13 replies to this topic

[1968cooper]

I have made a start on restoration of my 1966 Mini estate and hoping that writing a progress report may give me encouragement to persevere with the project.

She has not been on the road since 1986 and now is in quite a sorry state. I dragged her out of the shed and lifted her on to a box to aid subframe removal. I have stripped all the components off the frames and am in the process of cleaning and painting them

 

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[unburntfuelinthemorning]

Just keep at it and one day it'll be done.  I like the original raised letter number plates.

[1968cooper]

Just keep at it and one day it'll be done.  I like the original raised letter number plates.

Thank you for your wise words, I like the raised numbers and hopefully I can find the front plate to match, which should be around the farm somewhere. I purchased the car in 1972 and it was fitted with these reflective plates. I wonder vould it have had black plates when first registered or reflective as an option?

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

Now I wasn't around at the time but I've heard that yellow and white plates became widely fitted on new vehicles around 1965 C reg - it probably varied a lot depending on locality.  It wasn't a requirement until 1973 I believe but back then people were fitting mk2 rear lights to mk1 Minis for the modern look so if plates were replaced I imagine a lot would have fitted the new type. 

 

Black plates are often fitted to classics but a lot would have had yellow and black plates originally.  Pressed black plates with silver lettering are often used too when in many cases the ones with white plastic letters would be more correct.  Of course what is correct is one thing and personal preference is another.   My van is '79 and has plastic plates.  The front is the latest font which looks totally wrong.  I'd like to fit plates like your rear one as that is my preference but mine could have originally come with plastic, pressed metal or raised plastic letter plates.

[mini-mad-mark]

Trailer electrics coming out of the back door......

 

How does THAT work?

[1968cooper]

Trailer electrics coming out of the back door......

 

How does THAT work?

You have to smile at the things we did back in the day, it apeared the logical place at the time. I even notched the number plate to clear the tow ball  DSCN2690.JPG   49.7K   4 downloads  DSCN2691.JPG   68.16K   2 downloads

[mini-mad-mark]

I wondered how the cable got to the socket - makes sense when you see it.  

[minimissions]

Looking forward to seeing the progress on this do like a traveller. Whats your plans for this?

[1968cooper]

Looking forward to seeing the progress on this do like a traveller. Whats your plans for this?

My plan for now is to cut all the rusty metal away and see what I have left. I am looking to repair and fabricate rather than replace panels. My aim is to get the car in a usable condition while spending as little as possible. I have removed the engine, subframes and side doors. I have stripped and cleaned the subframes, they are in remarkably good condition considering the general state of her underside, I was expecting the rear frame in particular to be scrap but I think a wire brush and paint will be fine.

I have a problem with the car though that I am not sure how to tackle at the moment. Measuring the wheelbase the car appears to be 8mm to short also born out by the doors having no frame gap at the bottom, (in fact overlapping the A panel and rear quarter), I know why this is but its a long story.

Anyway I am hoping to have her on the road by the end of 2019 (a lot of work to do though)?

[minimissions]

 

Looking forward to seeing the progress on this do like a traveller. Whats your plans for this?

My plan for now is to cut all the rusty metal away and see what I have left. I am looking to repair and fabricate rather than replace panels. My aim is to get the car in a usable condition while spending as little as possible. I have removed the engine, subframes and side doors. I have stripped and cleaned the subframes, they are in remarkably good condition considering the general state of her underside, I was expecting the rear frame in particular to be scrap but I think a wire brush and paint will be fine.

I have a problem with the car though that I am not sure how to tackle at the moment. Measuring the wheelbase the car appears to be 8mm to short also born out by the doors having no frame gap at the bottom, (in fact overlapping the A panel and rear quarter), I know why this is but its a long story.

Anyway I am hoping to have her on the road by the end of 2019 (a lot of work to do though)?

 

I like the sound of that just get her back on the road where she belongs and get her used, I have to admit other than the underside she is in really good nick to be honest given the year.

I hope you sort the measurement issues out and I will be following this one.

[1968cooper]

I have done a bit more on Mini Estate restoration, removed the doors, glass and fuel tank, then rolled the car on its side onto an old mattress. I have started to cut out some of the rust. The rear subframe rear threaded plates broke away when I tried to remove the sheared bolts so I will have work out the best way to reinstate these.

 

 

 

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[tankertanker]

Great progress

[minimikej]

Yikes!

You're going to be busy :) But keep going.

I hope to resume work on my Traveler next week after my work dries up :/

Edited by minimikej, 20 April 2020 - 05:07 PM.

[Trav.al.er]

Just looking at these pics, interesting that there is what looks like a jacking point in the sill. Everything I've read and been told says the traveller's didn't have jacking opint in the sills. I've just bought new outer sills for mine from mini spares and they don't have the holes for them. Any comments will be very welcome.