Inherited Mk1 - Too far gone?

[jim2607]

Hi everyone, my Dad died from covid in 2022 and one of many cars he had was a Mk1 Monaco thats been sat in a garage since 2012. Everything else he had has either been sold or scrapped apart from this which I kept hold of. Its pretty rusty and I know its never going to be worth whatever it costs to repair but the question is, is it too far gone to even bother? Its a 1.6 90 bhp. Theres obviously a sentimental aspect to how I feel about the car although he only drove it a few months to be honest. When I found it in a rented lockup it still had his hat on the passenger seat where he'd left it. Im happy to do the mechanical side of things.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2dVbbsBoUiYn46Sr7

[Belle427]

Looks like its gone in all the usual places really and although its repairable it will depend what you want to spend on it.
Depending where you are in the country there are one or two specialists such as the MX5 restorer, wont be a cheap project though and you could be looking at £2k plus just to sort the structure out.
Makes more sense to find another good solid car but I do understand if it has sentimental value to you.
Money no object get it restored and enjoy it.

[Pit Pony]

Are you sure it's 90 bhp and not 115 bhp? I thought that only the monza was 90. I could be wrong.

It's all repairable with time, and heat.

[jim2607]

Thanks guys, Ive spoken to Colin at CC Sparkes in Woking and agreed to take the car to him for an assessment sometime so will go from there. MX5 Restorer quoted me £3k per side from the photos!
That garage looks rather interesting, particularly the suspended mini bonnet!

[Pit Pony]

I think interesting is not the word most people would use.

Disorganised, messy, with a touch of hoarding would be more accurate.

The mini bonnet ? Spot the dent from a cab crew pick up truck which was parked in front and we assume reversed over the mini.

I managed to find a replacement on gumtree in the correct colour for less than the price of the paint, and decided to repurpose the dented one as storage. I reckon a 5S exercise would deem whatever is lost in it, surplus to requirements.

[Pit Pony]

Sorry to hijack your thread, but you've got me enthused.

So I got it out and washed it.

Before.





Yes the fog light is a Halford 1960s reversing light painted inside with red poster paint



After. Back in the garage.

[MattsCar]

I think, to me, there are 2 routes to go with the car.

Either a full, basically open cheque book restoration on the basis of sentimentality...or, I am afraid, scrap it.

Some may argue things like just get the arches/ sills done and through an MOT, but then you end up with a car which you have spent multiple £k's on, with two very clean, painted sides, but an older scratched/ faded bonnet and a slightly dull looking soft top which is mismatched and not overly pleasing to the eye.

You are then in the realms of a full respray and a new hood and then the seats/ interior looks tired and worn and are mismatched to the condition of the body, so you set about all of this spending even more £k's to remedy this, only for the MOT tester to advice that basically a full underside restoration is needed due to lots of suspension components being covered in corrosion.

I hope you can see what I am saying and I'm not coming across as a pessimist, just someone who wants you to go in with your eyes open, should you wish to do so. Others will disagree with what I am saying, I am sure and it is up to you what to do.