23 replies to this topic

[MaxAndPaddy]

Seems alot of money to me ...but then what do I know?

[surfblue63]

Neither of those car represent good value for money. At those prices they should be near perfect and they are both far from it.

On the outside the Mk1 has got Mk2 door handles, the rear number plate holder should be black and the boot badges are too far up the boot lid. Also the bootlid doesn't look quite right, it maybe a Mk3 lid that has been modified. On the inside , the lower dash should be vinyl covered, the oil pressure gauge is the wrong type, the gear lever is the wrong type, it shouldn't have courtesy light switches in the door pillars and the window catches should be the black plastic ones. But for me the worst thing about the interior is the recovered seats, the just look wrong. Under the bonnet the fresh air heater pipe is missing. I know it's been restored and I might be being picky, but at £7995 for a Mk1 Delux, it could, and should be better.

The Mk2 Cooper looks like it's worth about £6,000. The outside doesn't look bad but the door gaps at the rea and bottom of the doors look a bit iffy, and that rubber aerial has got to go. On the inside that dash is horrible, it is far to modern for a 1960's car, and whats going on with the door cards, they look like poor repros that have been fitted upside down. Also the stereo should be hidden somewhere, preferrably in the dustbin. In the engine bay again the heater hose is missing and I don't like the modern rocker box. It also looks like it good do with a good clean to get rid of all the bodyshop dust!

So for me they are both overpriced and need some detail work to put them right.

[surfblue63]

PS Looks like they have cleaned the engine bay on the Mk2 from your pics Max.

Just noticed something else on the Mk1, it has a Mk2 centre binnacle, note it has no screws on the front. Also both cars are missing the rear radius arm covers.

Here's a couple of pics of my '63 Austin for comparison.

Note the screws in the binnacle and the bent gear lever


This is how the seats should look


and heres the back showing the position of the badges

Edited by surfblue63, 06 May 2012 - 04:36 PM.

[MaxAndPaddy]

Thanks surf!!....I'm a novice on these cars but to me they looked over-restored and hurried, and compared to your car cheap and tacky!

I didnt go to look to buy, it was more of a learning curve, I wanted to compare the two. Surprisingly I came away prefering the Mk2 Cooper ...food for thought!

Im worried that if I dont bite the bullet and stretch to a Cooper S I'l never be happy with what I have, having said that the Innocentis and the original Coopers are pretty darn special

It all comes down to money keeping in mind I am selling Gus this year

My bottom line has got to be if the '**** hit the shovel' whats my money (I know I know within reason) safer in....plus can I beat the bank

[surfblue63]

I've been looking for the right Cooper for a few years, but the last two times I was looking I got distracted by my '63 Austin and my '68 Mk2 Traveller. Mk1,2 and 3 Cooper prices are now getting to daft levels that my next car will not be one as you can have just as much fun with a car with a square front end costing a lot less.

I see you would really like an S, would you be prepared to sell off you existing cars for one, because a decent one will cost at least £12,000 for a Mk2, more for a decent Mk1!

[MaxAndPaddy]

Thats our dilemma....Max we wouldnt part with hes just amazing but he isnt the kind of mini you hit the back roads and have fun with. Paddy is my toy 90bhp 1 of only 25 John Cooper Le S Works and I adoreeeee him to drive

To push for an 'S' he'd have to go aswell as Gus

[surfblue63]

Looks like it's a 998 Cooper for you or a modded Mk1 or Mk2 non Cooper.

[MaxAndPaddy]

Or Dicky ......http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/1969-austin-mini-1000-mk2-to-cooper-s-monte-carlo-rally-spec

What do ya reckon Surf?

Edited by MaxAndPaddy, 06 May 2012 - 06:02 PM.

[surfblue63]

Most of my views on claimed Works replicas can not be published on the forum. Why not just say it's a rally car. That car looks OK and for the estimated price looks very good value for money as it probably cost a lot more to build. If I was in the market for something to use on rallies this could be worth buying, but the car would need to have the roof painted black and the bonnet stripes and roof rack removed.