Like all mini owners I guess, I have plans to one day do another car. Probably not anytime soon, but one day. Something I've been wondering of late is, should I start stockpiling parts either to ensure I can keep my current car on the road for a planned lifetime, or does the community think parts will still be available / in production for a number of years yet?

Parts from the UK will probably be available for another 10 years minimum, but we're already seeing quality deminishing and I'm sure that'll only get worse over time. Aussie parts are even harder to obtain depending on the car you're working on, and though I know nobody wants to see it, I'm willing to bet ten-twenty years there may only be half the number of mini parts suppliers / mechanics in this country.

My concern isn't about building a cheap car, its building a good car, I already know that if I start a project in ten years or more it'll have to backed up by some serious dough to get a half decent result.

The other thing is, whats the predicted value of minis going to be in the future? A friend of mine was showing me his three classic cars: all 1930's Studebakers in immaculate and original condition, he reckons the cars are completely worthless on the market as parts are nearly unobtainable for them unless you're a millionaire.

There's nearly a future condition where classic cars and parts could go back into production too. Look at cars of the last ten/twenty years: is anything modern likely to be restored / build as enthusiast cars? I doubt it. Whats will happen to my 500 if I decide to keep that for thirty years cause is a modern classic? The airbags all have expiration dates for fifteen years time, will I be able to buy these after that? Probably not, which is what makes me think the classic car may rise again, because the simpler construction and requirements means any mug with a spanner could build something.

What do you people think?

Very interesting question..!!

Although I understand the stockpiling route, I always think "surely even in 10 or 20 years time there will be a whole car sitting under someone's house that may not run and isnt registered, but will provide enough parts for my car...". I plan on keeping my Moke forever and I have a complete project car sitting in my garage. Plus I have an assortment of parts so already I am one of those candidates that you might see having a "it all must go" sale where you get everything you need.

Then comes the whole Mini evolution crowd - using Mini bodies and transplanting in modern engines.

Then comes all those fibreglass crowds who make whole cars out of fibreglass and mount engines into them...

THEN come those lucky _____ who find untouched models in barns who with a squirt of start ya ba$tard get the things back on the road.

All in all... I think the question is also "what kind of Mini will people be building in 10 or 15 years time" rather than "will people be building them"....

I dont think the Mini will ever die. EVER.

*LONG LIVE THE MINI*

Thats for sure. Long way down the track from now original cars may not exist because the people who have them now are modifying them, and the rare original parts will be unobtainium. The minis of the future will all be modified.

When you think about it, the only parts you 'need' for a mini are the bare body with panels, glass, a steering rack and some compact brakes. Everything else could easily be built from other materials / car parts, though would require engineering.

Eventually hub motor and battery technology will enable the use of a drive and brake system entirely within a wheel hub, so then all you need is the body.

I'd say as technologies like 3d printing mature we could even see things like trim pieces we can't currently get become available again as without the need to maintain tooling you could support a wider range of items.

I was just poking around on shapeways.com and while it's a bit overpriced and in alot of cases kind of rough looking its only a matter of time till the prices come down and the quality improves!

That said I can't help but get twitchy when rarer stuff comes up on ebay

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Basil - 1978 Leyland Mini, Brooklands Green, bit of a bitsa, and a park brick in the boot.

I'm currently sorting out a 1962 850 engine and its matching gearbox, so I'm replacing all of the seals bearings, bushes etc. Many of the parts are well and truly obsolete and are different to what was used in later models, but so far (touch wood) I've managed to find everything I need, mostly as NOS. Its not cheap, by any stretch, but the stuff does still exist, which is pretty impressive. It is kind of cool opening up a BMC branded box that holds a 50 year old part that is still perfect.

Tim

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1951 Morris Commercial J Type Van
1955 BSA C11G
1961 Morris Mini Traveller
1969 Triumph TR6R
1977 Leyland Moke Californian

I have been stockpiling stuff for over 20 years for exactly that reason. Stuff is still available now but even now the quality of what comes on the market place is usually pretty average or even the new repro stuff is pretty crap.

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1970 Cooper S ex-Bathurst & ATCC
1964 Austin Cooper S ex-Group C race car
1967 Morris Cooper S ex-Group B
1962 Mini Speed sports sedan
1968-71 ex-Peter Manton Shell car

What ever happened with all the stock piled stuff that BrickWorx had?

Anyones guess. Miniking bought some, lots went to scrap (the useless stuff), dunno about anything else though.

I am also stockpiling parts.. So far Hyrdolastic bags, ( Cooper s)
23D (cooper S ) Distributor caps. They are no longer being made,
and Cooper S gearboxes, Cooper S Heads etc...

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Interesting discussion.

A club member mate and myself were touching on this in 2009 when I was approaching completion and registration of my Cooper S. I emphasized I worked the resto with a Conservation Management Plan the same as I am used to working with in the built heritage industry.

Out of left field Ian said that I have gone to a lot of trouble so that I have fully recorded the why, and what was done for little good when fuel runs out world wide and we are using other energy sources for transport. Only a % for museums would remain he lamented. My reply is of course, being so original that mine would be one and he went on as 'Doubting Thomas', citing that from the year 2250 when space is at a premium photos and the odd Mini around will suffice. Humph!

Perish that thought. I'm working to reduce and maintain three only fm the stable of 6 at the present and probably soon to be seven. Seeing that I am not desperate to sell - other than the time to keep things moving, this thread is making me think that I may have to lean on some good friends with acreages and hang on to what I have.

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..still waiting for the Italian Job sequel to see if the bus went down

What had me start this thread was thoughts along the lines of:
'I know what I want to build, I just don't have the time and means now", which has led me to wondering if over the next year or two, well before I do something, I should obtain the things I'll need: like a half decent body, running gear, and particular / standout feature components.
Wheels, tyres, electricals, and interior stuff can all be sourced down the line easily enough, and services such as paint end engine reconditioning will still be do-able, provided I have the parts that would require replacement.

Then again, it could be the beginings of me turning into that crazy bloke everyone has down the street with five or so project cars and no time to do any of them.

Mind you it could end up like I see with A-model Fords etc., where current owner/enthusiasts are in their eighties or more and suddenly realise that they may not have long to go and decide to get rid of it .They dispose of it so it wont be a burden to the family,hence these Vintage cars flood the market with little demand, which in turn reduces their prices.Not only that, its been my observation that Generation X and Y show very little interest in A-Model Fords etc. A similar fate may happen to the mini. At present there appears to be sufficient interest by Gen X and Y,especially in the UK and Oz to ensure survival of the Mini,but who knows.

That's a point, and over time classic car definitions will change.
In 30 years time, maybe I'll have a son that says to me: "dad, I want a classic car. I'm thinking about a 2003 cooper s, you had one when they were new, wow you're old!"

A friend of mine is about to retire, and his resto project is a dead T model Ford he has had laid up for a zillion years.
No idea what condition it's in, (he's buying a MIG/TIG welder now) but I wish him luck re its final worth vs cost to restore.

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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.

It's not the availability of parts that worries me.

What worries me is the crazy politicians, like the Greens who want to tax cars and fuel off the road. Here in the ACT, the Greens HATE cars.

Fortunately, the reason we keep our cars is because Govts are punch drunk on petrol excise, road taxes and tolls, speeding fines.

End of rant.

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1967 Cooper S - new front bearings to do.
1965 Cooper S shell - Slow progress. No time or money!
1966 Deluxe- next rustoration!
Mk 2 & XJ6 Jags. Less said the better.