14 replies to this topic

[crackfoo]

Hi, 

 

I recently sold my 2004 Mini Cooper and rescued a 1979 Austin Mini from a fellows garage up the street. Here is it before I decided to buy it, after having my eye on it for a few years in there.

 

 

I'm happy I decided to bring it home despite its many years of neglect. It took quite a bit f work to get it road worthy but it is now, and just needs some more TLC to really bring it to a nice state.

 

Some other images after I towed it home and before it was tuned up:

 

 

 

The details/history are somewhat pieced together from the past 15 years, beyond that is unknown. the VIN is a somewhat obscure and doesn't follow what some of the mini identity posts in other forms list... so not sure what the car was actually born as.

 

in the 80's the car was raced at a race track, which no longer exists in Sackville, Nova Scotia. During which time, it was in a accident. Slide sideways into a telephone pole on the passenger side. it was then patched up and rebuilt as a road car.

 

It spent some time in the Minispeed shop in the UK in around 2000 to get a performance engine fitted up to stage 3, then shipped back to Canada, and pretty much just sat around and changed hands a couple times since then. Never really hit the road since then so the engine only has ~100km on it.

 

Engine Type, 12h A Series

Size: 1380cc

Pistons: Hepolite

Cam: 276

Carbs: Twin 1.5" SU

 

I'm happy to have it on the road now, but it still needs some TLC. One thing I need to track down is a new set of needles for the carbs, but not really sure how to make sure I purchase the right ones.

 

Cheers!

Edited by crackfoo, 01 March 2016 - 06:56 PM.

[mk1leg]

Hi..and welcome to TMF and enjoy.....that looks a lot younger than a 79.......I'd say early 90s

[crackfoo]

Hi..and welcome to TMF and enjoy.....that looks a lot younger than a 79.......I'd say early 90s

 

Thanks. Oh, you think so? That's interesting. All the registrations have it listed at '79 and the insurance company's database polls the VIN as a '79....

 

Is there a feature that makes you think its a newer one?

[MR J]

Hi, and welcome to TMF

 

Hopefully we'll be moving over to Canada next year, we're looking at settling in NS if we can find suitable employment close by, I'll be bringing my Minis also.

 

Martin.

[crackfoo]

Hi, and welcome to TMF

 

Hopefully we'll be moving over to Canada next year, we're looking at settling in NS if we can find suitable employment close by, I'll be bringing my Minis also.

 

Martin.

 

Hey very cool! They are a rare breed over here. I've only seen enough to count them on one hand. That is... on the road anyway.

[MR J]

We have been over 4 times now, staying in and around the Halifax area, we saw a couple of Minis parked up in a yard near Stewiacke but the last time we were over there they'd gone.

[mk1leg]

 

Hi..and welcome to TMF and enjoy.....that looks a lot younger than a 79.......I'd say early 90s

 

Thanks. Oh, you think so? That's interesting. All the registrations have it listed at '79 and the insurance company's database polls the VIN as a '79....

 

Is there a feature that makes you think its a newer one?

 

well as far as I know you can not import a later model mini into the stated or canada after 1980 I think so most imports are modern minis with an early vin plate

take a look at the boot (trunk) lock the year of man should be stamped on it

[MR J]

You can import any car over 15 years old into Canada.

[crackfoo]

 

 

Hi..and welcome to TMF and enjoy.....that looks a lot younger than a 79.......I'd say early 90s

 

Thanks. Oh, you think so? That's interesting. All the registrations have it listed at '79 and the insurance company's database polls the VIN as a '79....

 

Is there a feature that makes you think its a newer one?

 

well as far as I know you can not import a later model mini into the stated or canada after 1980 I think so most imports are modern minis with an early vin plate

take a look at the boot (trunk) lock the year of man should be stamped on it

 

Interesting, I'll have a look. I'm not sure when the car came here but 1979-2000 it's whereabouts was unknown.

 

As Mr J mentioned, perhaps it didn't come over here till 2000.

[crackfoo]

We have been over 4 times now, staying in and around the Halifax area, we saw a couple of Minis parked up in a yard near Stewiacke but the last time we were over there they'd gone.

 

Oh, I never really noticed any around there. I don't often head that direction though, and usually just pass on the highway. There is a Go Kart (Kartbahn) place in hfx and I know the owners there have a couple.

Edited by crackfoo, 24 November 2014 - 03:12 PM.

[crackfoo]

 

 

Hi..and welcome to TMF and enjoy.....that looks a lot younger than a 79.......I'd say early 90s

 

Thanks. Oh, you think so? That's interesting. All the registrations have it listed at '79 and the insurance company's database polls the VIN as a '79....

 

Is there a feature that makes you think its a newer one?

 

well as far as I know you can not import a later model mini into the stated or canada after 1980 I think so most imports are modern minis with an early vin plate

take a look at the boot (trunk) lock the year of man should be stamped on it

 

 I couldn't notice anything stamped around there. There was a stamp on the boot lock... but all I could distinguish was the number 24... 

[crackfoo]

Rupert seems to be starting up pretty good lately, given the amount of weather he has endured this winter. I did have to dry his engine bay out the other day just after our huge snow storm when he didn't start. But when I flipped the bonnet, there was practically a complete snow drift living in there. Here's a video of him after he got dried out:

 

I'm not sure what Mini's should sound like, but I think he's doing well... and I like the sounds of him. He's a tough little guy...

Edited by crackfoo, 21 March 2015 - 07:05 PM.

[crackfoo]

Whoops

 

Edited by crackfoo, 21 March 2015 - 07:10 PM.

[crackfoo]

I'm sending rupert to the shop to have his head gasket changed. Any suggestions on what I should tell them? The tech has had some experience with mini's but was a long time ago.

 

I have a haynes manual so I'll let that with him just in case.

 

Torque down to 50lb/ft and valve clearances 0.015" on exhausts and 0.012" on inlets?

 

Though I am having 2nd thoughts on having this done... I'm not totally convinced it needs it... but it's been on there 15 years.... just don't want them to screw it up.

[crackfoo]

Dropped Rupert off on Tuesday to get his sills sorted out along with the odd paint/rust bubbles. They went at him a lot more than I was expecting!

 

 12791008_10153438703348730_8772399059236340407_n.jpg   71.19K   4 downloads

 

They found so much rust inside the drivers sill it nearly filled a grocery bag and weighed about 5-6 lbs. Looks like the prev owners put 3-4 sills on already.

 

Looking forward to getting him back next week and then to the spring/summer!