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Many years ago ( about 15! ) when i was in the Fire Service, one of my duties was to maintain Fire Hydrants in the county. Whilst on my travels one day in a village, i spotted a familiar round nose poking out of a very overgrown bramble bush at the side of an old car showroom. The very early Surf Blue mini saloon was in a derelict state and was parked in front of a Bedford CA van - equally as derelict. Year on year i revisited the village and both vehicles sat there and i never could find out who the owner was and the showroom was always closed.

Fast forward to today and on the way back from a meeting i drove through the same village and lo and behold the mini still sat there! This time though the shop was open and an elderly gent was sat behind the desk. I went inside to find out about the mini and he told me that yes the car was his and he parked it up 30 years ago! One owner from new 1963 Surf Blue Austin Mini Deluxe and still complete but rotten as! Roof panel caved in and looking very sorry for itself! Is it for sale? Yes it is! The problem is that the car is 'doing a job' for the elderly owner by hiding stuff from view and if it were moved it would be a hassle!!!!

So.......Ive left him with an offer and i have first dibs on the car - maybe i will bring it home in another 30 years or so!!

sounds great any photos ??

Ian

Couldnt get any today but i will try to get back to the site at some point. To be fair all that is visible is the front end and under the hedge you could just make out the wheels! This is one mini in the undergrowth!

Tim

You always did like those rotten surf blue's Tim!

Did you get the seat sorted with the other bits I sent?

You just cant beat Surf Blue and 'Burnt Orange' as a colour scheme Steve!! I just cant resist the cars that have 'Please Help Me' written all over them!

Yep, seat is all sorted now thanks for those bits. They worked a treat!

Tim

What a great little story! Having experienced a few similar ones, I bet you any money that the owner decides that the job it is doing is far more valuable than any offer you make. That's the way these sort of folks tick.

M

That's probably what will happen Mark! The old chap will most probably let the old girl rot away slowly over the next few years

Thats a real shame as it is totally complete and unmolested but the truth is that the current and original shell will be beyond repair with a couple more winters on it.

Tim

coopertim wrote:That's probably what will happen Mark! The old chap will most probably let the old girl rot away slowly over the next few years

Thats a real shame as it is totally complete and unmolested but the truth is that the current and original shell will be beyond repair with a couple more winters on it.

Tim

May be its better for it to rot away than be subject to a re-shelled concourse rebuild with 75% new parts?

Eddie

Thats not a fitting end for any mk1 especially one of the Surf Blue variety! As for being a concours rebuild? No chance......i can't afford open cheque book rebuilds! Just hate to think of the car ending its days as a pile of ferrous oxide when it could be returned to the road!


Tim