10k is way too much for painting a mini. My advice is if you have room to work on your car go and do a introductory paint and pannel course and do it yourself. Even after you buy some good tools and pay for the course, materials, ect you will be better off and you will have gained a new skill. It may be quicker too. As for the parents, if they see you spending your money on something useful they may be supportive. I'm possibly not the best to give advice about parents and minis. The last two minis I brought I hid on a mates farm for 6 months.

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Lindsay Palmer
06 Mazda SP23
80 Alfa GTV (weekend toy)
86 626 Turbo (daily drive, now stolen)
71 cooper s replica
69 cooper replica
76 clubman
62 english 850
68 Mini Auto

For $10k go buy one with the work done

Just for laughs, my father in law once sprayed his mini (30years ago) with a vacume cleaner.
With the old electrolux you could disconnect the suction hose and connect it on the rear of the cleaner. It then went from sucker to blower (personally I dont mind either ).
Then you would attach the pot etc. which electrolux also supplied, and begin the worst paint job of your life!!

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Chuck Norris is the only person alive who can kick you in the back of the face!!
mooo, I'm a pig!

My mum used to have one of them ,great for painting fences

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https://t.me/pump_upp

Would have loved to have seen how the mini came out!

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Chuck Norris is the only person alive who can kick you in the back of the face!!
mooo, I'm a pig!

This was heavily considered, because they go on holiday for a few weeks very soon.

The rust is only a big thing because its all in the seams and around there. Im pretty handy working on it mechanically, but havent really touched bodywork. I guess once ive got another car to drive everyday ill buy a welder and have a stab at it.

Thanks for all of the replies, and as tempting as the vaccuum paintjob is ill give it a miss.
Cheers,
Joe