Quest for Mk1

[impala]

Hi all, as a new boy I recently mentioned I was looking for a good early Mk1 mini saloon. So far I've looked at two. Both cars looked very pretty and were well restored bodily. One, being sold by a retired car dealer, had brakes so bad (twin shoe drums) that the car was positively lethal, numerous other fundamentals, like indicators erratic, wiper rack/wheelboxes so worn the blades were all over the screen, contributed to my sinking feeling.. The other, being sold by a garage owner as his personal car, was so off-tune that it would not pull 30mph flat out in 3rd up a sight gradient with two up (well just needs timing dunnit ?). Well maybe, but you own a garage, maybe this could have been done ?
Am I just getting old and crusty, or should I just avoid cars being sold by members of the motor trade ?
So, if there are any members/enthusiasts out there who may be in the mood to sell let me know !
On a brighter note I also mentioned I was looking for a Shorrock blower kit. This I have now got, see pic.
I need an inlet manifold to suit ( er, as well as car to bolt it on to) and I think Mark F that you mentioned some time ago that Maniflow would supply a suitable one. Is this so ? Will they know what I'm on about if I ring them and tell them what I want ?
Any other tips on supercharging gratefully received, it's a voyage of discovery for me !

[Pete]

Am I just getting old and crusty, or should I just avoid cars being sold by members of the motor trade ?

No matter where you buy a car from there's always going to be things wrong with it or things you don't like about it, you just have to accept that. By the same token if you think the bodywork/panel gaps and paint are good and the engine has no major issues then I'd overlook the stuff (like brakes, wipers, trim etc) that you can relatively easily rectify. The hardest/most expensive thing to put right is the body/paint, I've seen some well put together/expensively restored cars before now with shocking bodywork/panel gaps that would just do my head in and cost a bomb to rectify. Worth thinking about!

[Old English White]

I must say, I rather agree with Pete. 50 year old Minis are going to have a few faults and most of the things you mention are just "bargaining points" on an old car aren't they?. Secondhand Minis just a few years old were never perfect in my long experience. I'm not sticking up for dealers with shodily repaired cars exactly but trying to find a Mk1 Mini with good original or properly restored bodywork is not easy and that must be the major priority surely? Having recently searched for and eventually bought another Mk1 myself I certainly saw a few with MUCH more major faults than those you mention Good luck with your search.

[impala]

Thanks for the comments. I do agree with the sentiments and well understand the priorities when buying old cars. However I still feel that if I'm paying the thick end of five figures for one of these cars it should at least a) go and b) stop. Kinda fundamental don't you think ?
Both the cars I mentioned had many other faults I didn't mention, for the sake of brevity.
The point I am making is not that a prospective car should have no faults, but rather that sellers should prepare their cars to a reasonable standard.

[Rusty old S]

Regarding inlet for schorrocks to fit mini all you have to do is take a standard 850 cast inlet/ exhaust manifold get a angle grinder cut off exhaust section carefully and there you have your inlet, for exhaust fit some kind of 3 branch . I have identical kit in my workshop in the que for fitment Peter

[impala]

Thanks Peter. Yes I've heard that you can do this, but the blower will sit a little too high for comfort.
Apparently the Maniflow inlet allows it to sit a little lower, better for bonnet clearance, I will ring Maniflow and see what they say. Keith.

[In the shed]

I'd gloss over the detail and look for a mini with really good bodywork. You can throw the rest of it in a skip. The shell is everything IMO.

[mk1]

I have replied direct re the supercharger queries.

Buying Minis in general though. If you can find one with a good body & nice paint, assuming it is steel not all filler, you have made a good start. Mechanical stuff is easy to fix, body is more difficult & time consuming.

Use any mechanical defects as a bargaining point on price.

One thing is certain though, you will see far more sows ears than silk purses during the hunt.