him as much as I can and it's such a pleasure to work with him and teach him so much.
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