There were two different kinds of IMA: the first one, exactly the same as the Traveller, but with some MkIII features, built until 1976. The second one, built from 1976 to 1980, is the one with the single rear door.
In 1995, after coming from SA, my dad decided to buy a vehicle for my aunt. He knew a guy who was selling two Minis: a MkI Traveller and the IMA. He bought both, so that, from the two of them, e could do one.
The chosen was the IMA, because the Traveller had no documents.
The Mini went through a process of re-painting, changing its colour from red (sorry mates, I don't like red cars, neither does my dad) to turquoise.
The result:
The Mini brings me memories of my childhood: since my mom was working on shifts, and my dad was far from home, visiting us only two days each week, my aunt was the one who went to get me from school.
I am the little guy on the right, and the picture is from 1998.
During 1999, the estate starts to sleep on the street, as a Toyota Corolla (Ke20) was offered to my aunt. So, my older brother used it a year or so, and on 2000, the IMA made its last MOT, passing without any problem.
My little estate had been on stopped on the same place until 2007, when I felt sorry about her (yes, her. She's my little girl
) ando so, we brought her to our home. But the expected happened, since I live really near the sea, and so does my aunt.
The project is to maintain her the most original as possible.
What do you advise me about body panels? Where should I buy them?
