New baby!!!

[Jupitus]

http://www.dippyworld.demon.co.uk/images/Nala/Nalaondriverough.jpg

'Our' new car - well... technically mine, but bought so my 17 y.o. can have a practice runaround... gonna needs lots of love and attention, but I'm getting there slowly - any of you guys done car restoration before?

 

[cHodAX]

Bleh, I was hoping to be able to congratulate you and say 'awwww' at some nice baby pics but instead we get a bloody mini!

 

[Jupitus]

That reminds me - need to get booked in for the snip

 

[mank!]

awesome, always fancied an old mini...

 

[cHodAX]

That reminds me - need to get booked in for the snip

You are gonna get black balled, litterally

 

[JBP|]

Well i'm no mechanic but that bonnet looks like it might need strapping down or something.

 

[Gumbo]

http://www.dippyworld.demon.co.uk/images/Nala/Nalaondriverough.jpg

'Our' new car - well... technically mine, but bought so my 17 y.o. can have a practice runaround... gonna needs lots of love and attention, but I'm getting there slowly - any of you guys done car restoration before?

Yup, loads of work on Mini's and complete rebuild of a Spitfire and a GT6 (terrible cars)...

What's your plan for the Mini?

 

[DaGaffer]

Yup, loads of work on Mini's and complete rebuild of a Spitfire and a GT6 (terrible cars)...

What's your plan for the Mini?

My first ever car was a Spitfire; it was a hoot. Easy to repair and rebuild too (a lot easier than a Mini tbh).

 

[TdC]

http://www.dippyworld.demon.co.uk/images/Nala/Nalaondriverough.jpg

'Our' new car - well... technically mine, but bought so my 17 y.o. can have a practice runaround... gonna needs lots of love and attention, but I'm getting there slowly - any of you guys done car restoration before?

adopt me! I'm housebroken!

 

[Ashala]

thats EXACTLY the kind of car i want

how much did you pay for it and how did you find it ?

 

[Gumbo]

My first ever car was a Spitfire; it was a hoot. Easy to repair and rebuild too (a lot easier than a Mini tbh).

Very easy to work on, but slooooow and handle terribly, neither of these were the rotoflex suspension, so the harder you cornered the more the rear wheel cocked in till it was running on the wall.

Give me Mini's over Spits anyday, but give me my Elise over anything else full stop p

 

[DaGaffer]

Very easy to work on, but slooooow and handle terribly, neither of these were the rotoflex suspension, so the harder you cornered the more the rear wheel cocked in till it was running on the wall.

Give me Mini's over Spits anyday, but give me my Elise over anything else full stop p

Yeah, but with three mates in it, really funny I had a 1500 so the rear suspension wasn't as bad. Did rot a bit though.

 

[Damini]

That car is gorgeous, Jup. My first car was a mini, and I loved it. So much fun to drive! Of course, it was also a rust bucket, with the floor literally falling in, and it loathed hills. And cold mornings. And damp mornings. And starting. But it was my favourite car I've ever owned.

 

[Jupitus]

Thanks for the comments guys - home net has been down so not really had time to respond!

Cost: £850
Spent on parts and tools: c. £600 (inc 4 new tyres)

I have spent alot of time since I got her making sure she is roadworthy from a mechanical point of view... work done so far includes:

New exhaust
New tyres
New carb needle
New water pump
New thermostat
New front tie bars
New rear brake cylinders
New rear brake pipes
New spark plugs
New water temp gauge
New fuel lines
New choke and throttle cables
Painted carb dashpot and rocker cover

My hands, wrists and forearms are covered in little nicks and scratches from working on her, and my nails have a contstant layer of black grime under them despite unending use of nail brush and swarfega. I even managed to give myself a fat lip by smacking myself in the mush with the radiator

All in all I'm loving it!

My plan is to maintain her well so she runs like a good'un and then gradually start work on body restoration. I have had plenty of offers of help from other mini owners (they're a very friendly bunch!) so I'm likely to undertake the cutting and welding of parts and respraying myself... a bit daunting but a good investment. Not only will I have a car which I can maintain without help of a garage, but with bodywork improvements done the value will actually go up. As of right now she is probably worth £1000 or over thanks to the work put in... better bodywork would see that at £1500+.

After time, and insurance permitting, she will have upgraded brakes and a better engine... vrooom vroom!!!!

Yes Lou - warts and all, I love her!

 

[mank!]

excellent, do tell us how it's going. i love mini's, maybe i'll invest in one when i'm not such a lazy twat :-D

 

[Tom]

Hope you have a garage for that, otherwise it'll go walkies.