I just checked out Carsales and nearly fell off my chair!

So after many years without a Mini I was thinking of buying a Mk1 Cooper S. So have these cars really gone up to 40k in value?

If so I may be looking at a restorer but as you all know these are pretty hard to find too.

Rob

Ps all the best for the New Year!

Yes, thats what you pay for a genuine car.
Any running/driving mini is worth 5k at least.
Gone are the days of the $500 mini.
Which for us mini owners, is great. Not so great for non owners looking to buy.

_________________

I will be putting details of a running, driving genuine Clubby GT up soon.
Just waiting for pics to arrive.

_________________
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.

Oh well them the breaks.

Shame I sold my original Mk1 years ago.

Whats everyones opinion on the Jap imports with the last of the Rover Coopers?

Restorers are around, - I think one, a '67 went for about $18,000 on e bay last week, but it had another car's engine in it.
Darkly humorously though, There are many Cooper S owners out there who, like me, are well over 60 or 70, & their Widows' will probably fire sale the cars when they drop off, so there is hope!

40 grand would be a cheap Cooper S these days.

Why not get into a reasonably decent Deluxe, K, or Clubman. $15K onwards should get you something reasonable to drive around.

I have a mate who's old man has a one owner S sitting in his shed but he's a hoarder and won't let go.

Might have to work on him again......


Other than that I could do a replica with a deluxe or something similar.

My MG midget was a cheap car compared to the mini these days

The issue is, once you do a deluxe, panel/paint/engine/mechanicals, you could be up for $20k+ unless you can do alot yourself. then you have a car thats not always going to get you $20k back. Dunno, it's a hard one. I would buy someone else's mistake and spend another couple of grand to finish it once you get it for a good price.

_________________

I have a Rover Cooper, pretty much the same as old mini, just a bit more refined and user friendly. Bucket loads of go faster bits available from UK at reasonable prices. Also the average Joe wouldn't know the difference. Mines been retro'd and most people who see it comment how good it is for an 'old' car.

I'm sorry the Rovers, are no where near the same as an early mini.
that rubber mounted subframe kills the handling, unless you think Hydro is good, then its on a par.
on the plus side the full opening windows are much better than anything previous.

_________________

There is kits that cure the flex in the late sub frames. Otherwise you can drop in a old one and mod the front apron mounts.

I had a 40th Anniversary MPi when i was living in the Netherlands and it was fantastic. I changed the subframe mounts as the rubber ones were worn and it steered from the subframe, and once i had to change the coil. Apart from that it was 3 years of trouble free daily driving in leather seated comfort. If i had had the money, i would have imported it and changed it to RHD to use here, but alas funds were not available.

The only caveat is that because they come from northern hemisphere countries (UK & Japan) where they salt the roads in winter, there can be rust. But hopefully any available here already registered are sorted in this regard.

cheers
michael

_________________
the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates