7 replies to this topic

[Keith RM.]

    Hello Everyone who has heard this rusty Mini story

a thousand times before.

 

   I bought my 1978 Mini 1000 new and drove it 110,000 miles

with absolutely no issues. She was dead reliable.

  She has been rusty merrily away in my garage for 32 years

and before I'm too decrepit , it's time to sort her out.

 

  It has been good news and bad news.

Most of the bad news is about rust. I know it's a common story.

 

The good news is that I'm being constantly amazed at the good

condition of the mechanical components . 

 

  Engine has decent compression ( 125 lbs.@ all four) and she

starts and idles well after a carb and ignition cleaning.

 

  Clutch was frozen so I took it apart and the clutch plate looks

decent.

 

  Front subframe looks solid.  Rear subframe has been re-constructed.

 

The brakes are a mess.

 

  Being in Canada, I haven't  decided on a source for spares yet.

I'm hoping that importing them directly from Britain will work best.

 

  This is going to be a long job but I'm used to this sort of work.

 

Should be fun !  Cheers! Keith R. Morgan.

 

  

  

  

[slidehammer]

Good luck with project, it has a great back story as you have had it from new.

Parts wise Mini Spares ship world wide and I think Mini Sport have an American branch, which might save you on shipping.

[mab01uk]

Also 'MiniMania' stock a wide range of classic Mini parts in the USA:-

https://www.minimania.com/Company.cfm

 

 

 

[Quinlan minor]

Welcome, Keith.

It's good to hear of any Mini being restored to its former glory, but especially one that is still with its original Owner.

If you decide to import parts from Mini Spares, it'd be well worth upgrading your Membership to TMF +.

The 7.5% discount will save you a significant amount before the car is back to its best.

Edited by Quinlan minor, 17 November 2025 - 08:32 AM.

[Blumeanie]

Congratulations and welcome! - A one owner mini is not very common.

Please post pics and progress here. We can always provide encouragement if not some helpful tips.

Best of luck!

Someone asked how long I've had my mini. I heard myself say '26 years'!  I had not thought of my years of mini ownership until that question and I was a bit surprised...

[Landie]

Hi and Welcome.

I am in BC, Mini spares and Mini Sport both ship to Canada but it is quite expensive. you won't pay import duty as they are classified as antique car parts but you will pay GST and PST. I wouldn't use Mini mania as they get their parts from either Mini spares or Mini sport mark it up and sell it on. The shipping costs from the States is the same as from the UK but you are paying a higher price for the parts so it is no advantage ordering from the States. I ordered from Mini mania once and after waiting over 2 months I cancelled it and people from the US have also not said many nice things about them.

There is someone in BC who imports parts and seems to be reasonably priced I am about to get a couple of tyres and a new rad from him. Shipping again would be a factor and you know how reliable Canada post is, it would take longer than ordering from the UK.

 

https://classicminimotors.com/

 

His website is not very good but he is very helpful and a nice guy called Craig.I have emailed him and talked to him on the phone.

Good Luck with your Mini.

[Keith RM.]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement !

 

  I'm making progress against the rust with my mighty

4" angle grinder, cutting wheels and a wire feed welder. 

 

   Much to do even without easy access to spares.

It's all dirty work and nothing romantic about it.

 

   Something I need to be careful of is that this 

is a well worn path for the experienced people here

in the Mini Forum.  I want to tell what I'm doing 

without sounding like I know much or that my 

solutions are the best solutions.

   

  After a month of work on the rear subframe

I definitely recommend just buying a new one

if it is reasonable to obtain.

 

Fun Fun FUN!

 

Cheers! - K.

 

 

 

 

Attached Files

•  Rear Subframe Rust Web.jpg   117.45K   0 downloads
•  Rear Subframe after WEB.jpg   249.13K   0 downloads

[Keith RM.]

  I especially want to thank everyone

for taking the time to let me know of

parts sources. 

 

I will be following your leads.

 

Thank you very much!