First Time Buyer
Discussion
Hi All
Some time in the New Year (around May) I'm going to be buying a Mini. It's the only car I've ever wanted and never owned, so I'm quite excitied about it! (quite something given my current car, see www.prentis.eu )
Ideally I'd like a pre-73 (for no other reason than to screw Gordon Bown out of a few quid tax), pretty well sorted, and a budget of up to about £3000. Do-able?
What kind of car will I get for that? (here it goes, the usual question...) What should I look out for? Is going for a pre-73 false economy given running costs?
Cheers
Andy
Some time in the New Year (around May) I'm going to be buying a Mini. It's the only car I've ever wanted and never owned, so I'm quite excitied about it! (quite something given my current car, see www.prentis.eu )
Ideally I'd like a pre-73 (for no other reason than to screw Gordon Bown out of a few quid tax), pretty well sorted, and a budget of up to about £3000. Do-able?
What kind of car will I get for that? (here it goes, the usual question...) What should I look out for? Is going for a pre-73 false economy given running costs?
Cheers
Andy
Recent thread here that might be of interest:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=335955&f=90&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=335955&f=90&h=0
Thanks Miniman. I had seen that and found it very interesting, if I offload the Porker in the next couple of weeks I may see if it's still available and just stick it in a garage until May (going abroad from Feb to May). Do wonder if I'll tire rapidly of 850cc though? Could always stick a bigger lump in I guess.
Cheers
Andy
Cheers
Andy
If you bought that one you would be most unwise to do anything to it apart from very sympathetic minor restoration. It's a completely genuine 1960 Morris Mini-Minor 850, absolutely standard inside and out. The original engine has been replaced by a slightly later one mainly, I think, because you simply can't get parts for the engine with the thin-tail crank and the oil-fed primary gear. However, the original engine also comes with it.
To put a bigger engine in would be real sacrilege and would really de-value it. I reckon it's worth about £3000, but the seller will accept c.£2500.
To put a bigger engine in would be real sacrilege and would really de-value it. I reckon it's worth about £3000, but the seller will accept c.£2500.
The early 850 had single leading-shoe drum brakes which were pushed to stop the basic 850 if it was driven hard.
With the bigger engine proper disc brakes c/w hubs, calipers drive shafts and the correct master cylinder are a must.
With the best wheels being 10" for optimum handling, the Cooper 'S' disc set-up is best, but there is not a lot wrong with 12" wheels and the 8.25" discs with which all later Minis were fitted as standard. If you want the car to handle well, at all costs avoid the horrible 13" wheels which are really only a cosmetic thing and detract from the handling.
On the engine side, you'll find Metro 133 engines easy to come by and these can be mated to the original gearbox, with a final drive ratio to suit your application.
If fitting a bigger or more powerful engine I would advise a full gearbox rebuild. I built a rally 1293 engine for a guy who insisted that I just fit it onto his existing straight cut box which, he said, was perfect. However, the power from the new engine was 95 bhp at the flywheel, up from, probably about 65 bhp on his old and very worn engine. The box lasted 4 weeks, the the whole lot had to come out again for a full box rebuld.
If you could find a really nice Mayfair or a carburettor Cooper from about 1990 you would have a really good basis from which to build a great car. Just try to make sure the bodyshell is not too rusty. The mechanicals are really easy, but extensive body repairs, unless you can do all the welding and fitting-up yourself, can be mega-expensive.
With a decent engine, you'll be wist to change the dampers for, maybe, GAZ adjustable.
I would think that the entire car with everything done could be on-the-road for c.£3000 if you do most of the labour yourself. There are a lot of people on here who will give you good advice and assistance when you need it.
A nice new project for the new year.
Let me know if I can help any further,
Peter
With the bigger engine proper disc brakes c/w hubs, calipers drive shafts and the correct master cylinder are a must.
With the best wheels being 10" for optimum handling, the Cooper 'S' disc set-up is best, but there is not a lot wrong with 12" wheels and the 8.25" discs with which all later Minis were fitted as standard. If you want the car to handle well, at all costs avoid the horrible 13" wheels which are really only a cosmetic thing and detract from the handling.
On the engine side, you'll find Metro 133 engines easy to come by and these can be mated to the original gearbox, with a final drive ratio to suit your application.
If fitting a bigger or more powerful engine I would advise a full gearbox rebuild. I built a rally 1293 engine for a guy who insisted that I just fit it onto his existing straight cut box which, he said, was perfect. However, the power from the new engine was 95 bhp at the flywheel, up from, probably about 65 bhp on his old and very worn engine. The box lasted 4 weeks, the the whole lot had to come out again for a full box rebuld.
If you could find a really nice Mayfair or a carburettor Cooper from about 1990 you would have a really good basis from which to build a great car. Just try to make sure the bodyshell is not too rusty. The mechanicals are really easy, but extensive body repairs, unless you can do all the welding and fitting-up yourself, can be mega-expensive.
With a decent engine, you'll be wist to change the dampers for, maybe, GAZ adjustable.
I would think that the entire car with everything done could be on-the-road for c.£3000 if you do most of the labour yourself. There are a lot of people on here who will give you good advice and assistance when you need it.
A nice new project for the new year.
Let me know if I can help any further,
Peter
Half the fun of a mini is making it go faster. Mk1's are the original thing. Very carefully remove the wheezy engine, rubbish suspension and original interior and build yourself up some serious subframes and a huge engine. Do it perfectly, beautifully, completely period.
Mini's are about modifying and if you do something which is reversible, fine.
I have had the pleasure of a magic wand 850, hydro supension, a city e, up to huge engines. The hugest engine was the most fun
Snag is, you get through tyres quickly..... but then again, it's totally worth it
Mini's are about modifying and if you do something which is reversible, fine.
I have had the pleasure of a magic wand 850, hydro supension, a city e, up to huge engines. The hugest engine was the most fun
Snag is, you get through tyres quickly..... but then again, it's totally worth it
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