Hi Richard,

Nice story you have there. Anyone is welcome here as long as they appreciate cars and, in particular, minis! You should be able to find a pretty decent mini for around your price range and the best thing is it's british (I too have a particular soft spot for anything that isn't oil tight).

Good luck with the search and a very warm welcome to ausmini!

Cheers, Nick

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

Thanks Nick,
There do seem a lot to choose from in that price range. I was even encouraged by the hotting up the 'small' engines thread - my original thoughts were 1275 but I'm thinking of getting a solid 1000 or 1100 then work from there ... unless a solid 1275 in my price range turns up (one can always hope, stranger things have happened).
Richard

Hey guys,

Not a Mini driver at the moment but my very first car was a Mini and, ever since I lost it about 8 years ago, I've always wanted another (especially when sitting in a less awesome small car's driver seat). It was a '74 Leyland Mini LS with a 1275 that I bored up to 1310 and gave twin 1.5" SUs.

I'm older and wiser now, and less likely to just tell a mechanic to "make it happen" and end up with $2-3000 bills for things I don't really need (or potentially want). Which is why I'm here I guess - get some intel before I buy the first thing I test drive again or dump a heap of cash on unnecessary modifications... So expect some fairly stupid questions.

Well I'm new too and in the same position. Maybe we can have a competition to see who can ask the most daft question.
As for older and wiser, I'm in me late fifties and looking at changing a perfectly good MGB for a Mini - what's this 'wiser' thing of which you speak

Last month I was trying to decide what classic I wanted - MG B was one of the ones on the list - but between the "street legal go-cart" factor and nostalgia from my first set of wheels it was an easy contest. And hey - at least you can claim "senior moment" if you ask something too daft.

Hi my name is Jim,
Based in Adelaide, and I've just bought a 1969 ex Australia Post Mini van project from a guy I work with, most of the body work has been done but still need to replace floor pans. The engine is a 1100 that was fully overhauled and bored .040+ but never assembled onto gear box ! everything I need to complete is there, although will need to replace some body rubbers etc. last weekend picked up some seats and new tyres off gumtree at bargain prices, enjoying being a Mini owner again !

In the early 90's I had a 76 Clubman S that I loved dearly (and drove hard) it could be a Pain in the *** to keep running and probably wasn't in the greatest condition when I got rid of it in 1995 (but it has been the only car that I have really missed over the years) I sold it to an elderly gent who was planning on fixing it up but also had a whole bunch of other Mini's and Fiat's to fix first, when he drove it away I doubted it would ever hit the road again ? anyway I had my money and was moving to Sydney.

Anyway back in Adelaide I did see that Mini again ! driving home one day in the early 2000's I saw it being driven by some young guy in a sharp suit, and it looked great. I could tell the guy driving it dug that car, never seen it again, but I hope it's still out there somewhere.

Cheers Jim

G'day Jim,

Welcome to Ausmini.
I'd love to see some images in Mini Gallery if you get the chance.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Tried to upload not sure if they came out Ok ? not used to this forum format/software
Cheers Jim

Have a look at the How To. viewtopic.php?f=25&t=10405

or,
Just join photobucket and copy over the links with the [IMG ]www.. [/IMG ] bits in them.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

G'day Jim,

My first Mini was an ex-Aussie Post van, even down to the shadows of the Aussie Post emblems on the doors and the tyre pressures painted in yellow over the wheel arches. She was the car a nervous 22 year old left home in Adelaide, with all his worldly possessions in the back, to go to Sydney to start a new job. That van did Squidley to Adelaide and back every Easter, Christmas and associated other holidays for nearly three years. Lovely cars and with an utterly amazing carrying capacity. Enjoy yours. They're a gold fist inside a woolen mitten knitted by your gran.

Richard
that Mini also led to my love affair with MGs so maybe they're more dangerous than buying a Cooper S

Im Dale from S/E Vic, Few Vic members know my ugly mut now (thanks classic restos) but I've been playing with minis a while now. I have a 1967 Orange Moke. Building a 65 van ATM too.

Find "Mokes Melbourne" on FaceBook.

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[email protected]

Leon Johnson from Cairns,Queensland. I have a 1977 Clubman with 970 Cooper S engine.
Pics of my rebuild: https://plus.google.com/photos/11743283 ... banner=pwa
Pics of my new 970 engine:https://plus.google.com/photos/117432833296252982995/albums/5926180665706852417?banner=pwa

Welcome Leon...if it were mine, I would be trying to marry up the 970S engine with its body somehow...but, enjoy what you have

(just seems a shame to see a 970S, in particular, "broken up")

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"Show me the Mini!"

Hi There!

Thanks for accepting my request to join.

Briefly, I have had a 74 mini van for a bit over 10 years - it was a started derelict project when I acquired it. It's a complete van with rust in all the places you'd expect!

Previously I've dabbled in Golf Mk 1s, but have always love the van - especially memories of childhood where the father of a family friend used to pick us up, to take his kids and me (and my 2 siblings) to school. There were 5 kids in their family and 3 in ours ..... we all sat in the back, and "corners" have never been the same since

My new years resolution is to get the beast outa the shed and onto the streets by the end of this year - I have already started! My intention is to take the body back to bare metal and build up from the start. As far as the donk - I think I'm gonna give rebuilding that a try as well

I will be surfing around here a bit to get some wise words, tips and look at pretty mini photos!

mikey

PS and when I work out how to do it, I'll attach a pic or 2!

Hi all , my name is Tim I'm from Pakenham Victoria , I own a 2003 cooper s r53 .
I have owned a 1963 & 1964 in the past . Was a qualified mechanic but for 24 years now I've driven trucks & do interstate , so I see a lot of the rockets on the road .
Cheers to all & call me Tim or Molly either way I'll answer .