150 replies to this topic

[daemonchild]

Today, I picked up Little Em from her previous resting place at a garage near Tidmarsh.
She's been sleeping there for anywhere between five and seven years all told and off the road (or at least untaxed) since 1996.
I spotted her sitting there peacefully when we went to drop off my wife's car for some work doing.
I'll attack mini's but these modern cars are simply too much hard work!
I cheekily enquired about Little Em and now, less than a week later, she is mine!

She is named Little Em because her registration ends in an M!

She is sporting a rather grimy paint job at the moment.
And I have no idea whether she will start up ok.
She can continue to live happily in my garage until the weekend when we'll see whether she speaks or not.

The plan is to get her on the road and use her as a run about car until the other project mini is finished.
Then she'll get the love and attention she deserves as a rebuild project.
But for now, let's get her an MOT and a tax disk...!

[daemonchild]

You'll be wanting pictures I guess...

As she sat...



And dragged out... This is the first time I've seen the front in detail.
Some filler but actually fairly solid. It's been replaced.



The sharp eyes will notice that she's got 12" steelies on the front and 10" alloys on the back.
I'd assumed the recovery truck was going to be a flat bed, so the fact that the 12"ers would rub (non-spaced drums...) wouldn't be a problem.
So when he arrived, I'd changed them all to nice inflated 12" steelies.
Except, it wasn't a flatbed, so rather than shred some tyres and damage the arches, I opted to put the better inflated 10"s back on for the ride home.
It's only 7 miles from the garage to home.





Noticed the other two derelict cars? PM me if you want to know where they are....

[daemonchild]

Did I mention that she cost a mere


£100

Edited by daemonchild, 26 October 2009 - 10:24 PM.

[MiniAlex]

Did I mention that she cost a mere


£100

What a good buy!

[battleroc]

Did I mention that she cost a mere


£100

thats going to be a lot of work but i bet could look the NUTS!!

GOOD LUCK FELLER

[daemonchild]

Some more pictures that I took over the weekend while I was looking around.




Sills and floors have been robustly have been patched:




So have companion bins:



There is an engine (998?) and the gear stick moves about freely enough.
The clock says 44000 miles.



Some cause for concern in the rear. Arches might need patches and there is some corrosion (surface?) around the shock mounts.

[olds_kool_lews]

looks good! can i steal the front subframe? lol

[daemonchild]

Did I mention that she cost a mere


£100

thats going to be a lot of work but i bet could look the NUTS!!

GOOD LUCK FELLER

Thanks - the plan is to get her on the road soonest.
So I'll go with what is there and not be sniffy about welding quality and so on.
If it's solid, it's solid.
Paint may be a patchy affair with rattle cans!!!

Anybody with spare parts to give away will be gratefully accepted by the way.
The aim is also to do this as cheaply as possible (stage one anyway..)

Later (much much!) later, in stage two we'll do a nuts and bolts rebuild just like Dante, my other project mini.

[daemonchild]

looks good! can i steal the front subframe? lol

That would be no.

[MiniAlex]

looks good! can i steal the front subframe? lol

That would be no.

Just looked through the other pictures! Looks pretty solid to me!

[daemonchild]

looks good! can i steal the front subframe? lol

That would be no.

Just looked through the other pictures! Looks pretty solid to me!

That's what I thought. We'll see for sure on Saturday when mr prodding screwdriver gets let loose....
But for the money, I'll be pleased with a running engine.

[sazal]

Aww, hello Little Em!

Hope the project goes ok!!

[daemonchild]

I don't think she'll be tax exempt:

Date of Liability 01 04 1996
Date of First Registration 06 11 1973
Year of Manufacture Not Available
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 998CC
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type Petrol
Export Marker Not Applicable
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour RED
Vehicle Type Approval null
This vehicle can be licensed at a DVLA Local Office without the V5C Registration Certificate
The information contained on this page is correct at the time of enquiry.
Vehicle Excise Duty Rate for vehicle
6 Months Rate £68.75
12 Months Rate £125.00

But I'm working down in Swansea (hint hint where do you think??) this week, so I'll take my forms with me and see what I can find out.

[Boycie]

Love it, nice find!!

Another proper Mk3 too

Looks pretty original, what's your plans? Incidentally, I think it's Damsk Red? Yours is one of the first rod-change cars.

[daemonchild]

Love it, nice find!!

Another proper Mk3 too

Looks pretty original, what's your plans? Incidentally, I think it's Damsk Red? Yours is one of the first rod-change cars.

Thanks Boycie.
That's interesting to know. I'll have to read up on the differences from my more modern minis.
I've already discovered that the drums are not spaced!

It's going to stay original in body shape.
Leaving it on 10's and going to keep away from arches if possible.
Interior? Hmm. Will have to see what I can find.
Anyone got anything cluttering up a garage??? Please...?