3 replies to this topic

[jqquint]

Folks,

Been away from mini's for a couple of years (1275gt project for a nice sum too..), but i have the itch again now and want a new project..

I'm ideally after a 1275 project car (none cooper) but am thrown by value differences between 1000cc or 1275cc....

Would it be cheaper to by a 1000cc car and source a 1275 engine? OR a 1275 car from the outset...?

I guess what i'm saying is, is a 1275 engine by itself a cheaper option + a 1000c car?

I've seen a few examples with 1275 or 1298 engines fetching far far more money (£600+) than a 1000c car..surely the engines aren't worth that much more?

Thanks in advance for any guidance..

Jamie

[Big_Adam]

Got to remember at this point people don't make large numbers of blocks. So the 1275 is more often modified to larger specs and past a point you have to scrap the block. Couple that with the smaller engines being made in FAR larger numbers has lead to the 1275 being more expensive.

That said, I'm guessing you're mostly looking on ebay for these thing, and ebay truly sucks donkey parts for engines and people tend to pay over the odds for them on ebay, you'd be better off looking at shows and in the classified here for an engine, unless you want a whole car in which case a 1275 will be difficult to find but its a whole car so the cost is going to be about the same for a 1275stock as a 998etc. I'd guess anyway.

Anyway, I'd go small bore. More cheap parts, if anything goes wrong its not hard to find another one.

[jqquint]

Got to remember at this point people don't make large numbers of blocks. So the 1275 is more often modified to larger specs and past a point you have to scrap the block. Couple that with the smaller engines being made in FAR larger numbers has lead to the 1275 being more expensive.

That said, I'm guessing you're mostly looking on ebay for these thing, and ebay truly sucks donkey parts for engines and people tend to pay over the odds for them on ebay, you'd be better off looking at shows and in the classified here for an engine, unless you want a whole car in which case a 1275 will be difficult to find but its a whole car so the cost is going to be about the same for a 1275stock as a 998etc. I'd guess anyway.

Anyway, I'd go small bore. More cheap parts, if anything goes wrong its not hard to find another one.

thanks for the advice, yeah I have noticed ebay does get silly with prices, especially over 1275 !!!....

[Big_Adam]

Aye, eBay is a bit crap.

If you're set on a 1275 I'd try and find a basket case or one someone has already taken apart and rebuild it. If not go with a nice small bore and just floor it all the time for poops and giggles.