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1966 850 back on the road
Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2024 3:37 pm
by RichB
Hi everyone,
I've recently got my standard 850 back on the road after 18 months of work. This forum has provided so much useful information it's amazing - thanks to all that contribute. I've also bought a few bits from members on here that would be very difficult to find elsewhere in such good condition.
I've put a few pics below - I know it's not perfectly standard, but it's what I wanted!
Ta
Rich
Re: 1966 850 back on the road
Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2024 4:17 pm
by Ronnie
It's a credit to you
great job.
Re: 1966 850 back on the road
Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2024 6:51 pm
by AndyPen
Thanks for sharing such a lovely restoration, and yes, this place is a goldmine for parts and expertise
Re: 1966 850 back on the road
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2024 1:12 am
by minibitz
Quite a transformation, well done!
Nice to see a classic that isn't red, grey or green too.
Re: 1966 850 back on the road
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2024 9:36 am
by Peter Laidler
GREAT restoration and nice colour combination too. Any reason for the S type wheels?
Re: 1966 850 back on the road
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2024 9:54 am
by Exminiman
Thats is quite special, nice to see an 850 on the road
Re: 1966 850 back on the road
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2024 12:01 pm
by RichB
Peter Laidler wrote: ↑Thu Aug 22, 2024 9:36 am
GREAT restoration and nice colour combination too. Any reason for the S type wheels?
Yes, I changed to disc brakes on the front, so needed the extra offset.
Re: 1966 850 back on the road
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2024 4:05 pm
by Costafortune
A base model 850, a rare thing.
The last one of those I saw was a maroon B Austin, in a scrapyard in 1981.
HUD is an Oxfordshire plate iirc.
Re: 1966 850 back on the road
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2024 4:18 pm
by RichB
Costafortune wrote: ↑Thu Aug 22, 2024 4:05 pm
A base model 850, a rare thing.
The last one of those I saw was a maroon B Austin, in a scrapyard in 1981.
HUD is an Oxfordshire plate iirc.
Yes - the heritage certificate says it was despatched to Hartwells of Oxford in February 1966.
Re: 1966 850 back on the road
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2024 6:23 pm
by Peter Laidler
A friend of mine, Alan Iles, from the Design Dept at PSF in Swindon explained to me why the maroon colour was never available as a standard two-tone colour for the Mini Cooper. There were only two roof colours, white and black. Apparently white over maroon made the roof look bulbous and out of kilter (word ?) with the car while black was the direct opposite....., looked bowed IN-wards.
That's why it was the only colour of the era that wasn't available on the Coopers. That said, maroon and that light grey(?) looks quite nice
Re: 1966 850 back on the road
Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 12:09 am
by RichB
Peter Laidler wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2024 6:23 pm
A friend of mine, Alan Iles, from the Design Dept at PSF in Swindon explained to me why the maroon colour was never available as a standard two-tone colour for the Mini Cooper. There were only two roof colours, white and black. Apparently white over maroon made the roof look bulbous and out of kilter (word ?) with the car while black was the direct opposite....., looked bowed IN-wards.
That's why it was the only colour of the era that wasn't available on the Coopers. That said, maroon and that light grey(?) looks quite nice
That's interesting, thanks Peter.