1960 street rat seven

[COOPERMAN]

Hi everyone, thought it was about time i posted some pics of my project mini, (especially as i have spent the last month or so looking at some of your fantastic work).
Firstly i will admit that i restore cars for a living so you may spot other types in the background of some shots.
This particular car is a 1960 Austin Seven that i rescued from a barn about 12 years ago, i just never seemed to have the time to get started on it until about 3 months ago when a work colleague gave me some stick and said i should get on with it before i `kick the bucket`! , so here goes......


















Boot floor panel being assembled prior to fitting...














New Mini Machine floor ready to go in....








There you go for now guys, will upload more progress pics as i go, i`m planning on fitting a 998 cooper engine along with `S` brakes , an old John Aley 3 point roll cage and a few subtle 60`s mods, hope you like her, Frank.

[paul1275s]

Looks great so far, nice work. It's very similar to the amount of work I've got to do to my beast, I can't wait to get a shiny new floor welded in..
Loving the Marina!

[JC T ONE]

Well done

looking great, keep the pics coming

[COOPERMAN]

That was very well spotted Paul ...just from a glimpse of wheel too!, very impressed , loaded up a few more pics from my camera today so here goes.....













There you go, that is pretty much up to date with the Seven, i just have a few more bits to do then the shell will be ready for primer, looking forward to a fresh coat of Tartan red all over then i can start fitting all those nice period bits i`ve been collecting for the last ten years!
Also i thought you might like a few pics of past Minis i have done the bodywork renovation on and a couple of pics of other future projects, enjoy!.......







Finally the future projects...time permitting!

[InimiaD]

Very impressive and great attention to detail.
Look forward to watching this thread progress.
Don't let Clarkson or Hammond see that Marina though.

[COOPERMAN]

Very impressive and great attention to detail.
Look forward to watching this thread progress.
Don't let Clarkson or Hammond see that Marina though.

Don`t worry, Clarkson would be shot on sight if he got too close, i know he`s partial to BL Bashing...especially Marinas and Allegro`s , mind you, they have destroyed a fair few Minis over the years too

[618AOG]

Excellent work of course, but I like the last one (WDL422). That takes me back 30+ years to scrapyard trips when there were so many knackered early Minis about.

[JC T ONE]

I like the last one (WDL422).
That takes me back 30+ years to scrapyard trips
when there were so many knackered early Minis about.

Yes I agree, but here in Denmark, the worst period was 1995/96.
We had a scapsceme, so you got 650 pounds, for your car, no matter HOW bad it was.
It didnt even have to drive, just aslong as it had plates on.
So a lot of nice cars, that had been garaged for years, went to the metal press.
After that, Mini,s became a rare sight here

[minitravellerman]

That's a restoration and a half - looking good.

[nick@dunsdale]

nice work on the seven

[rolesyboy]

Great work and love the level of detail. Having carried these repairs out what steps do you suggest to prevent rust forming again from the bare metal stage? I want to take my front wheel arches back to bare and start again and don't want to just schutz over the metal. Cheers. Mark

[COOPERMAN]

Hi Mark, sorry, only just seen your post as i have been away on hols for a week , i usually use `wurth` Rust stop primer on bare metal after repairs have been carried out, you could use the `frost` equivalent or Corroless if you can still get it, the main thing i have found is to use a decent anti rust zinc rich primer prior to applying any stone chip or "PU" type sealer, once the primed and coated surface is dry it is best to apply topcoat of some sort to make the surface water proof, because primers are porous. Body colour is best but you could use black Hammerite smoothrite or something similar if you prefer.
I have been restoring classic cars for over 25 years now and have found this method to work very effectively, there are of course some really good modern anti rust primers out there now such as Bilt Hamber and the POR 15 ones all of which seem to get good reviews, i can only really comment on those i have used and know work well, and by far the best i have ever used is the "wurth" rust stop, available from Wurth UK Ltd

[COOPERMAN]

Time for another update chaps body is coming together nicely now, should be painting her next month , monotone Tartan Red as original.

[COOPERMAN]

Thats her, pretty much up to date, the roof needed a bit more attention than i first thought but it feels pretty good now,looking forward to painting now, i`ll keep you up to date.

[NotNormal]

Great pics, great progress.

[COOPERMAN]

It`s painted!, got her sprayed today in topcoat, knackered now, but i will load some pics up tomorrow

[COOPERMAN]

Update pics as promised....























There we go so far, went to Beaulieu Autojumble at the weekend and managed to get a New old stock speedo for her along with a clutch master cylinder, Autosparks were there so a new loom was ordered at the same time, looking forward to fitting her up now, will keep you posted

[InimiaD]

Mmmmmm, Tasty,very tasty.
Bet you can't wait to start fitting it up.

[Giff]

Lovely.

[Michael7]

Kudos, absolutely superb job.

When the floor was fully removed, did you take measures to prevent the door openings from getting deformed or out of position? I don't see any bracing in the photos. Did you keep trial fitting the doors during the reassembly?