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VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 2:15 pm
by coopertim
Well after a few months of an empty garage and nearly two years trying to buy it, VFF 684 an Austin in Almond Green is finally mine!! The car was registered on 5th March 1963 in Monmouthshire so is just 50 years old. It belonged to a friend of my dads in the motor trade and for two years he was saying that he was going to restore it! After gently reminding the old boy that i was still interested, he finally conceded that he would never get round to doing anything with it and said i could buy it. VFF is a really solid little car and still comes with its original front panel, centre mounted sun visors and crackle black rear view mirror and nestling in the engine bay is a 1293 engine......''i used to do a bit of rallying in the sixties you know so i put one of my old engines in it!''

Plans for the car are to get it back on the road as soon as and have some fun. VFF is not going to be a trailer queen or be entered into concours. It will be a quick little car with a few nice bits on it which looks the part!

Tim

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 3:25 pm
by Etienne B.
It looks very nice Tim, very nice !
Superb panel gaps !

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 4:50 pm
by rolesyboy
Brilliant news Tim and certainly preferable to the non negotiable red one hey. Looks like a real belter and what a great starting point for you. Good luck. Mark

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 6:11 pm
by coopertim
Yep its not a bad starting point and was no where near the stupid prices of ebay! It will need a floor and boot repairs A panels and a wing. Green / Grey interior when i find one and a set of Rosepetals and that will do for now.

Tim.

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 6:37 pm
by Andrew1967
Looks a great little project Tim. 8-)

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:13 pm
by coopertim
So..........anybody got any bits and pieces going spare?? I seem to have sold all mine!!!

MUPPET!!!!

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:00 pm
by steve1071
Very nice Tim. Didn't think you'd be Mini less for long!

Think I have some green grey cooper trim. Got a busy week, then I'm away at the weekend so bear with me!
:)

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:04 pm
by coopertim
Steve you are a star!! What stuff do you think you may have off the top of your head?

Tim

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 12:27 am
by Nevsmini
Tim great to see you have a mk1 again. Great looking project, A dove grey roof would be the biz 8-) ( a rare cooper colour) .

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 8:14 pm
by steve1071
Tim, pretty sure I have a back seat and at least one front. No dove grey trim, I'm after some if anyone has any, but I do have porcelain green panels.
Should get a look in my lock up tomorrow.

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 7:51 pm
by coopertim
Its amazing what an afternoon in the sunshine sorting and detailing makes to a car! The old girl looks a lot better now and the wheels suit a treat! Still shed loads to do and lots of not so pretty bits to sort!

MOT is a bit closer now though!

Tim

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 9:43 am
by foxy52
mmm,.that cleaned up with a nice patina of age,..i see u have a wasso petrol cap to , funny how a mini looks undressed without any chrome side trim around arches etc etc.... nice !!...foxy52

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 10:11 am
by 36inter
Mmmmm 10" wheels, that looks tons better. Lovely car. Lucky man.

Pete

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 11:26 am
by rolesyboy
Oh Tim, lose the yellow and white :D perspex plates. The concours boys will crucify you..LOL

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 11:51 am
by guru_1071
rolesyboy wrote:Oh Tim, lose the yellow and white :D perspex plates. The concours boys will crucify you..LOL

technically they are correct for the age of the issue of the plate :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 12:39 pm
by coopertim
Yeah Mark the plates are going to disappear shortly! Concours??? I don't think so! This will be a mini that is driven and used!

Tim

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 12:54 pm
by coopertim
Well spotted Rich!! The car was originally registered 1068 DF. The chap who owned the car before me had the mini for 24 years and bought it for the plate. How much?? £200!! It's on his Merc now.

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 1:36 pm
by guru_1071
coopertim wrote:Well spotted Rich!! The car was originally registered 1068 DF. The chap who owned the car before me had the mini for 24 years and bought it for the plate. How much?? £200!! It's on his Merc now.

SFF, VFF, YUF etc are nearly always re-issues, if your sad you can normally work out how many years ago the car lost its plate by what the plate is, i.e SFF is from about 10-12 years ago, YUF is from a couple of years ago.

I don't really have an issue with plates been bought and sold, after all its something that was done from day one of plates been issued

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:35 pm
by coopertim
Well following Beaulieu and the bits and bobs bought, here is the improved rump of VFF! Im really pleased with how the car is shaping up.

Tim

Re: VFF 684 1963 Austin Mini

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:51 pm
by JC T ONE
Nice car 8-)

Love the dealer sill badge.