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Sensible Price For A Monte Carlo?


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#1 Paps

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Posted 11 August 2020 - 10:13 PM

Hi. A per my earlier post I was trying to make my mind up about which mini to buy. I have found a Monte Carlo that looks very nice. It runs and is still original spec, the person is asking for 6k. Apart from some rust areas there doesn’t seem to be much that needs doing to it. Is that a sensible price? The costs seem to very a lot. Thanks.

#2 Cooperman

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Posted 11 August 2020 - 10:33 PM

Please be aware that 'some rust areas' can mean a major rebuild and a respray.

For that price you should accept 'no rust areas at all'.

If a late Mini has any rust blisters it may weell need full panel changes. I rebuilt an MPI with my grandson. It was advertised as having no rust, just a few surface blisters. We well-knew what we were getting into and we paid the right price (= not a lot) but we had to fit a new windscreen scuttle, which is always a suspect area, rebuild the top of the engine bay bulkhead, fit a new windscreen inner rail, fit new outer sills, a new door skin one side, a rear bumper flange repair, both front wings, a front panel patch repair and an A-panel one side. This was followed by a full respray as it was a metallic colour. 

This was all easy for us, but if one could not DIY, it would have cost around £4000 for all that work, with the repaint taking around £1700 of that.

Inspect it everywhere for rust and especially in the bottom of the rear companion bins, the bottoms of the doors, the A-panels, the boot floor, the sills both sides, the screen scuttle, the back of the front wings and around the headlights and the inside of the front wings right at the top where they meet the inner wing and the screen scuttle closer panels.

Ideally take a Mini body expert with you.

The state of the mechanical parts is less of an issue as everything is relatively easy, sometimes the engine needs to come out though.



#3 Paps

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Posted 11 August 2020 - 10:54 PM

Wow. That’s an eye opener. Thank you for the advise.

#4 MatthewsDad

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Posted 12 August 2020 - 06:34 AM

If you have a budget of 6k you should be able to find a nice cared for example that has had the rust cut out in recent years. I've bought a 'rust free' mini in the past and learnt the hard way. Take your time there's plenty to choose from.

Take a look at the MoT history of the car. You can get a feel for the condition of the car if there are advisories or fails associated with corrosion. Not necessarily a full picture, but you'll know what to walk away from unless there is evidence that the rust has been properly dealt with. Good luck.

#5 Paps

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Posted 12 August 2020 - 06:43 AM

Thank you. Apart from eBay and face book market place where else would people advise looking for a mini. I don’t have to buy a limited edition, just a nice Mini Cooper in BRG would be ideal. Some one suggested to spend a lot less on a newer mpi mini in an earlier post.

#6 RustyAutoCityE

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Posted 12 August 2020 - 06:58 AM

Be aware that it is generally accepted that the body work on the later injection Minis is more prone to rust, due to poorer materials/cost cutting.

Not saying don't buy one, just that all the above advice still applies even though they are the 'youngest' ones out there.

#7 Cooperman

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Posted 12 August 2020 - 03:46 PM

In my experience the later the Mini the more prone they are to rust. Rover were in a dire financial situation in the 1990's and skimped on both rust protetion and quality control.

There is no easy solution to the rust issues, but the best advice is to take someone who has done some Mini body restorations with you as they will know exactly where to check. If, for example, a vendor will not allow you to lift the rear bin liners to check, then walk away.

A now-funny incident was when my then16-year old son (he's 46 now!) wanted his first car and chose to have a Mini (this was in 1990) he wanted to find and view one himself, having been working with me on cars since he was about 6 years old. 

He found a 998 which was about 7 years old and spoke to the vendor. He was assured, or rather promised, that it was totally rust-free, but he asked me to go with him as he needed transport to get there. The vendor showed him the car and I sort-of kept quiet. My son asked "Is there any rust". "No", said the vendor, "None anywhere".  He was very p****d-off when I poked a small screwdriver, which I had hidden in my hand, right through the boot floor next to the sub-frame rear mounts. It went right through the hidden filler! The vendor got quite grumpy with me and I had to give him 'words of advice'.  It was a no-sale.

Possibly the best way to find a good 'un is to ask people on here. We are a friendly bunch (in the main) and like to help. If you can find someone in your area to go with you, or buy a car known to one of us where we have done the restoration ourselves, then you will get a good result. I have to say that the guy who bought my Innocenti 1300 Cooper Export a few years ago got a totally rust-free and correct car in every way, but it was not cheap, just a fair price.

It has been said that the only way to be totally sure is to buy one in known poor condition and do a restoration yourself. 

I bought a 1990 Cooper 1275 just over a year ago, but it was a car which I had built for rallying, later sold and it ended up with a friend of mine who had neglected it a bit. I have now done the necessary body repairs plus a full re-paint. In total it stands me in at around £4200 and will shortly be put back on the road.

Sorry for the long posts, but you need to know all the issues and how to overcome possible big issues.  Feel free to ask any further questions either on this thread or by PM-ing me. Perhaps someone needs to pin a list of body check areas for those intending to buy a Mini, complete with photos. Any volunteers? 


Edited by Cooperman, 12 August 2020 - 03:48 PM.


#8 Paps

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Posted 13 August 2020 - 11:55 AM

Thank you all for your comments. The long posts are very helpful and provide important information for newcomers like me. I’m very great full for the input.

Edited by Paps, 13 August 2020 - 11:58 AM.


#9 Paps

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Posted 13 August 2020 - 07:38 PM

Cooper man I forgot to ask the Cooper you have just done up is that on itself going to be a sale car or one to keep please. I have sent a PM. Thank you.

#10 hulsmeier

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Posted 14 August 2020 - 09:09 PM

I own a Monte Carlo. To echo the comments above, I am half way through a full rebuild on panels, I regret getting a 90s mini. But then again, there was only 200 built (160 red and 40 black I believe), I'd like to think that will make them more sought after. My advice would be to have a good look at the body work, mine was worse due to poor workmanship on previous repairs by previous owners. 



#11 and90cooper

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Posted 14 August 2020 - 09:48 PM

Have a look at a Japanese import-Lots of people say they are immaculate body wise

#12 surfblue

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Posted 15 August 2020 - 10:42 AM

I own a Monte Carlo. To echo the comments above, I am half way through a full rebuild on panels, I regret getting a 90s mini. But then again, there was only 200 built (160 red and 40 black I believe), I'd like to think that will make them more sought after. My advice would be to have a good look at the body work, mine was worse due to poor workmanship on previous repairs by previous owners. 

They are one of the nicest of the LE minis. I remember lusting after one when they came out but I couldnt afford one then.






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