thinking about classic mini

alistair55

alistair55

alistair55

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2 Sep 2010
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350
as the title says Im thinking about getting a classic mini for my first car. Ive got another 18 months before I can drive so I thinking about restoring one before I get my licene. so has anyone got any views?
 
They are good fun to drive in my opinion, but they will rust, bits will break and it will not be as little hassle as a fiesta or the like. At times I hate mine but at others I love it.
 
I think the problem with having one for a first car is you can't buy a solid car for sensible money any more, so anything you get on a first time budget will need a lot of work. Particularly welding. So it's going to be sills and subframes etc.

There are a lot of good 60's/70's classics out there that you'll be able to pick up for not a lot that won't require much attention. Might be worth considering them and move onto a Mini for the second one?

They are great cars to drive though. A bit like a gokart when it comes to the controls, with the steering wheel in your lap and at a fantastic angle to get all over it and really throw it about. Small upgrades to things like the brakes and a bit of tuning really make a huge difference.
 
It'll be a great project car, that's for sure.
Hope you enjoy getting your hands greasy and burnt. :D

Good choice if you are into "fixing it up".. if not, steer well clear of the idea, paying someone else to constantly keep it in one piece will cost you an arm and a leg.
 
As someone who had a mini as his first car, and bought it before I could drive, I am torn on this.
Picking up a decent one now is very hard, as said above. Finding an example that has been cared after and going cheap is really a thing of the past.

However, IF you could get a good shell you have plenty of time to fiddle and tidy it up.

Head says no.. Heart says go!! I loved mine :D
 
Great first car, mine was in fact a 1000cc Mini and it was ACE! Crap brakes, useless bodywork and generally needed constant fettling compared to modern cars but with a lowered steering column it was and even today would be epic fun for little outlay. Don't hit anything in it mind, you will die dead of deadness with an engine on your lap and buy a few engine mounts because mine were forever breaking!
 
Dogbreath said:
The "Ultimate Engine Steady" is an essential purchase for any enthusiastically driven mini.
Click to expand...

One of the previous owners of mine could not be bothered to replace the engine mounts, we found, after having the thing apart for a clutch change, and as such, fitted another engine steady with a home welded bracket onto the bulkhead. Fair play it kept the engine nice and steady... but after replacing the mounts the bracket was about an inch too low! the whole engine had moved significantly upwards. Pretty funny putting it back together. :D
 
Be prepared to weld in sills, a panels, scuttle panels and subframe mounts. Oh, and a bulkhead box for the Weber if your feeling saucy...
;)
 
Housey said:
. Don't hit anything in it mind, you will die dead of deadness with an engine on your lap
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I used up one of my lives when I T-boned a Datsun Cherry with my mine.

Luckily the passenger side took it all and I put the dashboard on the passenger seat. :o
I DO NOT RECOMMEND TRYING THIS EVER. :D
 
godinman said:
What 60/70's cars would you recommend?
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I'm thinking small solid 60's stuff like Austin A30 and A35, potentially Ford 100E, and there are still the 'old lady' 70's models turning up that have sat in garages unused.

Or maybe even go a bit 80's-boxtastic. Series 1 Seat Ibiza maybe?
 
Spotted this fella on Retro Rides:

60140_466204552455_647722455_6542309_7383006_n.jpg
 
It's a great first car. I enjoy driving mine a lot. :)

Though it depends how much work you want to do yourself. You could go all out and just try and find a shell and start building or just get a decent example to begin with. Go pick up a Mini Mag today and have a read and see if you fancy the idea.

The latter I would recommend mainly because when you come to sell you will get more of your money back as classic Mini's do seem to hold their value extremely well if kept in good nick. Oh and don't worry about a computer...it simply doesn't have one!

Also remember to check out insurance because while insurance for any 17 year old is expensive, Mini's can be very expensive so its always worth to get discounts where you can ie, classic car insurance and some mini clubs offer discounts etc.

This looks like a nice clean example:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2145546.htm

But it really depends on your budget. I really love this but it couldn't really be used daily! :D

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2120418.htm
 
Jonny69 said:
Austin A30 and A35, potentially Ford 100E, 'old lady' , 80's-boxtastic. Series 1 Seat Ibiza
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I'm liking the look of that ford :D I'm not actually in the market for a proper old car atm, but in a year or two I want to get something like this...although I know someone with a ford Y sitting in their shed which I reckon they'd part with for the right money.

Do you own a classicy type vehicle mr69?
 
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