Buying a wreck...

paradigm said:
Well I'll say this, an E30 or E36 3-series is quite possibly one of the easiest cars in the world to work on. It would be a "simple" introduction into mechanics and restoration, and parts are widely available, and contrary to popular belief, don't cost the earth.
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love this idea or an old golf. another one thats a doddle to work on and youll learn all sorts
 
Wizardskills said:
+1 For the MG. It may also be worth looking at some of the old triumphs. Again, all the parts can be purchased from rimmer brothers and some other sites. Plus they are really easy to work on.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1802979.htm

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C166458/
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Like the sound of the Triumph too. Always liked the Spitfire. The second link looks alright.

The only problem I'm having now with the MG, Spitfire, E30 and E36 BMW, Beetle basically everything that I could possibly restore is the insurance quotes as I'm 18. I mean the MG and a E30 318i came back at £5K for TPFT :(
 
Janesy B said:
The MG should be really cheap, you need to go with companies like Footman James, Peter D James, Peter Best, etc.
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They all want the main driver/proposer to be over 25 years old. This isn't going to be as easy as I thought to insure, or cost a bomb to do so.
 
I think the most important thing is making sure it is something you have a passion for. Just getting something you're not really that into because parts are cheap is likely to result in a lack o mojo and it just sitting and rotting then getting scrapped.

If it's something you really want though you will hopefully feel more inspired to do something with it. Beetle and MGBs sound like good suggestions if they float your boat, personally I would go for some Chevy:).
 
I have decided this project HAS to be on an original Mini. There just awesome and I feel I have to at least owned one while I'm able to drive and alive. Think I saw Blackhawk In York the other day, driving out of the Tesco at Clifton Moor?

So just looking for some pointers now, what's a good starting budget to pick one of these up? It would have to most probably be a Mini 1000 as for some reason I can't get quotes for a cooper when I'm 19 (3 months) to be under £2500 :eek:

Also, is replacing sills and body panels on these a big fuss and hassle as they are welded? I can buy a MIG welder and give it a go myself or would this be dangerous for a 'novice'? Just worried about the sills the most.

Just looking for pointers mainly at the moment to decide how hard these will be to restore.

Thanks
 
Does it really HAVE to be a Mini?

I ask because as far as "Value for money" goes, there are far better prospects out there.
 
Joshy said:
Does it really HAVE to be a Mini?

I ask because as far as "Value for money" goes, there are far better prospects out there.
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Yes, I really want to restore a money, the value for money can go out the window. I just saw the pictures of Blackhawk's after he washed it and thought 'I really want one of these!'

Matt82 said:
i thought you wanted to learn mechanics, not rust repair
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Well it would be a bit of both, I would repair the rust, full respray, strip some of the engine and change bits and bobs, strip the interior and start from scratch, replace exterior parts, suspension, brakes, wheels/tires. Basically the whole lot, would take about a year but hopefully would still be able to use it in that amount of time. Just worried about welding sills and panels, as I have no welding experience and wondering if I am mad!
 
Tr1p said:
So just looking for some pointers now, what's a good starting budget to pick one of these up? It would have to most probably be a Mini 1000 as for some reason I can't get quotes for a cooper when I'm 19 (3 months) to be under £2500 :eek:
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I insured an SPI cooper at 17 TPFT for £650. Fully comp was about double. A year later after crashing it (bloody not going for fully comp :P) with a fault accident, no NCB, I am insured for £624 fully comp.
Something is wrong with your quotes! A classic insurer like Footman James will be miles more competitive :) (they will quote under 25s over the phone if they have a club membership, like a tenner a year)

That said, my quote this year is with Bell, so no club membership or anything needed.
 
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Hxc said:
I insured an SPI cooper at 17 TPFT for £650. Fully comp was about double. A year later after crashing it (bloody not going for fully comp :P) with a fault accident, no NCB, I am insured for £624 fully comp.
Something is wrong with your quotes! A classic insurer like Footman James will be miles more competitive (they will quote under 25s over the phone if they have a club membership, like a tenner a year)

That said, my quote this year is with Bell, so no club membership or anything needed.
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Well I would ideally want a Cooper, and thought the insurance quotes I got were insane. Do you get this club membership from them or somewhere else? Even if it was £10 a month I would do it to get quotes of ~£650 for a Cooper.
 
theminiforum.co.uk was my approved membership but there are others, it depends what the insurers allow!
 
Simple car with lots of space to work on? Series Land Rover ;) Series 3's are still dirt cheap

I did look at Mini's myself, but they're so expensive :eek:
 
Going to go with Jansey B on this one and say MG B, my step dad has one of these in great nick with an MG C bonnet on it, looks and goes great and easy to work on plus parts are in abundance. Just some alternatives however and following on a similar theme, Mg Midget? Triumph spitfire?
 
Nothing better than restoring a real Mini.

easy to do, and a well sorted one will always outshine a BMW

and its insurance friendly
 
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