1971 Early MK3 850

[Jebo]

Hi,

I am Jeroen and live in The Netherlands. Since two years I am the owner of an early 850 mk3 and have just started the Restoration process.

Some background:

I am the second owner of this very original Dutch Mini. The Mini was originally won by its owner by a pigeon competition in 1971 and has stayed with this owner until 1989 when it was put into storage. Within all those years only 41.000 kilometres was put on this car and nothing has been changed.

My plan is to restore it completely like it was in 1971, but with some period upgrades. I already have an original Speedwel rev counter and accelartor pedal, Springalex steering wheel and 5x10 GB alloys from the first series.

Suspension will be the usual adjustarides, adjustable camber/caster and Spax dampers.

For the engine I am still uncertain and I am doubting about a lightly tuned 998 or 1098 in combination with 4 sync magic wand.

For safety reasons I will add seatbelts in the back and ugrade the brakes to disc brakes.

Currently the bodyshell is under Restoration with a local specialist (http://www.7heaven.nl/) and the plan is to build it up again over winter.

If you have any suggestions or questions, please let me know!

[minidean]

Hi Jebo,

Any pictures????

[UHR850]

Hoi Jeroen.

Top ik ben erg benieuwd naar het resultaat ( dutch )


Kees

[Jebo]

Some pictures before we started!

[Jebo]

Ready for "Thermal paint stripping":




Back from the "oven":




After a mild sandblast and welding primer:




I'll update with welding progress soon!

[JC T ONE]

Hi & welcome

Nice car, with nice history but if it had been mine (which it aint) I would have kept it original.

Early MK III,s in original spec are not easy to find, and rearly turn up at shows anymore

Atleast think about it.

[Jebo]

Thanks JC T One for your reply!

I'll keep the outside looking original except it will be a bit lower and have alloys (period correct GB's) On the inside I will have some period correct changes, but not too much!

The goal is to have an original appeal, but with some performance upgrades. Ofcourse I will keep all original parts to revert to standard easily.

The bodyshell needs to be repaired in the way it came from the factory and most parts will be Nos or good replica's to be replaced over time.

[Jebo]

New floors and sills:



















Right side of the car:











`Ready:

[Jebo]

Rear floor repair:















Some upgrades (not for the purists...):

Boat board and sparewheel clamb:








Rearshelf repair:








Rear seatbelt upgrade:



Now waiting for new panels for the front and doors!

[JC T ONE]

Pwoar - that welding porn for yea

Nice work


Did it already have boot board brackets on the rear bulk head

[JC T ONE]

Thanks JC T One for your reply!


The goal is to have an original appeal, but with some performance upgrades. Ofcourse I will keep all original parts to revert to standard easily.

Good plan

[mk1]

SUPERB WORK!

[Jebo]

Thank you for all the positive replies!!! Looking forward already to the end result!

[Jebo]

Some questions for the experts!

How can I find out the exact build date? British Motor Industry Heritage states they only have record for minis built between 1959-1969 and 1977-1981.

Moreover where was this car build, some say Seneffe (Belgium) due to the larger indicator lights?


I believe the differences to see if it is an early mk3 850 are the following or are there more?
Mk2 boothandle:


Magic wand:


Iginition key in the center and plastic heaterbox:


Thicker chrome opening rear windows:

[Jebo]

Can anyone help me to identify to the build date of my Mini like stated in my previous post?

[nick@dunsdale]

Yep I had an 850 with centre key start and wand gearstick.

Also pretty sure you car is different spec to uk 850's as the mk3 850's had fixed non opening quarter glass. Also only had a centre speedo, no fuel or temp gauges.

Unlike the 1000's witch had both the above.

[JC T ONE]

The 850 kept the magic want upto October 72, when the whole Mini range got the rod change system.

The bigger front indicators were also used on the MK III Cooper S cars, that were sold here in Denmark.

Check to see if your car have the MK II interior light ?


Did you save the body no from your front panel ?

[Craig]

Nice to see a proper job being done !!! Spot welding porn for sure !!!!!

Bet it will be nice when finished.
Those front signal lights where also used for the Canadian market cars .

Craig

[Jebo]

thanks for the replies!

Yes I have the mk2 interiorlight and the bodynumber is : 228609

Looking forward to an indication of the build date!

Was it build in Sneffe Belgium?

[Jebo]

And some further progress:













Nose: