So my mini craze started about 2 years ago. After having a really bad accident with my car. I decided I should get around and do something productive and fulfilling. That something is cars and bringing back things from the dead.
I searched high and low for the most clapped out and turdy mini I could find in Malta. After going to see some 10 different vehicles. I chose this little gem its talked to me to be saved :
Here it is hidden under an old raft that it stood under for 16 years and down here finally towed into my garage.
So what did I buy. I bough a 1976 Leyland Mini. This is a local assembled model and has a chassis number ending in K . After some digging around I confirmed the car was assembled in Malta and some cool Trivia for you Maltese Mini's have the George Cross stamped in the steel on the driver side wing. It was bought new by a man in 1976. It had a grey interior with a heater unit. It was painted in very dull black, it has 998cc lump with and HS4 su carb and driver side door mirror. If anyone has anymore info here in the entire chassis number
My Plan For this :
The car to me is too far gone to restore to mint condition as 21 year old my budget can go so far and to be completely honest the car was never mint from the factory some thing look botched on it already an hey whats the fun in restoring it when you can create something completely unique out of it besides saving another mini is always a good thing. My plan is this I love rugged utilitarian looks, group b minis , rally minis, and Dakar rally minis the modern ones all speak to me in their design philosophy . I wanted something that looks hombrew rally cool and having a ton of utility in it sort of a road rally expedition mini. In simple words what you get if you cross a mini with an old series 2 expedition land rover. A bastard road rally mini ready to play in the out doors.
Anyway my journey started a year ago and I will be sharing with you my progress. Somethings aren't perfect or done right. I have learnt a lot from this mini and the wealth of knowledge is amazing. This is me doing something with a limited budget , time , knowledge and tools. Anyone attempting this maybe looking at getting into one this is a very bad realistic walk through from me cheers guys.