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I am very tempted to buy a 1973 Innocenti Minimatic for €2500 in good condition with mot. I don't know the seller but he has told me that the gearbox has been reconditioned recently and there are no problems. He states that the only fault is the clutch that needs replacing very soon. I know slipping is also caused by a faulty auto box.
I haven't driven the car yet but my only fear is that the faulty clutch could hide gearbox problems. I have no experience whatsoever with automatic Mini's. What should I look out for?
Many thanks!

Surely an auto doesn't have a clutch in the usual sense ?

As I said, I am totally inexperienced in auto box. The seller referred to a faulty gear changing mechanism and said that the clutch is faulty and needs replacing. I don't know if there is some kind of clutch on the flywheel.
Thanks for your reply, it has got me thinking about the seller's comments

I have just spoken to the seller. He said that the clutch is in the torque converter. Now things are getting interesting.

The clutch is not in the torque converter. The clutches are within the gearbox. The auto box has two clutches, one for forwards and one for reverse and top gear. If there is a problem with these it is not very easy to find replacement parts, but there is a specialist called AP2 World in Northampton. There is also a small diagram showing the components of the autobox.

https://ap2.world/

I think I'd give them a call to get an estimate of the cost to repair/replace the faulty unit first.


I have experience of a knackered auto clutch as I wrecked my mother Mk3 1000 auto trying to spin the wheels. After I'd given it a good thrashing it would take about 2 minutes to get to 30 mph, but was absolutely fine in reverse. Obviously I'd burned out the forward clutch. The car was replaced by a Volvo 66 with the DAF Rubber Band transmission.

Thanks for the very useful information.

Here's a link that shows how the gearbox was developed and how it actually works.

http://www.austinmemories.com/styled-105/index.html


It seems odd that the gearbox has been reconditioned by the seller thinks the clutch is slipping.

If you do go to see it and test drive it the car should change gear quite quickly with no slip. It will accelerate at a similar pace to a manual car but you will notice when the car changes up and down. The older Mini Autos do not feel like a normal auto found on a larger car as you should be able to feel a bit of transmission shunt, even when driving gently.

Yes, I thought the very same thing once I saw the diagram you attached. I would of thought that the clutches would of been replaced at the same time. The car has been on the market for a few months now starting at €5000 and now €2500. I will certainly have a test drive, I have never driven an auto Mini. It could be a little daunting to buy, it really all depends on the availability of parts and if it's something that I can do myself. I am in Italy and classic car repair costs are very expensive here.
Thanks again for the excellent information. You have most probably saved me from making a very costly error.

I have a later mini with an automatic, I just priced out a complete rebuild kit, that includes new clutches, Steels, bands, seals, gaskets and a couple of special tools and was around £650 delivered if that helps you.
Bruce

Thanks Bruce. Where did you buy the parts?

JP themselves also still have kits available.

https://jpat.co.uk/index.html

Excellent, many thanks