Mini Project?

[UK|AL]

I was thinking about doing up a classic mini as a project, since the such nice cars and quite simple, and I want learn how to restore cars.

I don't want to be welding sills and stuff like that because I never been taught to weld. I'll just pay someone for that.

I don't have that much mechanical experience, apart from helping my dad restoring a scrapped Triumph gt6 but that was a long time ago, and sadly my dad isn't here anymore, so he can't help. But I want learn so I don't want it to be dead simple.

So how much would I be looking at with a mini in my skills range?

 

[UK|AL]

So far i've got about 5000 to spare.

If you go on piston heads, you can mini that look in good condition for about 3000 but obvously I can't tell without looking at the windscreen suround and other common places for rust.

But obvously I don't want it to be in perfect condition for a project, so hopefully i can get something a bit cheaper which is in need of a bit of tlc.

You can get aluminium panels with the obvious advantage of no more rust on the panels, anyone got any thoughts about that?

I was also thinking about Hi-lo suspension? but I think I should just restore it to it's orignal spec.

I also can't decide if I should do a cooper mainly because of the higher prices.

 

[UK|AL]

I already own a car, the point of buying the mini is to tinker with it.

I can sort out the rust, but I just rather it didn't come back as rust spreads fast if you leave some on the car.

Anyway thoughts on using the Hi-Lo's? and the alu panels?

 

[UK|AL]

I doubt i could afford a mk1.