About 4 years ago I thought it a good idea to start a mini project 74 clubbie S. My first mistake was to buy an unfinished project. The car had no rust, the body was okay and the engine had been 'rebuilt' but wasn't in the car. Plenty of spares including engine and gearbox. Not a bad idea but bolts and little things are sometimes either bloody hard to find or missing. Eh.
So far with this car I have tidied the body up and got it painted. I put some new ball joints and all new brake hydraulics (Wheel and master cylinders) New clutch master. New head 12G295 and there it remains. In my parents garage. I have since bought my own house got married and moved out. I now find myself with a bit of money for the mini but no time to finish the work. (Working alot to earn the money )
So I was wondering about the idea of Sending the car as is to a mini specialist (probly link as I have dealt with them over the years) with instructions on proceding with my project? Or to sell the car as is a dreaded unfinished project and go on the prowl to buy a new one already done. Any thoughts? Ideas? opinions?
Otherwise it could end up being in my parents garage forever.
I have $5000 for starters but it does need a new exhaust system new wheels and a new interior ($2000) or so I've heard. All other bits are there and ready to go in.

Put on a BBQ and use the five grand to buy alcohol.
That can be used to call in favours from ausmini people and everyone you know and have the car finished in a weekend.
Don't sell it if it is so close to being done. I wouldn't.

Common problem Gibo - I centainly don't have an answer for you

So long as you don't have an urgent need to get rid of it (sounds like you have $$$)
just keep it & keep doing little bits over the next year. You'll get there eventually

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Too many cars, and too little time.

exhaust = 300 tops, wheels and tyres = 1000 roughly, interior whatever but standard no more then 1500 and thats maximum. so u will have some left over to buy the alchohol so ur mini will be twice as good!!

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Potato

I'm loving this idea of getting great peoples help via the lure of alchol and other great mini people to enjoy the alchol with. Does it really work? Everytime I've tried such things in the past with my friends and doing back breaking labouring around my house while renovating it lead to a lot of alchol being consumed but little work getting done

That's what happens for me.
If I'm not busy (and depending where you live) I'd be happy to pop round and give you a hand with stuff if you want. I may as well. I don't work on my car!

yer im bored all week so if its something i know i could help u out

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Potato

Get a mechanic to get it running (put the original motor or a different one back in), get the basic chassis sorted and anything else to get it to work. In other words, get it back on the road.

Then look at sorting out extras like a fancy interior and so on. Then the progress can be broken up into smaller chunks and done as time and funds dictate. As they say, eat the elephant in smaller bites.

Unless you're looking at a full restoration, like bare metal respray, reconditioned or replaced components throughout and so on. In which case, it probably isn't financially viable. Those sort of things tend to require time, space, tools and money.

I crap you not, I was in the exact same situation. House, marriage, parent garage the whole thing. Found ausmini, got a second wind and away I went.

Don't give it up. You need a hobby.

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But he's thriving and striving and hugging the turns.

gibo keep it and finish it you may sell it and get someone else's problems
makka

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Anonymous moderation means the agro that is built up towards the mods isn't aimed at an individual (fewer "Makk" attacks). Less stress for mods means less moderator "retirements".

It's a Clubbie-you just gotta finish it!!
Then oooh the fun of driving it around!!
Just get it on the road and you get more and more
motivated to get the "finer"things finished.
ENJOY......

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Don't sell it. I sold my first mini project, unfinished due to a lack of money, and i kinda regretted it after. Should've just kept it and done it later. If the car isn't costing you anything to keep, just keep it. Bring it home. Keep looking at this site, especially the cruise photos, and in no time you'll have enough inspiration and be out working on your little beast.

Get it running and driving, and then make yourself a very rough list of what needs to be done. It is very satisfying crossing off things as you go. Then, when the first list is done, make another more detailed list. Work your way through that and you'd be surprised... There isn't really that much to a Mini. Even the nice ones. Just make sure you do it properly the first time. Sounds like you are, by choosing the 998 Cooper head.

If you sell it, you're gonna spot it one day and think, just like me, "Damn. Should've finished that. Now look how nice it is" Or, in my case, "Damn. that little bastard ruined it"


Keep it. Drive it one day.

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Cheap, Fast, Reliable. Choose two.