24 replies to this topic

[frogeye]

Hi

 

I think I am posting this in the correct place, so, I have a project mini to do - it's an 89 30 year anniversary in black. My last classic was a frogeye sprite - hence name and avatar - and it was as near as I could get to original spec as I could get - not for show or that just for using. Now this mini doesn't appear to be historic or anything and I am doing it up as a keeper. I know I will end up spending far more than it will be worth, so making a profit isn't the game. Would I be making a mistake if I decided to make a few changes? Firstly the colour - black isn't my favourite colour but old english white is - there is a mini on this site that ticks all the boxes for me - white, black roof, black spats. There are no seats so i can choose here too - currently looking on ebay but I am in no rush. The dash is present but any suggestions on changes please. I would like it to look modern and understated. Any tips or photos would be appreciated.

Lee

[Spaceibiza]

You build the car to exactly how you want it to be. It's your car and most mini's are individual in some way!

[Tom Sanderson]

Try and find a mini that's hasn't been modified in any way! Unless it looks horrific it won't be worth any less anyway!

[DylPhil]

Zcar it haha

[lewBlew]

You say it isn't historic but if many more 30s and other special editions are modified in years to come then it will be both historic and rare! No cars started off being historic, it's only once the majority have been scrapped or modded that the ones left become special.

 

It annoys me when someone buys a nice original car and spend loads of money butchering it beyond all recognition, or turning it into yet another pretty mk1 lookalike. Soon there will be no original City's, Sprites and Mayfairs left...... maybe a good thing for the value of my car!!!

 

Of course, it is your money and your mini to do what you like with it. Just bear in mind there's one less Mini on the road as Austin/Rover intended it (whether that's a good or bad thing isn't for me to say!).

[frogeye]

I would say the Mini 30 is historic and a number of people have said it was one of the best special edition Minis ever. In fact it was the basis of the Cooper RSP and nobody in their right mind would want to modify an RSP, except with what was appropriate for the period and which could enhance the performance.

Anyone can do what they want with their car but there are more standard models that would make more suitable candidates.

It will get to the turning point, sooner rather than later, where all Minis are classic cars and where modifications could be as inappropriate as they would be to say a Jaguar E Type.

Many thanks for that, just the answer I was looking for - a reason to keep it original. This isn't a model I have gone out of my way to choose, I just happened upon it.

Far from butchering it I have saved if from a very uncertain future. I would guess that putting it back to near original would be far harder than mixing and matching. I have no

interior and I thought that the chances of getting a matching one would be limited to say the least. is that the case?

[lewBlew]

Interiors for 30s crop up every now and again so I wouldn't think it would be a difficult search. There is a set of seats on Ebay at the moment but they don't have the 30 badges and are a little overpriced. They are offered on here sometimes.

[frogeye]

Thanks for that. Once I have recovered from this flu I will re-assess my project.

I am not made of money and I can wait for the right kit to turn up as I have mucho work to do in the meantime.

If they are relatively plentiful as you say I will bide my time as storage will be an issue.

[Kieranlee999]

Keep it original :) mine original appart from a few suttle changes some done by me and then some from the previous owners (bodged) 

[creakyjaws5533]

Mines not original and I doubt it will be at any time soon it came modified already so I didn't want to put it back minis are about modifying them makes them more unique

[Guess-Works.com]

If you're restoring a car as an investment then it needs to be done to original specification.

 

If you're not really bothered about it's value then do to it what you want.

[rusty30]

Thanks for that. Once I have recovered from this flu I will re-assess my project.
I am not made of money and I can wait for the right kit to turn up as I have mucho work to do in the meantime.
If they are relatively plentiful as you say I will bide my time as storage will be an issue.

[rusty30]

I'm going to be selling front and rear 30 seats soon.

[sonikk4]

Please remember the selling rules.