10 replies to this topic

[Spencer1969]

Hi All.

Hope you’ve had a good week and enjoying Friday night. I have a project that I’m just about to start and happy to hear your opinions on it.

I’ve always loved Mini’s and I’m going to start a project soon on a mini that I’ve had in storage for about 20 years. Now I’m not very mechanically minded, so although I’m happy to tackle the smaller elements, the larger items - bodywork / engine etc - I’ll need an expert to undertake these

My plan is to strip the car and then send the bodywork off to be repaired. Firstly who would you guys recommend and secondly how far do I need to strip it? I assume once I’ve decided who to send it to, they’ll let me know how far to strip it, for example leave as a running shell, or competently strip and strap it to a panel for transportation.

Once bodywork is done, I’ll then send the engine off for treatment. Again who would you recommend and how far do I strip it down? Probably, again, this will depend of who I send it too.

Any other top tips out there?

Excited to be starting this after such a long wait.

[absx2]

Hi there, I`m guessing there is sentimental value to this car or maybe it`s a rare model ?

 

It would be beneficial to show pictures or at least tell us what age and model it is to help you with opinions.

 

You not being mechanically minded is a bit of a worry but if you managed to complete your goal you certainly would be at the end of it.

 

I really hate to put a damper on things but I would always recommend anyone to just buy the best condition mini they can and just enjoy it as restorations that are passed on to third parties are very very expensive and quite often second rate causing a lot of heartache.

 

On the other hand if you have the time, space and fancy some evening classes it can be fun and rewarding, I took 8 years to do a clubman Estate and it was in excellent condition to start with. I just did a bit now and then when I felt like it and I had no deadlines in place.

I eventually sold it in better than brand new condition for about the same price as it cost me and I worked in a body shop and build my own engines !

[eric67]

I can recommend Mill Road garage on the Isle of Wight. Ben is a wizard with bodywork and also has contacts for engine building if required so could no doubt do as much of your project as needed.

Edited by eric67, 26 July 2025 - 09:40 AM.

[Spencer1969]

Hi there, I`m guessing there is sentimental value to this car or maybe it`s a rare model ?

It would be beneficial to show pictures or at least tell us what age and model it is to help you with opinions.

You not being mechanically minded is a bit of a worry but if you managed to complete your goal you certainly would be at the end of it.

I really hate to put a damper on things but I would always recommend anyone to just buy the best condition mini they can and just enjoy it as restorations that are passed on to third parties are very very expensive and quite often second rate causing a lot of heartache.

On the other hand if you have the time, space and fancy some evening classes it can be fun and rewarding, I took 8 years to do a clubman Estate and it was in excellent condition to start with. I just did a bit now and then when I felt like it and I had no deadlines in place.
I eventually sold it in better than brand new condition for about the same price as it cost me and I worked in a body shop and build my own engines !

Thank you for your response and the words of encouragement .

I’m doing it for me, not to ever sell it, so I’m sure it’ll take time, but I’m fine with that.

Edited by Spencer1969, 26 July 2025 - 02:06 PM.

[Spencer1969]

I can recommend Mill Road garage on the Isle of Wight. Ben is a wizard with bodywork and also has contacts for engine building if required so could no doubt do as much of your project as needed.

Thank you for your response.

[cal844]

Things get very expensive very quickly for engine and respray work, especially if you go into panel fitting and rotten floors etc.

Have a word with a paint shop and engine builder about showing you the ropes on how it's done, as thier apprentice so to speak.

I'm in the trade as a preper, I get my vehicles done how the painter wants them, he double checks my work, even after me doing my job for 25 years

Edited by cal844, 26 July 2025 - 10:00 PM.

[Cooperman]

To give an example of the man hours, I bought a 1990 Cooper in poor condition. I had previously owned it and it had been sadly neglected.
The body rebuild took me almost 50 hours, the full engine rebuild another 25 hours. A friend who likes gearboxes did that for £275. I painted it myself which took 18 man hours although it was actually a bit more as my Grandson helped me.
That’s 93 hours without the fitting up, doing the brakes and suspension bushes, etc,
So say around 110 hours at whatever rate you can get. That’s without parts and paint.

[Bobbins]

Do you have a budget ....?

[sonscar]

We all know the budget is arrived at by "man maths"and is almost never realistic.Paying to do it all could easily swallow £25K.Steve..

[beardylondon]

Interesting. So assuming a garage labour rate is £70 per hour, that’s over £7k.
We all know Restos don’t make their money back, but you’d have to be given the car for pretty much peanuts to make financial sense! But as I well know, us Mini lovers don’t care about it making sense, it the fun and the challenge!
Steve is spot on with £25k, it’s all gone a bit bonkers really.

To give an example of the man hours, I bought a 1990 Cooper in poor condition. I had previously owned it and it had been sadly neglected.
The body rebuild took me almost 50 hours, the full engine rebuild another 25 hours. A friend who likes gearboxes did that for £275. I painted it myself which took 18 man hours although it was actually a bit more as my Grandson helped me.
That’s 93 hours without the fitting up, doing the brakes and suspension bushes, etc,
So say around 110 hours at whatever rate you can get. That’s without parts and paint.

Edited by beardylondon, 27 July 2025 - 10:10 AM.

[bpirie1000]

All depends what you want, what you have and what you are using the car for.

Show winners - will be a full, strip and paint topside and bottom end.
Usable car - keep it running patch it up and protect with wax and water repellant...
Race car - build it light and strip everything out to save weight.
Track/hill climber - spend masses on trick bits to chase seconds.

Either way, enjoy, take millions of photos for reference and label everything ..