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A chance meeting talking to someone with some mini seats for sale led to me finding out he had a old mini tucked in his barn for the last 30 years. Several e-mails / photos later I realised it was a early one and had to buy it. At first glance its a rust bucket but its better then it looks (hmm I think so) . A lot of the original features remain. Seat covers are lost but I have nice panels etc.

I've done half hearted restos in the past as forum members will tell you. This time I plan a better crack at it as I have got myself a little better funds to have a good go at it.

Progress may be slow but i'll keep updating photos.

Steve

more photos

thats a nice find.

i think anyone here would be happy with that!

Thanks Rich.

Yes, I feel lucky. Had to pay good money for it. The guy wasn't a expert on minis but knew enough to know there aren't many around especially in NZ.

I will repaint it the original Orange.

kidding

I'm a bit of a noobie but love mk1's to bits and know a fair bit. I've bought myself a engine crane at the weekend. There's no stopping me. You should have seen the wife's face when she came into the garage and nearly tripped over the crane!

I'm selling my 64 Fiesta Yellow 998 cooper project to part fund this. Was a tough decision to part with that but I can only handle one major project at a time. I also sold my Aussie Cooper S (see photo section) to fund it also.

Hi SteveG,

That is a nice find so original in the body well done.

Did you see the other Blue 59/60 Mini, that was for sale in NZ not long ago?


Jens Christian

Nice find Steve!
I saw your Fiesta Yellow on Trade-me? That is nice too, got the potential to be restored to a very nice Cooper. Should be easier than this one?
Good old words: too many projects, too little time!

Cheers
Ted

nice find.
as for the resto.
I've found that just setting an achievable goal for the weekend is a good way to stay on track. like this weekend i'm going to spot prime the areas of "finer-fill" and strip the front floors to bare metal, easy.

keep us posted on your progress

Thanks for the Feedback. Richy, yes you owe me photos.

Ted, The Fiesta Yellow cooper is going up to the North Island. It will be in very good hands with a guy that has 3 other mk1's (one of them a Fiesta Yellow 850cc with Brocade interior .. Super??)

Didn't want to sell it but my 2 projects were sitting in the garage while the wife was parking outside in the rain.. wasn't going down too well. I also made the call instead of trying to afford 2 restos i'll just do a better job on one.

When its all done and I drive the gutless 850cc I may regret it but I doubt it. Something special about the early minis where they were so primitive.

hi Jens.

Yes, I saw the same colour 59 on trademe. 20,000 dollers. (about 10,000 pounds at the moment with UK crappy exchange rate) Probably not a bad buy really. I know the guy that's bought it.

It has later type smaller floor pans but a very very nice car. Came here in the same batch as my car Sep 59.

Started looking at the engine tonight. Sep 57 Starter motor. Morris Minor??

Further evidence of the car being a genuine 'barn find'

and not a replica 'barn find'

I have had the straw / bits of string dated. They are indeed dated 1979/1980. This is where you can tell a replica 'barn find' the straw is always less then 5 years old on fakes !

What a great find, looking forward to seeing progress

what a find - doesn't look like it'll be too difficult a restoration.

Attacked the engine today. Stripped it down. Its all a bit new to me but I knew what most of the bits were which helps

Looks like it has had a rebuild at some point in its life. Most the early bits are still attached. Crank looks like it might be usable. 2 pistons were seized solid! Took Alot of work to get those out. Amazingly the bores look ok. Pistons are +10. Gearbox so far looks quite good but there is alot of sludge in there and hard to tell. All bits off to get cleaned now and see what i'm dealing with.

Tonight I continue to strip the shell to its bones. This week its off to the blasters.

May hay while the sun shines!

Steve, This is on its way to you now.
Nick

Fantastic nick, great service.

Some updates.

1st we wire brushed everything off for a couple of days.. arghh great fun. Decided against blasting the shell as wanted to retain more then just the wheels.

This showed up all the nastys. Main problem is the cross section that seats bold to. Its too far gone to save. The front floor wells had too many holes so they have been carefully cut out and new ones are being fabricated. A panel repairs around the hinges only, rest is fine. The inner splash guards are still there. A bit has rusted off the bottom of them both sides so we are welding new pieces onto the ends. The front slam panel will be straightened. Roof has come up very good with little or no dents. There is rust along the bottom of the rear seats so that's being cut out and new bits welding into place in the correct shape. Using some re enforced filler in places as we have no choice.

More updates as they happen.

That really looks like an interesting project!

A very nice early car that was amazingly complete, it looks like you are cracking on too.

Thanks Mark.

Coming from someone I rate as high as John Parnel (yes God) that's a special comment.

Did you see me at Beaulieu Last year? I was after your autograph but never caught up with you. I did get to touch the Sprint though

Nice project.. any updates so far

Jaapio