WTH??!?! Have you seen this item on ebay.

[Pete]

Super...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUSTIN-MORRIS ... SwI-BWJNDX

[smithyrc30]

Sometimes the bidding amazes me.

If you look at the bid history, upping the bid by $50 5 days out from the end of an auction?

What was the point in that?

Might work on a broken BIC biro but on a car like this?

Astonishing.

[111Robin]

Still there for me;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151854222206? ... 26_rdc%3D1

Listing has ended already.

[Nevsmini]

Still there for me;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151854222206? ... 26_rdc%3D1

Listing has ended already.

More proof FE numbers were not fitted to all cars!

[Speedwell Sprint]

Still there for me;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151854222206? ... 26_rdc%3D1

Listing has ended already.

More proof FE numbers were not fitted to all cars!

Car sold to a fellow in northern California. Two sellers at the estate answering questions and taking silent bids. Turns out it was on blocks for a reason, Hydro flat and engine stuck

[Speedwell Sprint]

Looking at the engine detail...no mythical yellow servo pipe

Hahaha you can buy a "close" version on this on ebay in rolls I've had a few original unrestored engine bay cars, they have always had all black hoses. USA spec cars

[cheleker]

To answer Smithrc30's observations. Correct on the tail lights. They would have been all red from the factory...but most of us changed them to yellow early on. I'm surprised the fronts are still white. Those usually were changed early, too. The air reducer is correct. Came in a few years before Mk II.

[Highnumbers]

I really hope this goes to an enthusiast and not a dealer but these days I guess it's almost a given that one of the big boys with deep pockets will get it then immediately put it up for £20k more than the purchase price....... I HATE car dealers.

The only thing nearly as frustrating as dealers is people shipping everything back to the UK.

For years in the 90s and early 2000s, importers from the UK (and Japan) headed to the U.S. and specifically California and filled shipping containers with original Minis and other collector cars. I'm glad that this one is staying in California!

Barn finds like this one are really rare anywhere, including California.

[Pete]

The only thing nearly as frustrating as dealers is people shipping everything back to the UK.

We know the feeling all too well in the UK as so many great cars got shipped out to Japan and Europe during the 90's and Noughties. I have photos of so many early Minis from all the UK shows in the 80s/90s that I wonder where they all went?? Having said that if buyers in the U.S prized or valued original Minis (and it seems to be mainly Cooper Ss) as much as we do in Europe they wouldn't be sold so often back to the UK. I've bought three very original Cooper Ss from the U.S over the years and there was VERY little interest in any of them from US buyers, only other European buyers. When I bought my first one, a Surf Blue Mk1 S from LA about ten years ago, it was advertised on the web and the seller couldn't give it away to a U.S buyer. There was only me and a Portugese buyer in the frame @ £5K!!

[smithyrc30]

Import car from SA:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mk1-Mini-1965 ... SwI-BWKfp7

Nice 1960 morris:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1960-MORRIS-M ... Swd0BV1cU1

Apparently this "car" has a works engine in it...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINI-MK1-1962 ... SwtlhWFZoL

Love the duct tape 'repairs' on this Metro... Brilliant...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Metro-/1 ... Sw~bFWKQt8

Interesting MK2, appears to have full length bumpers.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MORRIS-MINI-1 ... SwA4dWK3KB

Kingfisher kit car, I'd never seen one before:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Very-very-rar ... Sw~bFWJNFj

I've never seen double stacked air cleaners before.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MORRIS-MINI-C ... Swl9BWJ5ms

[UHR850]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JOHN-RHODES-l ... Swo0JWKR2z

There is a very nice picture from a starting gritt

[cheleker]

Pete, it worked both ways. I travelled to England a few times in the '80s and '90s. It was common to hear complaints about the best cars going to Japan. It was equally common to here bragging about the high price one got for the car just sold to Japan.

[Highnumbers]

The only thing nearly as frustrating as dealers is people shipping everything back to the UK.

We know the feeling all too well in the UK as so many great cars got shipped out to Japan and Europe during the 90's and Noughties. I have photos of so many early Minis from all the UK shows in the 80s/90s that I wonder where they all went?? Having said that if buyers in the U.S prized or valued original Minis (and it seems to be mainly Cooper Ss) as much as we do in Europe they wouldn't be sold so often back to the UK. I've bought three very original Cooper Ss from the U.S over the years and there was VERY little interest in any of them from US buyers, only other European buyers. When I bought my first one, a Surf Blue Mk1 S from LA about ten years ago, it was advertised on the web and the seller couldn't give it away to a U.S buyer. There was only me and a Portugese buyer in the frame @ £5K!!

Agreed, but this has changed for a number of years now and there is very high interest for these cars in the U.S. The real problem is the exchange rate. It's hard to compete for great finds that are practically in your backyard against somebody on the other side of the world with a 2:1 value on their currency.

I recently bought an original U.S. market Series 1 E-Type and the problem is even greatly exaggerated on these cars (and other classics at higher prices than Minis). I had to fight off dealers who were eager to buy the car and ship to Europe for a profit, and was only able to buy the car after assuring the seller that I intend on keeping/restoring it instead of turning a quick profit.

It's a reality of our "world marketplace" these days, unfortunately...


With the Japanese economy in rough shape, I wonder if any of the original Coopers shipped there in the 90s might find their way back to the UK (or even U.S.) in coming years?

[Pete]

With the Japanese economy in rough shape, I wonder if any of the original Coopers shipped there in the 90s might find their way back to the UK (or even U.S.) in coming years?

The Japanese market slowed down quite a few years ago in reality and they haven't shown any signs of letting them go yet!

I don't feel too bad about my U.S purchases, they were all RHD UK cars exported there in the 70s. The hike in UK values has made importing a popular activity here, and like VW Campers they're often in original paint and not usually hacked about. The Westy I had a few years ago was originally from South Carolina and was an absolute minter complete with it's factory Westfalia camping interior. The equivalent bus on the UK market would have been a loony dayglo colour, no doubt patched up, bogged up and the interior f+*cked up with nasty DIY interior, so you can see why UK buyers are so keen. There's still some great original rust free campers over there and evidently Mini Coopers (not so many 850/998s though?).

[Highnumbers]

and evidently Mini Coopers (not so many 850/998s though?).

Yep, plenty of cars rust in the U.S. (Some areas as bad as the UK) but not Southern California of course. Not many 850s and 998s were shipped to the U.S., I think. Most likely because people here could better afford the higher-end Coopers than in the UK and the roads here are downright scary with anything less than a 1100cc, in my opinion.

[timmy201]

Mini Marcos GT850 - Corgi
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MINI-MARCOS- ... 2111406874

[Nick W]

Nice panel but too much £££££

[rich@minispares.com]

I bought a new old stock half one of those from eBay ,(it was a full one that had been chopped in half) for 60 quid a couple of months ago. I was the only bidder......


And it hadn't been painted with red primer to hide the surface rust......

[Charlynsane]

nice switches

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/RALLY-BMC-MINI-C ... Sw3ydVx439

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/BMC-works-austin ... Sw~bFWLT-K

[mk1]

That rear panel is 3 x the price they usually go for.