So now its the 15th oldest surviving Mini up for grabs

[NotNormal]

So yet another old one appears from the woodwork. How many more will come to light?

Interesting to know if someone restores or leaves as-is... but personally this is ripe for getting back on the road?




Article - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... 0-000.html

[618AOG]

I can't understand why anyone would leave it as it is - it's useless. Fully restored though - with 60-70% of the original car intact - would be just fine.
A great project!

[Old English White]

I wonder how understanding Mrs OEW would be if I came home with that and told her I'd just spent £10,000 of my pension pot?

The 529th off the line doesn't sound SO early does it....

Interesting find though, but a lot of work there for somebody. Do I see a sumpguard?

I suppose they are all coming out of the woodwork now BECAUSE everybody knows that one sold for £40,000...... I wonder if the buyer of THAT car still thinks, in the clear light of day, that he had a good buy??

[mk1]

Looks like another interesting early car. As has already been stated, not really THAT early though.

Although the £40,000 one was a very expensive project I am still sure that the new owner will not loose much on it.

M

[jay weinstein]

regardless of price or condition i think it's great that the general public in england actually care about old minis enough to write newspaper articles about them. i'm pretty sure very few people in the usa care about the 629th buick made in 1959.

[mk1]

I agree to some extent Jay, but the truth is it's only really newsworthy after the one that sold for £40 grand last year.

[jay weinstein]

even over here if you would go to an all makes car show minis seem to get the most positive reaction whether the attendees know what a mini is or not. kinda part of the fun.

[814CWE]

i agree it should be saved but if anybody here saw the actual state of the shell "in the flesh" ,they would take a "sharp intake of breath"

try putting this bugger on a jig,,,its already "broke its back"


if sombody buys this ,,it goes to show theres too much money floating about in the wrong places...

the humble mk1 mini is now becoming a hobby for "the rich"

future generations of working class wont be able to enjoy these iconic little cars..

[Pete]

the humble mk1 mini is now becoming a hobby for "the rich"

That's just hype. You'll find out if you try and actually sell one for decent money.

[814CWE]

know what u mean pete....there have been a few mk1 on "shillbay" for a few mths now,,which have had "restorations" and are a little overpriced to say the least.....

its like groundhog day,,,same cars going round in a "loop feed"

either nobodys got any money or they are proper dud cars

[surfblue63]

The big money goes on originallity and correct restorations. There's still plenty of cheap early Minis about if you're not to fussy about it not being concours.

I think this latest find might struggle to make £10,000, the 529th off the line isn't that special.

PS If it does then my Mk2 Traveller must be worth loads, as it's the 4th oldest Mk2 known to the Traveller register.

[mk1]

there's too much money floating about in the wrong places...

As I understand it, that's the problem with the entire country at the moment

[1071 S]

"I think this latest find might struggle to make £10,000,.."

Is there THAT much kudos for having an old Mini ?? It isn't anything more..... A perfectly restored version deserves some recognition for the effort expended - but something dragged out of the paddock????

Cheers, Ian

[bryan]

Come on then. Whats it going to get everyone ? Undying admiration for the nearest guess !
My guess - wont reach reserve, but bid to £5,000!

[Pandora]

Who was the 15th man in space?

Who was the 529th to run the 4 minute mile?

All a bit irrelevant these supposedly 'significant' numbers

I could see it bidding to £7k ish on the back of the percieved cachet of being a barn find, but is it 'worth' that (+ cost of restoration)?

No, not in my opinion.

[newtune]

the humble mk1 mini is now becoming a hobby for "the rich"

That's just hype. You'll find out if you try and actually sell one for decent money.

Meg didnt take long to sale

[herlufsholm]

Being a Mini"nut", and owner for 36 years, I think I understand the development in the prices on early unrestored Minis, we are seing these years.
The Mini have been an icon for years, partly because of the fashion it made in the sixties, but as time goes by, the Mini also became the father of the base of construction of the modern car we have today, 54 years after; front wheel drive , compact and the wheels placed in the corners , which gives the best and safest driving ability.
This combination of qualities, was created sololy by Issigonis, which as I understand is the last person in car manufacturing history, who designed a whole car alone, besides the engine.
This makes me regard him as a kind of artist, which first ideas and creations always will be considered as unique.

The pre-launch Minis had a lot of faults and a myriad of changes, some documentet and others not, but I, and maybe the persons who pays the hugh amount of moneys these years, may consider that a first issue of the Mini, unrestored and with all its faults, is the true work of art from the artist and creator, Issigonis---- all the rest is copies! ( But damned much better, useable and reliable ones too!)

As most of us who restore, or get restored Minis knows, or by years will experience, is that proper restoration work, is time consuming and therefore expensive, and so expensive, that the money spent, never will come back when the Mini is tried sold. Therefore a lot of shortcuts are made, restoring a Mini the easy way, but in my opinion, is it excactly that, there devalue a restored cars originality, and not least the authenticity .

That makes the untouched or unrestored car special;
If such a car shall be restored, will it in my opinion only keep the authenticity , if its restored correct, regardless of costs.

I only think a restored car will retain its value, if every saveable original part is kept, cleaned up and if necessary restored, other parts which are not worn out, should be retained, even with clear signs of patina. ( and only replaced with new shiny NOS bits, if the original is missing or beyond any repair)

The parts which has to be exchanged must be examined and replaced with 100% identical parts. If identical parts cant be found, the replacement parts should be converted to those original specifikations, as far as its possible.
Thats damned timeconsuming, expensive and beyond most even proffesional car restorers skills or habits today, because of the economical aspect, which forces the restorer to exchange defective original parts with new, cheap, easy obtainable, but nearly always not 100% identical parts.

And will the expensive unrestored car be worth more , when its properly restored? Only time will tell!

Regards Michael

( Owner of a Morris 59 since 1994)

[NotNormal]

This combination of qualities, was created sololy by Issigonis, which as I understand is the last person in car manufacturing history, who designed a whole car alone, besides the engine.

Not sure thats quite true, Gordon Murray or Horacio Pagani are just two that spring to mind...

[mk1]

"Gordon Murray"

A real genius, I loved Trumpton when I was a kid!

[Pandora]

"Gordon Murray"

A real genius, I loved Trumpton when I was a kid!

My boys have the boxed set - Trumpton, Chigley and Camberwick Green. I remember Robin being confused when he was talking very excitedly to his palls about Windy Miller and they were asking his what on earth he was on about. How could they not know about Trumptom????? So we showed them too.

Their parents were a bit confused when they went home and were telling them that evening all about Windy having a kip behind the windmill 'cause he'd drunk too much cider in the sunshine.......

Is it any wonder our binge drinking culture is so prolific in the UK? We were led astray as kids.

Never mind blaming the parents, it's all Windy's fault.

(for our overseas friends, I reconend a youtube search for any of the above programmes - they are almost as good as 'Bod')

Al