Hey guys

OK ,i have a dilema, need your help. After 10 months of working on the old girl i have almost finished my deluxe.
I have attempted to keep her as stock standard as possible. Interior is as i found her with vinyl floors and original seat belt hardware, new webbing. Top end has been rebuilt but everything kept stock standard.
Exterior is how i found her and this is where the problem begins. There are a few things that could be improved like the paint which has chips, engine paint which is faded and a few dents on the chrome which would need replacement.
At what point would you guys consider molesting with the authenticity of my car?

It's a loaded question mate. As one car lover once stated: you can restore a car to it's original state infinate times but it's only original once. Meaning if it's not bog stock standard stored in a garage for 40 years since coming from the factory then it's not "authentic".

A change of seats to orignal factory seating pattern and being faithful to the factory even down the stitching although is as "authentic" as one can be, it isn't "original". The vynl is manufactured in 2010 and not 1969. You put that seat webbing in, not a BMC factory worker in Zetland.

Point is, if you have already replaced anything in the car then it already isn't as "authentic" or "original" as a car that has the factory original everything.

If I were you I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just make the car as perfect as you can make it to your standards and enjoy the car. Replace the chrome if you want to, keep the original bits and don't throw it out. It's up to you. Or if it's a car that is very special and original, keep it entirely original and buy another car that isn't as stock and modify it to your hearts content. Or rechrome the original parts if you are really a perfectionist.

The fact that someone is looking after the car rather than letting it rot on a paddock is already a plus in my book.

_________________
Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

When i first got my 1275LS it was bog stock, ive changed a few things like Inlet manifold ,extractors, air cleaner, steering wheel and she now has nice wheels but everything ive removed has been boxed up carefully and lives in my roof so if i ever feel the need to put her back how she was i can.
Enjoy the car mate, change things, improve things but make sure the original stuff can go back on if the need arises

I've kept my car all original (its a low miles example of '65 Deluxe) it has had things replaced in the "replace like for like" example. ie: only the things that wore out were replaced with items found on an early Deluxe including the standard exhaust system. It needs external paint now and will be replainted in its original colour (when i have the spare $4K). The car for me is plenty fast enough, drives nicely and istn going to be a target for nicking anything - coz it never had anything to nick. The chrome bumpers and moustache are pitted but not flaking, so im happy with that level of 'patena' for a car thats 46yrs old.

For me its: "Keep it original and enjoy the period experience"

PS: Even though the original rubber floor is ok, Id kill for a new proper repro rubber floor.

_________________
YDO005 1965 stock standard MORRIS MINI DELUXE

As lillee said, it's your car...
My 1970 wasaMatic is a bitsa, it was missing lots of interior body parts when bought, so I replaced with what I could find at the time.. mind you I only paid a 1L bottle of Chivas Regal for it back then.
Front door cards are 66 Deluxe, rear seats & cards are 71 GT, front seats are Cobra classics, carpets are Oz moulded, speedo is Mk3 UK Cooper S, tacho is ex-Fiat 124BC Sport.
Power is a 1412 stroker. I'm happy now .. the original 998 Matic couldn't pull the skin off a rice custard.
BTW Shannons think it's now worth 10K, I'm happy with that.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I find this interesting........If you had a car that you put into storage immediately after it came off the show room floor and then fifty years later took it to a concours......it would not win the show even though it's absolutely in perfect original condition. But you then you went through the car and modified all the doors so the gaps were perfectly equal, put a ton of bog on it so no panel ripple showed (standard fare for all old cars straight from the factory), and polished it to a mirror that no new car ever had and rebuilt the motor so it was oil leak proof and ect and ect. It is now by any ones standard not original BUT would now be a serious contender for a concours trophy.
So I say do what ever you like.

As Groucho Marx once said "Sincerity is the key... Once you can fake that, you've got it made."

It's your car.. do what you want.


There's aother 5 million of them if you stuff up too bad..

_________________

There are actually different classes for judging include un-touched and in your example ^ and these usually have the highest value too

_________________

the other unfortunate thing about authenticity is saftey. sometimes you have to replace things because they wont pass rego. or in general need to be repaired for safety reasons.

everyone would love to have a car thats been in a shed for 50 years, but rubbers perish, plastics breakdown and metals rust. to look after a car properly is like looking after art. it needs to be kept in the right climate, humidity etc.

_________________
Aussie Leyland, Aussie Factory, Aussie Mini S.