31 replies to this topic

[milton80]

Don’t buy cheap! Will bite you in the bum in the long run.. you will be amazed at what a bit of paint/filler can hide (trust me, learning the hard way!)

[soutermcgavin]

I have found these on marketplace, near where I live. 

 

Marketplace – 1989 Austin Mini | Facebook

 

Marketplace – 1991 MINI Cooper | Facebook

 

Marketplace – 1990 Rover Mini | Facebook

 

 

Any thoughts on these?

Edited by soutermcgavin, 27 July 2023 - 11:19 AM.

[IronmanG]

I have found these on marketplace, near where I live.

Marketplace – 1989 Austin Mini | Facebook

Marketplace – 1991 MINI Cooper | Facebook

Marketplace – 1990 Rover Mini | Facebook


Any thoughts on these?

I was talking to the last one. Comes across well. Does look good. Long way for me though. Think he MOT it recently

[beardylondon]

The first one looks to be very messed around with, plus no interior pics, suspicious, but he does say mice eat it.

 

Second one also messed with a lot, on 10s, not 12s and big old seats.

 

As above, third one looks least messed with, odd interior, looks like later seats. Also racing flame checkmates were never blue. It could be a respray, or a ringer.  The fact it comes back as green on a vehicle check, I think might be a ringer, someone has used another shell and racing flame logbook.  This could explain the seats, they say metro seats lined with real leather, cant see any leather? I think they have removed the headrests and put those covers on, to hide that it is a later shell.  Engine bay would be a good indicator, ask for a pic of it, and post it here. use https://imgbb.com/

 

 

remember to tell insurance of any mods on anything you buy.

 

picture to url

Edited by beardylondon, 27 July 2023 - 12:19 PM.

[soutermcgavin]

Thanks for all the great feedback. The 1st one is the look that I really like but I appreciate it is not to everyone's taste. Will avoid the 2nd one.

 

If the body is rust free on the 1st one, would everything else be easily resolved? I worry that it hasn't been MOT'd since 2017, but he says it has been dry stored for the last 4 years. He mentions it was painted black, but there is some bubbling, does that indicate rust?

 

The 3rd one does seem the most sound but I will look into the points raised above.

Edited by soutermcgavin, 27 July 2023 - 12:28 PM.

[sonscar]

In the loosest most basic form:bubbles indicate rust which leads to project.It could be just poor paint prep: 5K respray?.Do not pay too much for a poorly presented vehicle.Difficult but try to be objective and assume every seller is trying to rob you until otherwise proven.Not everyone is a robber but some robbers appear very honest.Good hunting,Steve..

[some1158]

Although the DVLA record for the last one says green, it may well just be that it was resprayed in the restoration and no-one updated the DVLA. It's absolutely right to ask the seller, and to be cautious, as ringing/reshelling does happen, but it may be legitimate. Have a very close look and ask the seller.

 

Clearly though there is very little left of the original Racing Green spec there!

 

The Harris Tweed seats won't have been cheap. That does suggest that a reasonable sum was spent on the resto.

[stuart bowes]

..some robbers appear very honest...

 

in fairness I think it doesn't necessarily have to be bad intentions as such, people just tend to think their pride and joy is worth more than perhaps it is, rose tinted glasses or whatever 

 

if you don't want a project definitely try and steer clear of anything bubbling around the edges - there's plenty of fresh rebuilds out there, you just need to find a true complete rebuild with pictures to prove it and be willing to pay for it .  that way you're more likely to get 10-15 years of easy ownership with only basic mechanical repairs and maintenance required, and you can tinker with cosmetic changes to your hearts content without fear of taking something off and a whole panel just crumbles away behind it, bolts will come undone easy without snapping off, and so on  

Edited by stuart bowes, 27 July 2023 - 03:55 PM.

[IronmanG]

I have noticed there are a lot on Facebook marketplace today coming up at 6k that look better than that. Then messaging brings up an automatic reply. Watch for the odd scam out there

[beardylondon]

It’s got opening rear windows and chrome handles all round (originally would have had fixed rear windows and black handles), yes easy to change, but another clue that it’s not a racing / flame / checkmate base. my guess is it’s a later shell and running gear.
Ask for photo of vin and engine bay, and the dash has not been photographed either which I find odd.
I could be completely wrong, just ask loads of questions.
Ask if they have receipts for respray, ask what colour it is, if genuine, this will be forthcoming as they would have spent loads and be proud of it, if not, red flag!

Although the DVLA record for the last one says green, it may well just be that it was resprayed in the restoration and no-one updated the DVLA. It's absolutely right to ask the seller, and to be cautious, as ringing/reshelling does happen, but it may be legitimate. Have a very close look and ask the seller.

Clearly though there is very little left of the original Racing Green spec there!

The Harris Tweed seats won't have been cheap. That does suggest that a reasonable sum was spent on the resto.

Edited by beardylondon, 27 July 2023 - 05:36 PM.

[soutermcgavin]

Thank for all of the great advice.

 

I think I need to step back and take some time to research. I Have watched some videos of what to look for, common problems, different specs etc. and I am getting a clearer idea of what I want.

 

I think i would prefer a 1275 as opposed to a 998 and I think the older carb version as opposed to the fuel injection. 

 

Any thoughts on that?

[stuart bowes]

opinions are divided, there's pro's and cons to each

 

best thing would be google search "1275 vs 998" and get reading, see which side of the argument you feel suits you better

 

from what I understand the 998 is the revvier cheaper option and probably more fun on the twisty roads, whereas the 1275 has more torque and probably better for long run motorway driving ?  but both can be tuned to perform however you like and obviously it depends on final drive ratios as well (and other variables)

 

others will no doubt disagree and/or have their own preferences and experiences on the matter

 

regardless of all that personally I would still focus on bodywork condition because its easier to swap the engine if you want more power than it is to get rid of rot (I'm working on the assumption you are old enough and have enough no claims that insurance isn't an issue)

Edited by stuart bowes, 28 July 2023 - 09:52 AM.

[soutermcgavin]

Thanks for that. Yes, I am 44 so not concerned about the insurance side of things. Lots of research to do but glad to get started.

[stuart bowes]

cool, it's just part of the argument is, it's cheaper on insurance to buy an as-built 1275 than it is to put a 1275 engine in a previously-998 car.  due to it being a 'substantial modification' haha (what, like 20 extra horsepower lol)

 

but anyway that shouldn't make much difference to you then

[Icey]

cool, it's just part of the argument is, it's cheaper on insurance to buy an as-built 1275 than it is to put a 1275 engine in a previously-998 car. due to it being a 'substantial modification' haha (what, like 20 extra horsepower lol)

but anyway that shouldn't make much difference to you then

Never had an issue with insurance, couple of quid maybe but nothing significant. It took more to explain the turboed 998 than the 1275 swap.