Make for an interesting restoration.

[Tedzed1]

Only 11 miles on the clock, the last mini to leave Longbridge in 2012,

It would be a brave person to take this on, but just how unique would this
car be when fully restored, and worth a few quid into the bargain no doubt.

Now seeing as it has never been registered, would it be eligable for an up to date
registration?, it would look rather strange running around on say a "63" plate.

http://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/news/au...o-auction/

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks for adding this interesting thread Paul.

It would be good to hear what others think; restore or not restore. My vote would be to bury it because Bron and I owned one of these many years ago and it was terrible. The mini however was a huge step forward in small car design and credit to Sir Alec Issigonis and his small team.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini

I owned one of the first mini's and it was fun to drive and could be chucked around and was as agile as a skateboard; one thing I do remember well is that the first time I ever drove a mini the first bend in the road was a real eye opener; I let go of the steering wheel expecting it to automatically self center again but no it continued going around the bend; anyone else find this out the hard way?

As with most cars of the period mini's were rust buckets and the sub frames were usually the first to suffer; I've changed a few of these.

A totally different design but the Ford Anglia 105E of the same period was also a rust bucket and it was never an happy sight to lift the boot lid to see a pair of cart springs ends poking through the boot floor; also the "A" frames were prone to rotting letting the heavy doors sag.

In those days such cars could be easily worked on at home with a handful of spanners and a few screwdrivers; parts were also cheap and plentiful.

Modern cars are certainly better on rustproofing but virtually impossible to repair at home and when things do go wrong it's a second mortgage job.

Time I got off my backside and do something useful.

Kind regards, Col.

[Yorkie]

The mini is such a commonplace car in all its manifestations that if it was restored (or rather 're-created' as it can't be 'restored' as such) it would be just another mini. As it is, it has a unique and interesting tale to tell if left in its present condition. I don't doubt that there are those with the skills and inclination to use it as a basis to create what to all intents and purposes would be a pristine 'new' mini from it, but it wouldn't be that one - there's so little of it left. No engine/gearbox/ transmission, steering, brake system, interior trim, electrics, upholstery. Basically, a shell which is a heap of rusting scrap from a period in which the only time that the UK car industry made any money (or rather didn't lose as much) was Sunday when the factories shut (if they weren't already on strike). In numbers, it may have been the highest volume car sold, but in money terms, it was little more than a job creation scheme.

Someone will buy it. £8k - £10k would be my guess.

[pwdrive]

Back in the 60's on our estate the first car was either a moggie or a mini, the mini looked cool so the mini it was.
If the one found in the tunnel is of some historical note then maybe conserve what's there and stick it in some car museum or stick it on a pole somewhere near the motorway as a gateway icon to save on artists comissioning fees....

Lawrence.

[Refugee]

It is almost just a body shell and could be snapped up for another restoration where the body shell has rusted so much that it would be too much trouble.
Even some of the panels look a little bit wrinkly from here.

[Tedzed1]

It would be good to hear what others think; restore or not restore. My vote would be to bury it because Bron and I owned one of these many years ago and it was terrible.

Quite agree Col, I owned a Clubman estate in the mid 80's, and was forever working on it, got used
to skinning my knuckles when working in the engine bay, what finally saw it's demise was the A pillar and door post
finally rotted through, I had to lift the drivers door to shut it, the footwells were permanantly wet, so much it rotted
the carpet, which cause the inner sills to rot.

plus it was that horrible bmc fawny beige colour, only thing it had in it favour was the one piece rear door which opened sideways.

Funny thing is I never had a problem with either subframe.