Seriously considering buying one late this year (once I've saved a bit of money that is!), I know rust is something to look for but wondering what are some common problems with them! Haven't decided yet on either a Clubman or the 'round' nose one.
Was going to spend around $4500, going by what I can see on TM I could pick up a decent one for that. Intend to get the whole car stripped, engine, gearbox etc gone over and tuned up or more serious work done, new paint etc in time. Maybe go for some higher end brakes, tyres and suspension, make it stick to the road like nothing else.
Also interested to hear from people who own or have owned them, and what you thought.
whqqsh,
Jan 22, 6:09pm
missus has just taken a couple for a spin in ours. Our ad doesnt read 1/4 of whats been done (mainly because its been done over time & forgotten most of it) so I started rattling it off. They came back pretty impressed except the guy was now a bit concerned his daughter driving it as a first car. Minibitz here in Aucks do disc brake conversion kits & bigger wheels to fit around them, that was going to be our next move
directorylist,
Jan 22, 6:10pm
You dont need to do much work on a mini to make it stick to the road.
Watch for rust, the rest is comparatively cheap and easy to fix.
smac,
Jan 22, 6:43pm
At under $5k-6k basically any car you don't know the history of will give you unexpected issues. Get one with new paint, and the steering rack with pack up. Get one with an engine rebuild with receipts, and the A panels will rust out in a year.
So until you have had the car long enough for it to be 'known' to you count on it costing some dosh. In that price range I would pay more attention to the reputation of the seller than the description.most on sale are misrepresented in some way or another.
Are you after a runner from the day you buy it! Or a longer term project! Can you do your own bodywork! Engine work!
jrlaw,
Jan 22, 6:55pm
I own one, it is 1973 Mini 850 standard, no rust never been to bits in the engine or gear box . Runs like a wee clock.Looks good in yellow and white roof. Maybe I should sell it as I hardly use it these days. Reg will be half in a year or two.
grangies,
Jan 22, 6:56pm
A fully restored Mini would be the cheapest option.
On Trade Me there are many old Minis for sale that would have had mega bucks spent on them already, for about $5000 to $15000.
pebbles61,
Jan 22, 7:00pm
Go for a 1100/1300 instead. Can get them cheaper than minis _b
franc123,
Jan 22, 8:02pm
I wouldn't count on it, I've seen sillier money asked for landcrabs than Mini's at times, big difference with a Mini is a near complete brand new parts supply out of the UK, most of them also don't have hydrospastic suspension either which is just a bloody nuisance to deal with, more so these days than what it was in the 60s and 70s.
speedwayfan1,
Jan 22, 8:17pm
It might be cheaper but it's not an option, ideally if I had $10k to put into a Mini I'd want it dont my way, and not somebody elses. A restored mini isn't exactly what I'm after either, I want something that I can use as a daily driver, but at the same time be a massive amount of fun and good for a track day.
The idea a while back was to look for something that's small, FWD and light that's a whole heap of fun to drive. I looked at the CRX's but to be honest the vast majority I've seen on TM and around ChCh have been ruined with plastic hubcaps, fat exhausts, crappy body kits and just look terrible (and I'm sure the engine and gearboxes are even worse than the looks).
Then I went back to Minis, always liked them for some reason, and I know if I picked up a CRX or something I'd probably regret doing it.
cossy5,
Jan 23, 8:55am
check outzcars uk to see what they are doing with the old mini
kcf,
Jan 23, 9:23am
Mini's are fun, but I found mine tended to always be a "project" rather than something I could use daily.
elect70,
Jan 23, 2:49pm
I did 1 in67as clubman& road car,Hamlin &Charles headtwin strombergs on BC manifold ,extractors , bored to max, hi domepistonsreground cam ,.slammed to the ground2 inch widened jolly wheelsstraightexaustwithcoopermufffinned drums .As an apprentice it kept me broke.
tractor9,
Jan 23, 8:43pm
Is this hearsay or from personal experience!
tazcsv,
Jan 24, 2:13pm
We had a 1275gt 1980ish and it was a great car, handled great and went suprisingly quick even at top end so open road driving was no worries unlike the mini 1000
pebbles61,
Jan 24, 3:21pm
Kiwis always seem to refer to the ADO16 (1100/1300) as the landcrab. The ADO17 (1800) is the landcrab.
Fair comment about the prices though, sometimes you see silly money asked for some (normally GTs and VP versions). But I've seen tidyish ones to be had for $2000-4000, where as in mini money that would get you some POS that's off the road.
As for the hydrolastic, it's not too hard to deal with and you can refurb the displacers etc.
Buy one! I regret selling my '71 GT. I rebuilt the '71 from the ground up but sold it to buy my first 'safe' Jap car to please my girlfriend and her family.
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