1960s Rally Spec Mini Cooper Restoration Project

yantorsen

yantorsen

yantorsen

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I'm 17, and I am just about to start having driving lessons. I will be 18 by the time I finally get my own car, and have decided a Mini is a good choice because they are cheap to insure, and are a bit more interesting than a typical "eurobox".

Now my grandad has an old mini in the back of his barn. Here is what I know about it:-

  • It's from the 60s
  • It's a Cooper
  • It was in several rallys and is thus rally spec
  • It has a fibre glass nose
  • It's not been started for at least 25 years, probably longer
  • It had the engine replaced for a smaller one at a later date for my nan to drive, but the original is still in the barn as well

So based on the above, I have a few questions. What is it likely to need doing to it? How much will it cost to restore if I do it all myself?
 
paradigm said:
That's unfortunate for you.

I thought you wanted an S1 or S2 landy?
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I did, but I decided I couldn't afford for it to keep breaking down on me. In theory if I restore this then it should be a bit more reliable, and I will have a lot of spare money for repairs since it's not costing me anything to get the Mini.
 
InvaderGIR said:
The mini will break just as much. :D

On a serious note, where does your grandad live? I'll take the mini off his hands. :D
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It probably will, but I can't really get anything any better that isn't boring so I'll live with it.

He lives in-between Coventry and Birmingham, but he wouldn't sell it, or give it away, he'd only let me have it because I'm family.
 
The mini will break down just as much.

My dad got a nut and bolt brand new build/rebuild of a S2 Landy. Its in mint nick and cost £5000.

Hasnt had a problem yet except it does eat fuel and only goes 50mph.

A mini would be way more fun though :D
 
Shep_Cobain said:
The mini will break down just as much.

My dad got a nut and bolt brand new build/rebuild of a S2 Landy. Its in mint nick and cost £5000.

Hasnt had a problem yet except it does eat fuel and only goes 50mph.

A mini would be way more fun though :D
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I don't have £5000. I have about £3000 absolute max, preferably less.
 
Dale V said:
2 dumb questions. how would a forum who has never seen the car know whats wrong? due to that then the next question you asked is even dumber;)
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Yeah I know that, I was just hoping for some ball park figures so I know if it is even worth considering or not.
 
Damn. :( :p

I'd have thought that because it's rally spec it will cost a lot to insure, as you will have to declare all of the modifications of which it will have many. Also you'll have to update the V5 to have either the smaller engine if it's not been updated already, or if it has and you want the bigger engine, you'll have to update it for that.

That will then increase the cost of the car too if you have the larger engine in it. I'd say it could be a great thing to get and do up, but at 18 having it as a main car would prove expensive and problematic. A more sensible solution would be to keep it on classic/weekend insurance and run something boring during the week/when you don't need the fun car.

It should save you money and also hassle. :)

As for fixing figures, could vary hugely depending on the condition of the car, could be easy to sort out and cost £500, could be a right pain and cost £5000.
 
I've got a mini for a first car, it's a laugh to drive (been doing some practice in it with parents) and I love it to bits, but I dunno if I'd honestly reccomend it to others. I've spent a fair amount on it already, and I'm willing to keep doing so; are you?

Likely to need doing if it's been in a barn for years?
Well, er. That very much depends on the bodywork.

If somehow it's managed to have been kept entirely dry and rust free, it's likely to just be a engine strip and rebuild, as I reckon some seals will have perished or the like after 25 years. Will probably need to seriously mess with the points and condenser to get it to start.....

It really, completely depends on condition :/
 
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InvaderGIR said:
Damn. :( :p

I'd have thought that because it's rally spec it will cost a lot to insure, as you will have to declare all of the modifications of which it will have many. Also you'll have to update the V5 to have either the smaller engine if it's not been updated already, or if it has and you want the bigger engine, you'll have to update it for that.

That will then increase the cost of the car too if you have the larger engine in it. I'd say it could be a great thing to get and do up, but at 18 having it as a main car would prove expensive and problematic. A more sensible solution would be to keep it on classic/weekend insurance and run something boring during the week/when you don't need the fun car.

It should save you money and also hassle. :)
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Thanks, that would certainly be something I could consider. I was thinking of starting work on it ASAP, just at the bottom of the garden, then hopefully have it running properly within 18 months, then I could drive it.
 
Depending on how much free time you have and how handy you are with a spanner it could/should take a whole lot less time than that...does depend on fixing costs and your funds for it though.
 
Don't keep a mini at the bottom of the garden. It'll get soaking wet and will rot. You'll end up causing more expensive problems than you fix.

Plus, as an original cooper it's probably worth a fair bit.

Also, rally spec; what does that mean? My step dad ralleyed a Fiat Uno which was just stripped, caged, and had a lot of engine mods, what is special about this mini?
 
Hxc said:
Don't keep a mini at the bottom of the garden. It'll get soaking wet and will rot. You'll end up causing more expensive problems than you fix.

Plus, as an original cooper it's probably worth a fair bit.

Also, rally spec; what does that mean? My step dad ralleyed a Fiat Uno which was just stripped, caged, and had a lot of engine mods, what is special about this mini?
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Well the front end is fibre glass, the original is engine "specially tuned" (not sure exactly what is done to it), it has all the spot lights and stuff on it, it has various decals and sponsors logos on it. I'm not really sure what else to be honest.
 
Sounds like a stripped out road car used as a rally/road rally car, like Lopez on here was doing with a 1.6 205.

Have you seen the car or just been told about it? Also if it's not too hard to view it, grab some pics of it and people may be able to help a bit with regards to how hard it'll be to fix. :)
 
InvaderGIR said:
Sounds like a stripped out road car used as a rally/road rally car, like Lopez on here was doing with a 1.6 205.

Have you seen the car or just been told about it? Also if it's not too hard to view it, grab some pics of it and people may be able to help a bit with regards to how hard it'll be to fix. :)
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I've seen the back of it, and the sides of it, can't really get to the front though, and the windows are covered in moss and algi so can't really see inside. I will get some pics when I next go.
 
If it's covered in moss and algi the shell and subframes are likely to be covered in rust. That will cost you a bucketload to get sorted, unless you can weld.
 
Hxc said:
If it's covered in moss and algi the shell and subframes are likely to be covered in rust. That will cost you a bucketload to get sorted, unless you can weld.
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Just what I was thinking...but having said that, I've had cars covered in algi on the windows, but there has been no body rot. Although these weren't minis. :p
 
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