1961 Austin Seven

[wmurfitt]

Hello All, I'm new here, and i've only just bought a Mk1, i've had all sorts of mini's in the past 7years of motoring


So here is my Mk1 That i'm hoping to collect tomoorow (if the snow clears)











The plan is to restore to its original spec


Here are my other builds (not mk1's sorry)




I've also got an estate, but no photos at preset.....

[Craig]

Looks like a nice find !!!

Craig

[miniminor]

Hi - welcome, that's a nice solid looking Mk1, plenty of potential there.
Love the Clubman too - fab registration.

[JC T ONE]

Hi & welcome inhere

thats a very nice & original MK I , it even has its original carpets AND body number cool.

Love the period accessories .

Nice cars you posted pics of



Jens Christian

[wmurfitt]

Thanks very much, I do love the classics, I buy wrecks fix them up drive them for a year or so and then sell them on to get a new build althought the clubby has been wit me from the start. I saved it from the crusher at a scrap yard, and only buy luck i saw it!

Where are you all from?

I'm from North Wales, Hopefully, i'll have it ready for the end of the show season this year.

Although getting married in August may change plans slightly.....

[slowboy]

hello there, that mk1 my friend, looks like a very good find to me, look forward to following progress, and , to answer your question , i am from north lancs

[NotNormal]

Cracking find and good to see another to hit the road and loved again. Look forward to progress

[wmurfitt]

Thanks guys, really looking forward to getting on with this build,

Oldest car i've owned, i was half thinking of upgrading it to be an historic rally car, but after some thoughts i'm going to keep it standard.....

Once its back home, i'll upload some more photos

[1959si]

Nice find, Do not restore it if you can help it! It looks to only need some minor cosmetic thing doing from the pictures. It is perfect as it is. I look forward to further pictures.

Simon

[miniminor]

Im guessing you'll not be picking it up today with the snow last night
Look forward to updates.

Gav.

[wmurfitt]

unfortunatly not, it will spend another week in the comfort of the garage....

Whats the reason not to restore? surely it would be better looking all shiney and new ?

[Gray]

You can't beat a bit of patina!

[JC T ONE]

Where are you all from?

I live in Denmark .

I'm from North Wales.

Been to Wales a few times very nice, but I cant read the signs

getting married in August

Congratulations.

Whats the reason not to restore? surely it would be better looking all shiney and new ?

Patina, and the feeling of a unmolested original car you can never regain that, once its restored.

T cut that paint, and stand back to see how the paint comes back to life

Same goes for the chrome British chrome was famues all over the world, for its quality (in the old days)

The grill surround do look a bit tired, but thats about it.

A car can always be restored, but you can never reverse the decision, once its done.

[bill773mini]

Where are you all from?

I'm from North Wales,

Where abouts in Flintshire are you? I live on the Flint/Cheshire border near Broughton.

Patina, and the feeling of a unmolested original car you can never regain that, once its restored.

T cut that paint, and stand back to see how the paint comes back to life

Same goes for the chrome British chrome was famues all over the world, for its quality (in the old days)

The grill surround do look a bit tired, but thats about it.

A car can always be restored, but you can never reverse the decision, once its done.

Couldn't agree more with what Jens says, do as little as possible to get it on the road. Looks a great buy.

Im guessing you'll not be picking it up today with the snow last night

Paff, I picked a 60 up on Sunday morning in Rhos-On-Sea!

[wmurfitt]

I live in a village just outside of Holywell, We got hit by the snow pretty bad up here unfortunatly...

Hopeing to collect Sunday or Monday.

I've set up a Mini club for the Flintshire area, if your on facebook please come over and join us . http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/ ... 848314531/

[gs.davies]

Nice, looks just like my 1961 Austin. Mine was built 23 November, what about this one (not sure if you've got the Heritage Cert on it yet)?

I've also got the same radio which I'll fit to it at some point - where is the speaker situated in yours?

Gary

[Frogeye61]

I have to agree with the other comments.

Don't restore,

except what is necessary for rust, safety and state inspection. The paint should clean up, probably also the mustache. Stitching or single panel repair of the seats would be good, new support of course.
Recently the oldest un-restored Mini was sold at auction. It looks a far cry from yours (what I can see of it) but brought really silly money compared to a restored one.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... 0-000.html

[1959si]

Why not restore? Well there are several reasons in my opinion. For one a car is only original once and yours from looking at the pictures posted, looks in remarkable condition, however i can only see the pictures. When a car is restored certain elements what to me make an unrestored car different from a restored car to me, is the smells, the paint (with overspray), interior (Glue stains and the like), such items that once restored can never be replicated 100%, despite how hard one tries. I just love the feeling of getting into a unrestored car and knowing this is just as it left the factory (minus the odd MOT work carried out on some cars) Everything has worn together. It is hard to put into words what i am trying to describe, but next time you are at a show take a seat in an unrestored car then a restored car, then you will now what i am trying to explain. At the end of the day this is not everyones cup of tea driving around in a unrestored car, with worn elements to it. Another point to mention is the fact that how many unrestored drivable mk1 minis do you see around, i say not many, most have been restored. Not only is an unrestored car a thing of great provenance but also a very important information/dating tool for those looking to restore a car. In my opinion usable/drivable unrestored cars are going to be more and more desirable than those restored in times to come, but as i say this is only my opinion. Anyhow sorry to harp on, you have a lovely car and your car it is, so do what you wish with it. I look forward to seeing more pictures and information on it.

Kind Regards,

Simon

[618AOG]

I would restore the bodywork, replace what needs replacing and give it a paint job so that it looks tidy. Inside though - just clean it up, steam clean the engine bay. In other words, give it the apperarance of a car that's well used but well loved - you can't do that with rusty bits all over it.
But agreed - to fully restore it would be to spoil it.

[814CWE]

Why not restore? Well there are several reasons in my opinion. For one a car is only original once and yours from looking at the pictures posted, looks in remarkable condition, however i can only see the pictures. When a car is restored certain elements what to me make an unrestored car different from a restored car to me, is the smells, the paint (with overspray), interior (Glue stains and the like), such items that once restored can never be replicated 100%, despite how hard one tries. I just love the feeling of getting into a unrestored car and knowing this is just as it left the factory (minus the odd MOT work carried out on some cars) Everything has worn together. It is hard to put into words what i am trying to describe, but next time you are at a show take a seat in an unrestored car then a restored car, then you will now what i am trying to explain. At the end of the day this is not everyones cup of tea driving around in a unrestored car, with worn elements to it. Another point to mention is the fact that how many unrestored drivable mk1 minis do you see around, i say not many, most have been restored. Not only is an unrestored car a thing of great provenance but also a very important information/dating tool for those looking to restore a car. In my opinion usable/drivable unrestored cars are going to be more and more desirable than those restored in times to come, but as i say this is only my opinion. Anyhow sorry to harp on, you have a lovely car and your car it is, so do what you wish with it. I look forward to seeing more pictures and information on it.

Kind Regards,

Simon

agreed

my early morris basic is unrestored and original
it has no rust but has the age old paint that has polished through on corner of the roof and bonnet as well as numerous microblisters and minor marks in the paint

im itching to strip and restore the body,,but so many people love the car as it is...

618aog.think you should remember the car,,its so unmessed with

it smells old and drives unlike any restored car

for now im gonna leave it as it is,,,until rust starts rearing its ugly head.