8 replies to this topic

[cobolman]

My Mk1 1960 Mini 850 De Luxe is currently at the paint shop and will soon be finished in resplendent tartan red, it's original colour.

So far, the car has been kept as original as possible with two major deviations:  The Mk1 floor footwells are no longer the original large size, and I've fitted seat belt mounting points.

I have replaced a few panels:  Cabin floor, boot floor, rear lower panel, rear valance, wheel tubs, rear quarter wings, doors, apex panels, front wings, front panel, left front inner wing, and both subframes.  In fact, almost everything from the waist rail down, except for the front bulkhead and right inner wing.

The car has it's original 850 engine with just over 70k miles on the clock (believed genuine) which has a reground crank and new bearings.

The car has cost me a fortune to get to the current state.  Though I had bought it as a gift for my wife, she doesn't want it and I now need to find the best way to move it on without it costing me too much.

The bodywork is now better than new and the paintwork is freshly applied it its original colour.  

So, my question: Which of the following options would net me the best monetary return (I don't mind spending a little more to get a better return):

1. Keep it original, including using as many original interior parts as possible
2. Keep it original but replace the interior
3. Change the engine to something like a 1275 to make the car more usable in modern traffic
4. Make the car a Cooper S Evocation
5. Something else (please clarify in your reply)

 

 

 

[Ethel]

It you don't need to move it on look in to renting it out. You're in a good part of the world for it. If you don't want to put in the work there'll be plenty of businesses you could try & partner with. Hotels & air bnbs could offer it as an extra, wedding photographers / car companies might like it as a self drive "just married" prop...

[sonscar]

The simple rule of thumb is you lose heavily on classic cars when you pay others.Get it finished as economically as you can and sell it.Just my experience,Steve..

[cobolman]

It you don't need to move it on look in to renting it out.

That's a great idea - and one I did some quick research on.  In the end, it's mostly the insurance that puts me off going down this route.  Thanks for a great fresh idea though.

[cobolman]

The simple rule of thumb is you lose heavily on classic cars when you pay others.Get it finished as economically as you can and sell it.Just my experience,Steve..

 

Regarding the loss on classic cars, your point is well taken. Your advice on selling my car chimes with my current thinking but I wondered whether an alternate route might be more profitable.

[mab01uk]

 

The simple rule of thumb is you lose heavily on classic cars when you pay others.Get it finished as economically as you can and sell it.Just my experience,Steve..

 

Regarding the loss on classic cars, your point is well taken. Your advice on selling my car chimes with my current thinking but I wondered whether an alternate route might be more profitable.

 

 

If you watch the TV series 'Bangers & Cash - Restoring Classics' it does show that even when the 'experts' try various 'alternative routes' to be more profitable, it nearly always leaves them with a significant loss for their investment in parts and labour....however the eventual buyer who wins the car auctioned at the end, usually gets a very expensive high quality restoration of the car at a bargain price!

 

My advice is also to get it finished as economically as you can and then sell it....but if you can maybe wait until spring next year when more buyers will hopefully be out looking for a nicely restored early classic Mini to use in the summer months.

Edited by mab01uk, Today, 12:46 PM.

[Ethel]

 

It you don't need to move it on look in to renting it out.

That's a great idea - and one I did some quick research on.  In the end, it's mostly the insurance that puts me off going down this route.  Thanks for a great fresh idea though.

 

 

True, but people do make it work.  It'd be a catch 22 if you had to fork out for an expensive policy without knowing your chances of earning it back, but you might find a partner that's already sorted that, or with the photographer idea, it might be manageable with the photographer as a named driver. It'd help if you valued having use of it yourself.

[weef]

Unfortunately the market is awash with nicely turned out cars like your own will most likely be, so its a buyers market at present.

Prices seem to be all over the place and I can't understand what makes one nicely presented car worth more than the next.

I only see two options, hope your wife falls in love with it when it's finished and want's to keep it, or be prepared to loose money.

[lsto]

You've gone this far with it, my advice is put it back together when it's painted with the original interior as long as it's useable, pay someone and get it tuned properly (AC Dodd?), so it's enjoyable to use, then stick a for sale sign in the window and use it. Take it to a few shows and advertise it online. You'll either both fall in love with it or at least you had some use from it before it goes.