6 replies to this topic

[Algordo1100]

So I'm going to be in the UK for possibly another year. Plans change, stuff happens. I will be going home to Queensland eventually and there's no point complaining. Any who...

It seems it may be more difficult than expected to register my 1996 SPi Mini in Australia if I take it home with me.
So, as much as I love it, I've been thinking of swapping it for another, earlier classic. (Easier to register)
There's always an earlier Mini, but I've always had a soft spot for the ADO16.
I've never had one so I don't know what they are like to live with. I know they share mini engines and gearboxes in 1100 and 1275 form, there's loads of versions thanks to BMC badge engineering (Morris, Austin, Woolsey etc). I know they all have hydrolastic suspension and disc brakes up front and I know they, like a mini, like to rust. But that's about it.

Has anyone had one? They were everywhere at one point so they must be a good little car (when not being beaten with a branch by Basil Fawlty)

[mab01uk]

They are great cars and reasonable price compared to Minis.......if you can find a good one, but they rust even worse than Minis and replacement panels are of course harder to find.

Some Mini owners on the Mk1 forum also have ADO16's and so worth asking there also, they have a special section on the Mk1 forum:-

http://mk1-forum.net...wforum.php?f=28

Edited by mab01uk, 10 March 2020 - 12:50 PM.

[Stevie W]

I've owned 3 of these over my time, in fact my first 3 cars after passing my test were ADO16's!

I had a Mk1 1100 in Trafalgar blue as my first, which was involved in an accident and written off sadly.
The 2nd one was red Mk2 1300 GT which was rather ropey but still fun to drive!
Last one was Mk3 1300 in white which was the best of the 3 to be honest!

They are very like Minis, they're fun to drive and corner well and the hydrolastic suspension is very comfortable even by modern standards!

There are loads of badge engineered versions including the Vanden plas, MG, Wolseley and Riley Kestrel alongside the Austin/Morris models.

Yes, they rust like fury but get hold of a good one that's been looked after or a restored one and you won't regret it! Mechanicals are all very similar to the Mini and therefore there are lots of performance engine bits for that extra speed. Theres a guy in America that has a modified ADO16 which seems very fast and fun to drive, he has a few videos on youtube.

They do fetch good money for a nice one and the Riley Kestrel & Vanden plas models are the poshest with the 1300 gt the rarest! I've always wanted a Wolseley 1300....still looking if I'm honest!

Cheers, Steve.

Edited by Stevie W, 18 March 2020 - 08:14 PM.

[Algordo1100]

I've been having a little look on t'interwebs and it seems reasonable examples are good value classics.

I wonder how hard it is to source bits.

[Cooperman]

In the late 1960's I used to car share on a 30-mile-each-way commute with a friend who had an Austin 1300. It was a great little car and went well. 

The ride was excellent and it did hold the road and handle well.

As already said, rust and more rust was the big issue. 

With the Mini, it was the rear sub-frame which used to rust. With the ADO16 it was the rear sub-frame mountings, so fixing that was very expensive and that is why so few have survived.

[AndrewT]

What is the age cut off date where it starts getting difficult to import? I took a 1980 mini into QLD a few years ago and it was no hassle at all.

[Algordo1100]

What is the age cut off date where it starts getting difficult to import? I took a 1980 mini into QLD a few years ago and it was no hassle at all.

What scheme did you use to import? 1989 or older is it's own class of import and less stringent on safety rules. SEVS scheme is no good for a 1996 spi as they have no air bag, so 1995 latest or an mpi, 97 on (with airbag), no 1996 spi minis allowed without serious mods. (All from my research, I could be wrong).

It might be doable on personal import but trying to find all relevant information isn't easy.

I do know that a pre 89 vehicle is going to be easiest to take home
(And you can't ring it and wing it like you see in the USA, 80's mayfairs with 60's identities.= Ringerdingding

https://www.ebay.com...pQAAOSwdX1eb9Yu

They are on to that shiz in Oz. An SPI with an earlier vin illegaly glued on won't fool 'em. They check for original items or 'period ' modifications.) [Not that I would do that anyway]

Edited by Algordo1100, 17 March 2020 - 10:42 PM.