Mk3 S

[steve1071]

My mk1 hasn't made much progress this year as my garage is rammed full of work stuff. I had a day off recently and managed a day stripping another of my 'projects', a 71 blaze S.
Looks pretty solid


'til you get inside!





Boot nearly as bad


'Works' method of removing the sub frames


Plan is to add some strengthening, then get most of the rot cut out. When time and funds allow i'll get two half floors in.

[guru_1071]

speedholes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[steve1071]

Rich, it didn't go very fast when we dragged it up John's yard behind a rover 214 and I fell through the floor!

[austinisuseless]

At least the cross member looks in good nick, which is something...

But saying that, it looks like the shell can be recovered and sorted. And it's a mk3 Cooper S, nice.

[steve1071]

Aye, there's a bit of rot on the leading edge of the crossmember on the drivers side, but it should be an easy repair when the floors are cut out. Above the floor its very solid, other than one rear arch and next to the accelerator pedal. Even the front end is fine, though I might need a new slam panel after we caught the engine on it lifting it out with the fork lift.

[YMJ]

Interesting.

Did the Mk3s not have chrome door trim? (possibly not the original doors?)

I cannot be bothered to consult the book as I've mislaid it somewhere in the house!

[steve1071]

They only have the chrome strip on the top of the door skin, not around the window frame.

[InimiaD]

Nice find.
That pic with the forklift reminds me of the Assembly line at Longbridge, but vice versa.
Forklifts are great for working on Minis.

[codriver]

looks like you will be busy

[steve1071]

Just a bit! Hopefully i'll get a day a week on my cars now that work is quietening down. My 1071 is painted and rolling but still needs lots of work, the mk3 here needs plenty and I have a pick-up just as bad.

I have three young sons and the cars will eventually be theirs, good job I have nearly ten years to get them finished!

[medwaybeat]

Nice project. I have a mk3 1000 (built in 70 and registered early 71) in a very similar state to your S. I’m a bit clueless as how to attack it, so any pics of work in progress would be a lot of help. And it was supposed to be finished for when the kids turned 17, they are 20 and 21 now.

[steve1071]

Just back from my jollies, should get a couple of days on it soon and will post more pics.

[kwjcoopermk2]

Hi

Great find and good luck with the restoration. Nice to see that all the boot board brackets are still in place, and the roof also looks nice.

Best Regards Kristian