27 replies to this topic

[mini-luke]

As the name might suggest, it is (was, it is also rusty brown now!) a gun metal grey '95 cooper

Looked ok in the pics but delve deeper and there were a few ''interesting'' repairs





That'll explain why the window was a little stiff...



The other door had been ''repaired'' too




Bootlid had received similar treatment too after I removed the numberplate





Removed the rear bumper and the valance came along too, someone had siliconed it to rust




Lip looking distinctly grotty too



Looks rather sorry for itself

Edited by mini-luke, 21 February 2013 - 02:59 PM.

[OfMini&Men]

Nice R53 you got there :) nice classic too.

[Gunmetalmini]

Nice R53 you got there :) nice classic too.

Thankyou,well hopefully when Luke's finished with it it'll be a little beauty again!!many hidden bodges and some Blue Peter wiring gone on in that little car but will be better than ever once it's finished!

[mini-luke]

It can only improve!

[mercenary62]

love the number plate FEC mate top work so far

[hoody99]

Aw well now its stripped the real fun can begin he he get the grinder out

[Gunmetalmini]

Grinders bein let loose today as far as I know,ordered a load of panels yesterday so the work now begins!!cant wait to get him back on the road ready for some summer shows hopefully!

[mini-luke]

I haven't updated this in a while as dismantling things doesn't make for very good pics. Can I just say, whoever decided it was a good idea to make shear bolts on the steering column mandatory should be made to remove 10 mini pedal boxes!

So, first things first I welded up the door as it had cracked




Only joking, that certainly wasn't me - some people really shouldn't be allowed to operate power tools though!

De-skinned the doors, this lot was floating around in the bottom



Scuttle was rotten around the windscreen seal and under the wing



So, off with the scuttle



Started cutting the rot out and replacing some metal as making holes was getting rather depressing!





The inner wings are also being replaced as the front halves have been replaced extremely badly after an front on accident, the replacements were 1/2'' out!




The other ends aren't much better



This is going to be fun to repair too, rust has got under the cross member seam and rotted the bulkhead out in places

[mini-luke]

Lets just say Chris has spent a fair few quid on panels in the past week!

[Gunmetalmini]

Yes this is true and a fair few more quid to come I'm sure!what I've got to remember is ill be keeping another little mini on the road and that's what counts!:) also I must already thank Luke for his work he seems a very talented young man and also very helpfull!can't wait to see this little FEC coming together!!

Edited by Gunmetalmini, 02 March 2013 - 07:45 PM.

[mini-luke]

what I've got to remember is ill be keeping another little mini on the road and that's what counts!

If you look at the first pic you could argue it's gone downhill somewhat since then!

[Gunmetalmini]

Yeah to be fair is what u could call mutton dressed as lamb in this case mutton being old and very haggered!!she will soon be a lamb once again!

[Gunmetalmini]

I can't lie though I'm quite shocked at the neglect this cars had,some people don't deserve these little classics!

[AndrewMini]

looks to be quite a decent project. i wish mine was in this condition when i started, not a bodged and rusted car

[Gunmetalmini]

looks to be quite a decent project. i wish mine was in this condition when i started, not a bodged and rusted car

How bad was yours in comparison?i feel this is bad but I do know minis normally have hidden horrors if never bin properly restored,this has had a fair bit of bodging!any pics of yours on here?always good to see a good restoration.