Mini Restoration underway but need advice.

[Rustie0125]

Hey guys /Gals

I live in Sunny south africa and as many of you may know South Africa had a few of their own versions of the mini released from 1960-1980s some of which are the following

Austin/Morris 850
Austin 1000 (Australian role up windows)
leyland 1100
leyland 1100 Sunset( Bronze metallic color with vinyl sunroof)
leyland 1100 moonlight ( Blue metallic color with vinyl sunroof)
leyland 1100 vanden plas (Bronze metallic color with vinyl sunroof, Casmere seat covers and wallnut dash board)

There were other models aswell but these models above seems to be the Mini's with the most value today.

However the reason for my post today is to speak about a restoration on a Austin mini 1000, this car was essentially a Austin 850 1963 model but with two big differences. one it came standard with the 998cc engine and two it had Australian style Role up windows to better suit the hot weather in South africa. I have now bought one of these models that is in 95% original state but needs to be restored to its former self .



My area's of concern that i need advice on is as follows.

Car Color , the car is painted a very light color and due to its age can do with a respray, the question is does it matter if the car color is changed to a other color that was available that year if the color will complement the interior ?

the Engine the car is still running on its original engine and also due to its age is now smoking a fair amount. the question is due to its originality will it add value or reduce the value of the car by getting the engine rebuilt and honed to a bigger piston ring ?

Interior the car has its original seats but not original carpets. I can not find a single document that points to what color interior seat or carpets was in that year but i can see the seat design. so the question does it hurt the value if the car is reupholstered to fit the color of the car but use the original seat design?

thank you all advice is welcome

[minimans]

Given that the car is not going to be of huge value if perfectly restored to original standard Spec. I think it will do no harm to restore it how YOU think is best. An overbore of the original engine will not hurt value either way, as for carpet colour a hunt for period brochures giving colour schemes available will give you the correct choice. As you have the original colour on the car there will be only a short list of available interior colours, unless it was special ordered with a different non Std. colour?

[Rustie0125]

Mmm I'm not sure what you mean by won't have a create value as one of the same models sold last week for 6346 pounds ! So the choice of color and interior would have an effect on the value of the car if it's wrong

[Pete]

In a nutshell you'll keep more value (as this is what the question pertains to) in the car if you keep it standard as it came out the factory, paint colour, interior trim spec and colour, etc etc. An overbore on the engine won't make any difference either way. The SA one that was for sale over here recently (same colour as yours) looked very nice but I suspect went for less than an equivalent UK manufactured car.

On the other hand, if you're restoring it to use and enjoy...do what you want with it.

[minimans]

Mmm I'm not sure what you mean by won't have a create value as one of the same models sold last week for 6346 pounds ! So the choice of color and interior would have an effect on the value of the car if it's wrong

My meaning was (perhaps not well explained!) that the difference in value/price between stock and modified will not be that great given that it's not a special edition or yes I'll say it a Cooper S.......................

[Rustie0125]

I'm not sure you follow the post exaclty , it does not mean because it's not a special edition that it is not valuable, maybe it dies not have as much value it the Uk as it was never available there but it doesn't mean it's not valuable in SA . But I got my question answered , stock is good for value end of story.

[minimans]

Perhaps your right I have been compared to two short planks before...................................

[Pete]

Perhaps your right I have been compared to two short planks before...................................

Actually you made a perfectly valid point, restore a Mk1 850 away from original (colour, trim, engine etc) and it won't make a huuuuge difference in value, a grand or two here or there (uprate it and it might even increase!), do that to a Mk1 S and...the gallows await!

[Rustie0125]

I tend to disagree with you on this approach, I agree that customizing it in the period correct trim it might not make much of a difference in price but you cant tel me that putting a 1.4 vw engine with a turbo and bucket seats is going to hold the same value as an original car of that period.

this for one is a SA only model so how would you put a value on it anyway. same with the mini attached which was the vanden plas

[minimans]

But were not talking about a VW engine are we? you asked about some small mods on a Standard mini model? The Vanen Plas is a different story, Spcial built cars with different trim levels and power plants will always attract a higher value same as an "S" doesn't matter if it's UK SA or USA. All I was saying is that the difference in actual price/value of a restored plain Jane 850 will not be that great between a modified and stock vehicle as long as it looks right..................

[Rustie0125]

Okay so we are on the same page , so if I do mods to the car aslong as it's within the mod specs of that year it shouldn't make a difference. Right color interior / exterior might become more in value

[minimans]

Yes that's it in a nut shell! although why you'd ever want to put anything in a nut shell I'll never fathom...........................

[Rustie0125]

Yes never in a nutshell .... But a mini shell well that's a different story