mk1-forum.net

Hi all
I'm new to the forum so would like to say hello.
Retired now but I've been a mechanic all my working life. Once the garden was looking pristine and the house DIY'd to death, I was getting really bored.
Then I stumbled across this little gem.
I've moved to southern Spain. As you can see she's a left hooker and Spanish registered.
I have the engine and front sub frame. Engine is locked up, probably from standing for three years, but I'll be doing a full recon on it anyway.
The previous owner was stripping it to do a nut and bolt restoration but had a bad motorcycle accident, forcing him to abandon the project.
It's been such a long time since I've worked on an old school gem like this, so I've a couple of questions (to start with) that I'm hoping you can help me with.
Once its finished it will be an every day runabout.
Questions;
Its fitted with a dynamo. I was thinking about changing it to an alternator set up? Will that affect its value?
What is the correct shade of green for the engine?
It's a 1975 Morris 850.

Cheers

Sid

Fit an alternator for reliability and peace of mind. But keep the dynamo trucked away and the dynamo parts of the wiring loom tucked inside the loom. Very simple to do. You can leave the regulator in situ or just remove it.

Will it affect the value. Not if you have the original dynamo and bits handy for the next bloke - if he REALLY needs it.

We had a saying about Lucas dynamos in Australia, that.... IF YOU NEED A DYNAMO, THEN YOU REALLY DO NEED A DYNAMO!

Engine colour. Land-Rover MID BRONZE GREEN

I would have said that the correct colour engine for a 1975 Mini is black
Good luck with your restoration anyway.
I have nothing against alternator conversions but I wouldn't do it without having a reason. My car has run with a dynamo perfectly happily all these years

Is it an Authi Mini (1968-1975) built in Spain?

Mini overseas : Spain
The Costa Mini…
https://www.aronline.co.uk/cars/mini/mi ... eas-spain/

Welcome to the forum, Sid.

A dynamo is fine for normal use if it’s in good condition. The weak link these days is usually the control box. If you’re having electrical problems, changing that electromechanical box for a solid state ADR is just as good as fitting an alternator, if you’re using less than 20 amps.

Take a look at the driveshafts - if they have exposed double universal joints rather than rubber bellows/gaiter containing a CV then it’s an Authi.

Authi Mini driveshaft UJ :-
http://mk1-forum.net/viewtopic.php?t=19872

Hi Iain
Yes it has exposed joints, so is def an authi by the looks of it.
Will this make it less desirable?
Not too fussed as it will probably be staying in Spain, just don't want to overspend on the restoration.

Cheers

Sid

Authi are rarer but I don’t think it affects value or desirability.

Authi 1275C model is another story… closer to Cooper / GT values.

As said Authi are rarer and part of the Minis worldwide history, so it's worth retaining all the unique Spanish manufactured features where possible including the driveshaft joints for originalty.

Great info.

Many thanks

Some more interesting background on Authi from AROnline in link below.

Authi : The full story of British cars from Spain:-
https://www.aronline.co.uk/marques/authi/