Advice needed on old old old Mini

[bigtone]

A colleague of mine at work has a Mini in storage that she's looking at getting rid of. It used to belong to her husband but he passed away a few years ago, and new a new house purchase about to go through, it's going to be one less thing to worry about.

Although I haven't got the full details yet, it was registered in May 1959, which I think makes it one of the first ever. It was last run in 1988, and has been in dry storage ever since. It's original colour was red, but it was subsequently re-sprayed black.

Of possible more value than the car is the registration, which she is considering splitting from the car. It's either EL **** or **** EL (**** being four numbers which she can't remember off hand), but it's a shame to separate them I think.

Does anyone know anyone who knows about these sorts of things, what the best thing to do it, or fancies the car for themselves?

Any advice would be appreciated, and I'll pass it all on to her.

Cheers, Tony

[beano1197]

EL - that'd be a Bournemouth registration.

[NikB]

I think a car has to be MOT'd and maybe taxed if you want to transfer the number plate.

[jmorgan]

Is there a mini forum that might have better knowledge?

[abels]

NikB said: I think a car has to be MOT'd and maybe taxed if you want to transfer the number plate.

This is correct.

Where abouts is the car? I may know someone that would be very interested. If it is a 59 mini, it will have the push button start on the floor and there will be no heater.

Mark

>> Edited by abels on Wednesday 27th November 10:59

[bigtone]

abels said:

NikB said: I think a car has to be MOT'd and maybe taxed if you want to transfer the number plate.

This is correct.

Where abouts is the car? I may know someone that would be very interested. If it is a 59 mini, it will have the push button start on the floor and there will be no heater.

Mark

>> Edited by abels on Wednesday 27th November 10:59

The car definitely isn't MOT'd, and apparently would need work to get it to that state. It has got floor starter, slidey windows, rope things as door handles etc!

It's in Greenford, near Hanger Lane area, west London.

I've had a scout through on the web for a decent Mini forum, but no luck as yet, especially the older ones.

Thanks, Tony.

[abels]

Just contacting someone now for you Tony. He took one of my 59 mini's and he is looking for another. I'll drop you a mail when I know more.
Mark

[phil hill]

Ok mini-fans,

If it is an early '59 as well as the floor starter it should have a silver faced speedo with an orange colour plastic triangular needle. Don't know if heater was an option as early as '59, but would be recirculatory type if fitted. Sounds like Abels can sort you out with a home for it, good early cars fetch good money, bad early cars cost money to make good.....

[phil hill]

by the way, I've yet to find a really good mini forum, there are some Yahoo groups if you can put up with the children and the adverts, but you could try www.minispares.com/msgthreads.cfm or www.mini-online.org/forum/default.asp

Phil.

[Paul V]

Sounds like are rare car, although the market for mk1’s seems to have dropped of at the moment, I’ve had my mk1 for sale for about a year and not had much interest. Maybe get some pictures and a rough price that she wants then put it up on www.miniboard.co.uk someone on here might be interested.

[miniman]

That is a pretty desirable Mini to a lot of people. Good quality Mk1s are getting pretty thin on the ground now.

Difficult to price it - there is one listed in Mini Mag for £1,000 but they often fetch more if they are genuine and in A1 condition.

[PIST N BROKE]

go to www.miniowners.com this is the site i hang out on most days if i hadnt bought the 1970 mini clubman i'd be biting her arm off! i really wanted a mk1 as well but they go for so much even when knackered and without floorpan etc...!!! if it was a cooper S then shes hit the jackpot! any more info please i'm kinda tempted! i still have half a garage to fill haha when i finish type R mini i'd like a resto project.

[manek]

Ahh, reminds me of my first car -- red body with white roof, made in 1961. I owned it for a year from 1971-2 and it was seriously rotting by then. Start button onthe floor, black vinyl-padded dash with about six dials (installed by YT) along with a gas-flowed head, radial tyres (x-plies were standard!) and upgraded SU carb...

[Paul V]

Not going to be a cooper or s as the cooper didn't arrive till a few years into production and then the s after that. I’m selling a very clean mot'd running car for £1900. You should get at least £3-500 for a complete car though.

[bigtone]

Thanks all for your help and advice - Carol has been reading with interest. Tomorrow she's bringing in the registration documents etc so we'll have a better idea of exactly what's what. I'll post the details here, and then some pics etc on the mini sites you've mentioned.

Cheers again, Tony.