We used her for 11mths (my wife took and passed her test in her!) then she failed her MOT on the rear sub, sills and balljoints. As we had just bought a house and were getting married, she sat at the bottom of the garden looking sad for a year or two, then I bought a MIG welder and fixed her up. She then had a series of modifications, such as Stage 1 kit, spotlights, 10" revos and arches, some new gauges inside and other bits, which left her looking like this (photo from 2006 I think)
Interior...
Her MOT expired in July 2006, and I put her in the garage as I knew she needed a few little things doing, such as wheelbearings and a few other bits. Unfortunately this turned into rather more, as it turned out the steering rack needed replacing. To cut an extremely long story short, I finished the steering rack earlier this year (yes I know it took a long time, real life gets in the way!) only to find the front footwells needed plating, as did the inner wheelarches (where the floor meets the bulkhead). This is now done, and she looks like this...
I decided to put her back to pretty much how she looked originally, as most Minis of this era often end up being Cooper-ised. So I am going to put back the original steel wheels, bus twirler steering wheel, FM/AM radio (no tape deck!), and leave the interior as empty as it was when she was new (although I am going to hide a temp gauge somewhere!)
Currently I have just covered a few holes in Kurust, and I will be filling them. Really I know I should replace the wings, A panels and doorskins, but I just want to drive her again for a bit first! These are the bits that need doing...
Offside A panel and door
Offside wing top
Nearside A panel
Wish me luck! I will start updated regularly when progress occurs! Target is being on the road in mid-July!
