mk1-forum.net

I've been registered here for a while, but posted very little as I've been busy dismantling the Mk1.

Thought I'd share a few details & piccies

I bought it in '98 for £150 from a car sales centre as 'scrap' - having got it home I found an all original Austin Super Deluxe, complete with Austin Parts Manuals & Lucas yellow headlamp covers in it. Once I got the log book, I found I'm the second keeper! It has 61k on the clock.

Long story short, I drove it around for a couple of years then parked it up for approx 15yrs. Now I have a garage, I'm in the process of restoring it to its former glory. Not going to do a full back to better than factory resto, I want it to be the same car it always was so more of a clean up of most parts, replacing as little as possible to keep it all original.

Anyway, a few piccies - this is my first attempt at uploading them so fingers crossed!

EDIT: Can only get one piccie on for now, this is it just after it was taken off the road c.2001.

ahhhh

the good old days when you could buy shagged old mk1's for a couple of hundred quid from garages!

I bought a mk1 from a garage in Harrogate (in 1998 as well, must have been a good year) for a £100 quid. they had told the owner it 'wasn't worth bothering with' - he was a bit pissed when he saw me driving it about two weeks later with a fresh mot on it - and a 'nice' respray where nothing had been removed, id just masked it all in situ and painted it with some 'transit white' from the local factors

it was great, never changed the oil it in or anything sensible like that - and it survived a trip to Edinburgh and back

happy times!

They were the days eh!

This one was taken off the road by the first owner to install a new clutch, but he got fed up with the job and it sat for many years in his garage. He then px'd it for a new Vauxhall. It floated around the trade as part of bundles of cars sold amongst garages as none realise what it was. I was lucky enough to get my hands on it, refitted all the bits that were in the boot and with fresh fuel she fired up!

I fitted new subframes and had the head converted for unleaded and drove it around

Nice story, whats the current situation on the car, have you still got it

Oh yes, still have it. Stripped to a shell now and slowly cleaning it up. Needs outer sills, small section of floor, wings (due to dents) and a spray. Not much for the age !

Just a couple weekends then keep up dated, cheers. 64 morris mini minor cost me 200 when bought in 2002 , third owner, took four years for mine

Thanks for posting.

Looks like a great little car with a super story. I am glad it is now receiving the attention it deserves.

M

Oooof.... time flies eh! I knew I'd posted my SDL on here but didn't realise it was 2016!

Glad to report a LOT has happened since then and Norm is now approx 40% rebuilt after having had the Paul Wiginton treatment and fantastic tweed grey paint applied by Rob Spray Services.

I'm preserving as much of the original car as possible so am re-using anything I possibly can from washer jet pipes to individual grommets which were removed and documented to go back exactly where they came from.

Some have overspray on them from paintwork done before my ownership - that's remaining in place as it's all part of the history.

A few pics of the progress of the last few years..... I'll post more soon

Very nice, are you located in bucks? I’m in the next village to Paul and know him well..
D

Thanks.... I am, yes.

Paul is exceptionally talented and such a decent guy too.

That is lovely. More pics please!

These days I would gladly have a really nice 850 (slightly breathed on for 45 bhp) over a Cooper or S. They just have their own character.

Those with the red trim had their own interior whiff which is quite glorious.

Thanks Costa, I'll get some more uploaded soon.... over 1k to choose from

Please do! (Add more pics)
That's a beautiful color, and looking very nicely done.

You've peaked my interest with the "frog eye fuel tank" comment. Have never heard of that...

Explanation necessary good sir!


She's looking awesome so far.

Hope you've all had an enjoyable festive break.... I've finally got the majority of pictures in one place and have put a few in one album to highlight the journey so far;

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zGkAmiD5uLu4dPiH9

Still much to do but this year has been such a big step forwards.

Happy New Year all !

hi
very well done a lot of work has been done interesting jig
cheers roger mcnab

Thanks Roger, it did the job and went on to be used in part by the painter. He has the scaffold and wooden attachments for any future early Mini shells he encounters.

Wow.

Can I point out one tiny mistake? The ignition switch should have a chrome collar so that the switch protrudes about 10 or 15 mm.

But what a superb thing - well done.

Thank you, it's coming together nicely.

Thanks for pointing that out, it never had that from my ownership.... I'll look at the parts manual to see what it should have.

I'd set it flush as that struck me as the neatest way, with the bezel slots aligned nicely of course

Costafortune wrote: ↑Wed Dec 27, 2023 6:30 pm Wow.

Can I point out one tiny mistake? The ignition switch should have a chrome collar so that the switch protrudes about 10 or 15 mm.

But what a superb thing - well done.

That collar is what gave me fits with my '64 trying to fit an aftermarket ignition switch.
The body of the new switch wasn't long enough, or made to the same outer dimension as the old one.

My whole switch would turn completely around in the dash... or set too far proud without it... or too deep with it on to properly tighten.


The car is looking awesome!

Thanks Joel