20 replies to this topic

[Larson250]

Hi,

After many years of wanting a mini I have finally managed to aquire one.

It is a 1981 Mini City with 72,000 miles on the clock. It's never been welded and sat in a garage for the last 12 years not turning a wheel.

We had a quite a challenge getting it onto a trailer as three wheels were very stiff to turn and the rear offside was completely locked with seized brake shoes and adjuster.

Having eventually got it home I got it running within an hour or so and gave it a good wash. The body looks good with rust blemishes just coming through in the usual places.

The running gear on the other hand will take some sorting, all ball joints need replacing along with the track rod ends etc. Having checked the front hubs again the adjusters are rounded and seized so new backplates will be on the very long shopping list.

I'm sure i'll be asking a lot of the usual questions along the way, so please bear with me.

Hopefully i've attached a photo of it.

Regards,

Dean

Attached Files

•  resized.jpg   30.52K   108 downloads

[Steely]

Welcome to the forum! And I love your mini

[matt2209]

great, mines a mini city 1987 old english white and got it in september! still working on it for the summer! good luck with yours buddy

[Alex_B]

Very very cool looking one that! I would urge you to keep the styling as the retro city side stripes and wide 10's look great!

[garrymacmini]

Brilliant, welcome to fleeting moments of utter joy and exhilaration and many many many days and nights of sheer head banging on the wall frustration! BUT, you'll love it!

[Marc_mcq]

Love it mate! Good luck getting it sorted!

[Larson250]

Thanks for the welcomes,

I have just this second parted with £240 for brake parts etc. but I've come to expect these things.

My initial plan was to really go to town and look at the bike engine route, however having gotten this one I have decided to keep it as standard as possible. I love the look as it is.

As for the stripes though they will be lost as I intend to take the shell back to bare metal to see what I have. The plan is to have it blasted, so any advice on this would be greatly accepted.

I know exactly what you mean about the highs and lows as I have already built a Lotus 7 style kit car.

I can't wait to get at it!!!

Cheers,

Dean

[mk1leg]

Hi..and welcome rto TMF and enjoy...............

[chadd123]

welcome its great to see new people

[alex-95]

Hi, welcome to TMF. It looks excellent, Are you going to make a project thread?

[Larson250]

Hi, welcome to TMF. It looks excellent, Are you going to make a project thread?

I would love to but I think people would get bored with the lack of speed in which jobs will be completed.

I'm trying to fit it in with finishing a conservatory and the upkeep of a boat so slow progress I think.

That said though I have managed to strip the lights/fittings from the back end along with the boot, so things are moving.

Thanks for the welcomes all.

Dean

[ba-tat]

Really lovely looking Mini.

I would start a thread. I read a lot of them and they bump down quickly so it won't be a problem if it pops up once in a blue moon. Might encourage other "slow" renovators.

[Noah]

Hi, welcome to TMF. It looks excellent, Are you going to make a project thread?

I would love to but I think people would get bored with the lack of speed in which jobs will be completed.

I'm trying to fit it in with finishing a conservatory and the upkeep of a boat so slow progress I think.

That said though I have managed to strip the lights/fittings from the back end along with the boot, so things are moving.

Thanks for the welcomes all.

Dean

Mate have a look at my progress thread, **** is slower than a snail. :) People still read it and comment on it

I do it more so I can keep track of what I have done.

[megamini_jb]

Hey, welcome to the forum

[Badboytunes]

Nice ride, what wheels are they.

Cheers