Hey,
I don't intend of making a habit of this, but would anybody in the Bronte area of NSW be able to take a look at a '78 African mini I'd like to buy? I know 'Steve' wasn't impressed, but I'd like another opinion, particularly about the shell. I'm not worried about the engine or brakes (they'll probably be sold later, if I buy it I'll get a list going for who wants what) or the rust issues in the doors, I'll deal with all that later. I intend to get the shell completely resprayed, not just fix the rust and paint over the patch.

So, an outside opinion other than the owners would really help me out.
Can anyone help?
Thanks

Also, Thanks dewey for having a look at the Queensland car for me some time ago.

this one has been for sale for aaaaaaaaaaaaages.

Me thinks it is FUBAR!

Forget it. You have been waiting so long, why rush now?

Cost more than $4000 to fix.

I've been watching the car for ages, I made him an offer the other day and he's considering. I'm after a rover mini, but have added up all the numbers and have decided that I'll just build it from scratch to keep better control over where I spend the money.
Since the later shell design doesn't pop up round here too often, I figure I'll at least get an opinion on it, if it's crap I'll move on. If I get it and it's a dud, I'll sell it for parts where I can hopefully get back my loss.
The car I almost got a while ago would have got the same treatment, new paint, engine and interior. This'll work out cheaper for me, provided it isn't a crap heap to start with and it has a compliance plate, if somethings wrong, I won't get it.

Buy it, great buy, cheap $3500 car, replace the A panels the sills and the doors all with imported items as nothing local will fit, possibly replace the turret as there are issues there as well, I promise if you use turret from Aussie car it won't fit, if taken to panel beater for professional A-1 finish 5000-9000 for panel work including the $800 to paint it.

Sell the discs for 1200 and the motor 500 which will go a long way towards repair costs
Who's xray eyes looked into the 27 year old motor?

If you have those kind of dollars it'll be the best buy you ever made and you'll never park it where you can't see it, never park it next to anything, never venture off the best sealed roads, never be behind a truck or bus for stone chips.

You obviously have the dollars so really wouldn't it be cheaper to get a MKIV heritage shell and build that either way most parts will have to come out of the UK if you want a late shell.

Just my opinion based on two full nut and bolt restorations a shelf full of trohies six minis and a hybrid mini build on the way. Just tried to save you a fortune.

Harley, I bought my MK 3 privately from the VMCI Mini Mag and it had been a private import. Don't know who ever imported. No details available from previous owner. They don't seem to come with any compliance details. I guess it depends when they were first imported. Back then there musn't have been anything fitted to the cars. I have seen a few (there was one in SA on the weekend) and another guy at the social meeting last week had a 1970 as well. No compliance plates on any of them.

Thought you might be interested. Save you looking for plates. I guess as long as they have been registered before you should be right.

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mutant mini 1380cc '73 UK imp-Chroma Lusion-leather interior-8 x 300W Diamond Audio Dual Voice Coil 8" subs, Phoenix Gold 4 chnl amp, Pioneer 7550 DVD, 2x Phoenix Gold A1.800d MonoBlock Amp, Focal Utopia splits, 14" chrome rims 195/40/14 tyres

Thanks steve.
I got some photos and a description of the cars history last night.
I think I'll run. The shell already has heaps of bog and dodgy paint jobs to its name, so if I can get it for $500 I'll continue, otherwise, I'm done.
I'll go back to looking for a good aussie shell in melbourne.

Harley

I first saw the car 3 years ago before he had attacked the rust in the body and thought it was a shame it had been left so long then, when it came up for sale I had a look and told the owner (nice guy) exactly what I thought of its condition good for stripping and throw the body away well almost ,very close to it anyway.

Hope you find a good one they are out there, its hard not to jump when one comes up.

Good hunting

Steve

Harley

I first saw the car 3 years ago before he had attacked the rust in the body and thought it was a shame it had been left so long then, when it came up for sale I had a look and told the owner (nice guy) exactly what I thought of its condition good for stripping and throw the body away well almost ,very close to it anyway.

Hope you find a good one they are out there, its hard not to jump when one comes up.

Good hunting

Steve

He has had that mini for around 10 years now, I used to do almost all the work on that car as a mate for him a few years ago.I put the 1275LS motor/box and 8.4in disc brakes in it.I have not seen/talked to him for a few years now and I not sure what the car is like now,but it was not to bad a few years ago. If you need mk3 inport doors I have a pair of 2nd hand ones and one pair of brand new doors as well also have a 2nd hand import boot and bonnet if you need them.

Thanks minibug, but I think the car needs a new front end, boot and interior floor and everything inbetween. The photos won't help him sell it.

I'll move onto another car.
So much for thinking that getting a roundnose shell would be relatively simple.

Harly can you post some photos of the rust?

I don't have a photo host at the moment, can I email them to you?

That would be great.
PM sent

does anyone know what happened to the original motor was it a 1275?

as you all might know mine is a south african mk 3 1973

it also like jan mentioned does not have any plates or anything for the import.

it was however brought into aus when it was only 3 years old

cheers steve

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Cheers Steve.


1973 south african mk3, 1275 +30 (1300), RE13 cam, hif44, mildy worked head with s sized valves, pulsar dizzy, 1.5:1 minispares forged rockers.