18 replies to this topic

[hustybusty]

Hi,

 

Started a new project this weekend. Found a 1974 Morris Mini 1000 that's in pretty good order. Plan is to take it back to original.

 

IMG_0930.JPG by hustybusty, on Flickr

 

I have a V5 and no keys, and from what I have googled it was first registered local in Exeter. Log book says Green but its had a respray at some point.

 

Shell is in great condition, It has spaces on all 4 drums and arches which I don't think it should have. Interior is fairly original, drivers seat knackered, others OK, and someone's put speakers and cassette player in.

IMG_0936.JPG by hustybusty, on Flickr

IMG_0938.JPG by hustybusty, on Flickr

 

 

 

It came with its original engine which apparently was rebuilt, but jumps out of 1st gear, and it also came with a 1275gt engine complete with carbs, tempting, but I want to go original so I can use that for the next project.

 

First plans are to drop the subframes, strip the shell, and get it all to the sandblasters to see how much is actually left. Then I want to plug up the arch holes and do any work needed to the rest of it.

 

The respray is  everywhere, struggling to find some green for a reference to what it should be. I did some research and thought Tundra was the only green available but looking at the bulkhead it looks a light shade (If that's the colour and not a greeny primer)

DSC09141.JPG by hustybusty, on Flickr

Edited by hustybusty, 17 June 2013 - 04:58 PM.

[Ben_O]

Looks like a good find. Seems solid enough but you never can tell until you start poking around.

That other colour on the bulk head looks like the primer to me as it looks very similar to the original primer I found on the underside of mine after I stripped all of the bitumen underseal off! Having said that though I would have expected to see the original green paint before the primer but it could just be newer primer over the green perhaps.

You might be able to determine the original colour by carefully flatting back the red paint with 800 wet and dry until you find the original colour then polish it up with some cutting compound, that's assuming that the green wasn't removed before the re-spray??

 

Ben

[HarrysMini]

If it's 1974 then it won't be a Morris Mini. It would have been made my BL. You can tell from the badge as well :)

Looks like a god project though. Good luck.

[Sprite the little rascel]

Looks like it will be a great project nice to hear you want to make it as original as possible, will be watching for up dates, good luck.   

[hustybusty]

That's a good idea about cutting the paint back - thanks. I thought it was BL reign but its got Morris on the Logbook, and the numbers match. Wonder why that is? The arches aren't right either so I wonder if they have come off a different shell, or maybe different shell altogether. Shell looks about right age with gutter rail, window etchings etc.

[Wakey-Dan]

Nice to see someone starting out with a nice find and good intentions for a change. Ill be following this one and looking forward to the progress.

[domdee]

lovely base for a project. cant get enough of the mk3's

hopefully the origional colour is tundra green!

[domdee]

If it's 1974 then it won't be a Morris Mini. It would have been made my BL. You can tell from the badge as well :)

Looks like a god project though. Good luck.

my 74 n reg mini was morris on the log book too

[hustybusty]

Weird with the log book, I'm liking the look of the mk3 too. Chap I bought it off rang to say he found the keys. Good job I didn't punish any of the locks yet

[HarrysMini]

The names changed so frequently that they are all over the place. My 1982 City says Austin Morris on the logbook.

The only way you can really tell is by looking at the years and then learning about the years of manufacture.

[hustybusty]

I've spent more time on Google looking at colours than I have the car. I've found a green (almost blue) behind the sound deadening on rear quaters and top dash rail, but from what I have found its not a 1974 colour. I've found a darker green that looks like Tundra under the deadening on the roof.

Gayden tell me Longbridge stopped recording information about Mini's in 1969, so no luck there. I wrote to the previous owner in Brixham (Had a photocopy of V5), and although she was delighted to hear her first car was getting some love, she told me it was Orange in 1985 when she brought it.

To make things more interesting the Doors are etched with another reg number. I did a car check on that its comes back as a gold 1972 Mini from up country. I've found behind the air vent some Gold remnants welded in, plus in the car was two sections of the rear quarters, in gold, cut out, and a gold rear number plate light. Boot lock stamped 74 as with electric motor. One side door lock lever stamped 74, the other 71. I'm wondering how many Mini's have gone into this one over its life.

So I've applied for the Logbook, and asked for owners details from DVLA which some people say they will give.

As for the car, carrying on stripping down.  Started stripping the engine as it needs doing and it will make it lighter for me to lift off the sub frame so that can get blasted with the shell. Bores look good, turns over easily by hand. Rocker cover and radiator look to be Copper?

image by hustybusty, on Flickr

IMG_1111.JPG by hustybusty, on Flickr

IMG_1112.JPG by hustybusty, on Flickr

IMG_1114.JPG by hustybusty, on Flickr

IMG_1044.JPG by hustybusty, on Flickr

IMG_1045.JPG by hustybusty, on Flickr

IMG_1046.JPG by hustybusty, on Flickr

IMG_1001.JPG by hustybusty, on Flickr

[hustybusty]

Dismantled the engine tonight. Flywheel came off nicely, but to reveal the idler gear has had a wobbly and destroyed itself and the housing. Main bearings look good though, as do bores.

 

IMG_1125.JPG by hustybusty, on Flickr

 

IMG_1126.JPG by hustybusty, on Flickr

[tedmcedd]

Nice to hear it will be preserved as original.

The other 70's green that was available alongside tundra, was mallard green.

As for the logbook. My Mk3 '71 is down as Austin mini on the logbook so.....

Ed.

[jagman.2003]

Good find. Difficult to comment on colour. My MK3 has a greenish primer under the white. Also it wouldn't be the first mini to have doors & other panels from a less corroded vehicle. Good luck with the build. I think the MK3 has a good balance of classic looks & modern enough technology to get by.

[hustybusty]

Good find. Difficult to comment on colour. My MK3 has a greenish primer under the white.

That would explain the aqua like colour. Oh we'll, still waiting for previous owners from the dvla.

And as for mallard green, I'd much prefer it to be that over tundra.

As for progress I had a spar hs2 which I'd already stripped and cleaned so spent ages bead blasting It all to find the hs2 on this mini is very slightly different such as the idle adjustment. It wouldn't be all the world, but I might as well make one accurate one out of the two.

Engines on hold as father in law reckons he has an a+ series missing its head left out in the rain which I could Minch gearbox, idler gear and flywheel housing off - it would be a cheap way to do it but again, it's not going to be accurate for the year of car.