Do we do Elfs & Hornets in here?

[bigbadbikercats]

I've just been offered what seems to be a nice, usable '64 Wolseley Hornet for not much money. Now, I know they're not everybody's idea of what a Mini should be but I like them, they're cute (and just a little bit different), it'll be fun to trundle out in with the family on sunny afternoons, and it'll be nice to have for the Goodwood revival meeting (plenty of room for a nice wicker picnic basket in that extended boot!) so I'm kind of tempted...

Any known gotchas with these beyond the usual Mini stuff? I'm guessing that trim (inside and out) and brightwork might be a bit of an issue on these but is there anything else I need to look out for?

--
JG

[AMT]

this may give you a few idear`s .... look cute ?

[bigbadbikercats]

AMT said:

this may give you a few idear`s .... look cute ?

Well, if it followed me home I certainly wouldn't shut it out of the garage...

Seriously, while I really, really like that (subtle, understated, a bit different), and I'm not a rivet counting originality freak (my 1976 Triumph T160 Trident motorcycle has the distinctive "raygun" silencers from the early T150 fitted. Why? Because I like 'em!) I don't think I'd want to lose too much of the original vibe. I could definitely see a set of Minilites, disk brakes, and a mildly tuned 1380 (or thereabouts) motor in the future for mine though if time and finance permit

Takes all sorts, if we all wanted to build the same thing it would be really boring!

--
JG

[CarMac]

Why does nobody ever offer me something like that for not a lot? Harumph!

Go for it. Be different!

You could have a look on the Elf/Hornet website!

http://www.elf-hornet-register.co.uk/

Edited by CarMac on Thursday 7th February 07:20

[Phil Hill]

bigbadbikercats said:

I've just been offered what seems to be a nice, usable '64 Wolseley Hornet for not much money. Now, I know they're not everybody's idea of what a Mini should be but I like them, they're cute (and just a little bit different), it'll be fun to trundle out in with the family on sunny afternoons, and it'll be nice to have for the Goodwood revival meeting (plenty of room for a nice wicker picnic basket in that extended boot!) so I'm kind of tempted...

Any known gotchas with these beyond the usual Mini stuff? I'm guessing that trim (inside and out) and brightwork might be a bit of an issue on these but is there anything else I need to look out for?

--
JG

You've pretty much got it, the special panels and most of the trim is very hard to find these days, so if originality is your thing then hope that it's all present and in good shape. Most of the rest of it is pretty much your standard mini stuff; rust in the usual places, years of bodges from previous owners......... If it's the architypal one lady owner car then it should be pretty good as this type of owner generally take good care of them.

Phil.

[Cooperman]

That'll be a 998 cc version then. Of course, you can up-grade the engine to 998 Cooper spec all with 'period mods' and it'll be a great little road car. Chris Spennewyn has a Hornet with a 998 Cooper engine, 'S'[ front brakes, but entirely standard otherwise. It looks standard except for the whees (Minilite 4.5&quot and the exhaust pipe diameter (standard Cooper with a bit welded on). It's so nice to drive.
A very pretty car.

[Skyedriver]

There's a couple of lads do Historic Rallying with them in the North East.
Will look at the obvious web sites and get back to you.

[eccles]

Phil Hill said:

bigbadbikercats said:

I've just been offered what seems to be a nice, usable '64 Wolseley Hornet for not much money. Now, I know they're not everybody's idea of what a Mini should be but I like them, they're cute (and just a little bit different), it'll be fun to trundle out in with the family on sunny afternoons, and it'll be nice to have for the Goodwood revival meeting (plenty of room for a nice wicker picnic basket in that extended boot!) so I'm kind of tempted...

Any known gotchas with these beyond the usual Mini stuff? I'm guessing that trim (inside and out) and brightwork might be a bit of an issue on these but is there anything else I need to look out for?

--
JG

You've pretty much got it, the special panels and most of the trim is very hard to find these days, so if originality is your thing then hope that it's all present and in good shape. Most of the rest of it is pretty much your standard mini stuff; rust in the usual places, years of bodges from previous owners......... If it's the architypal one lady owner car then it should be pretty good as this type of owner generally take good care of them.

Phil.

i wouldn't have said that the trim and special panels are 'that' rare.

during my search for a hornet/elf rear bumper (for my ginetta) i've come across several sets of the trim, dashboards, bonnets, boot and brightwork on ebay, and most of it seem to be going for cheaper prices than the equivelant Mk1 mini stuff.

[xxplod]

No real issues to be concerned about, esp. if it's cheap. Just the usual classic Mini issue....RUST, everywhere.

Some bits of trim/panels can be trickier to source but pretty much everything can be obtained.

GO FOR IT!

[selbymsport]

All hornets and elf's had 998 cooper spec engines as standard to help pull along the extra 150 Kg's If you lift the rocker box you should see the head casting number 12G295 (that's if all is original)

[R4NDY]

I'm sure the Elf and Hornet engines are standard 850 and 998 mini units, ones i've come across anyway.
Also 998 engines had same heads (or valve sizes) as 850!
My 67 Elf has h/t cam, 12g295 cooper head, free flow manifold, twin 1 1/4" carbs and an RC40 system.
Cooper s disc's, rear spaced drums and s wheels.
Will put pics up later.

[Cooperman]

I've just come back from picking up a 12G295 head from the machine shop and was thinking what a nice casting it is. One point for anyone who wants to fit one to a standard 998 block is the compression ratio. The Cooper 998 had raised deck pistons, known as 'D-Tops', and these are no NLA. You can get flat tops , but the comp ratio with these will be very low unless a lot of metal is skimmed from the 295 head. On the one I've just had machined, I have re-profiled the chambers a little and in order to obtain just over 10:1 comp ratio I've had to have 0.077" skimmed from the head. It's OK, but in case the head has been previously machined, be sure to measure the depth of the oil feed hole compared to the head thickness. You should not skim closer than about within 0.085" of the base of the oil hole.

[R4NDY]

Sorry for not getting a pic up sooner, hope you like.

[rougeleo]

Does this count?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

[guru_1071]

ive just bought this one......



lets put it this way, if it was further than ten miles from home and more than 103 quid i would have felt ripped off. damm ebay!

i think it was the mg1100 that had the cooper 'type' engines fitted.

elfs where either 850's (early ones) or 1000 (later ones)

[Skyedriver]

Thought you must be feeling better Rich, then I saw the photo.
Fancy a challenge eh????

[guru_1071]

Skyedriver said:

Thought you must be feeling better Rich, then I saw the photo.
Fancy a challenge eh????

yeah, its called 'how to use a 9" disc cutter....!'

joking apart, a mate wants a load of little bits for his 997 resto and theres a few odds and sods i can squirrel away for the future.

it is actually far worse than it looks in the pictures - difficult to beleive but it was actually mot'd in 2002. the only reason it failed was due to the clutch failing halfway through the test.......

[eccles]

mmm, nice back bumper there....would look nice on my Ginetta

[Fatboy]

Cooperman said:

The Cooper 998 had raised deck pistons, known as 'D-Tops', and these are no NLA. You can get flat tops , but the comp ratio with these will be very low...

A prime candidate for forced induction then