28 replies to this topic

[Timtom]

Is the 'reshell' idea because it'll be worth a few quid if its in top condition?

[RayBoogs]

oooo a Borbet A, you don't normally see them on mini's

Not a borbet my friend they are the standard wheels on ERA's.

I think it was worth buying if I had the money I would!! looking forward to the resto thread

[myredmini]

Reshell ? Looks like that can be restored with some hard work, i have seen worse.

[Artful Dodger]

well your sir...are c r a z y! i think the panels alone and time spend would cost more than a new heritage s! :)hell

[twrminisport]

Probably no more rusty than any other Mini. Just this one doesn't have any filler.

Haha thats so true mate

[old original]

I would say that a reshell is the best idea. If the panels you can see are that bad, just imagine the bits you can't see. Trust me, I've been there!!

The problem is that there is more work, even with a new shell, that you wouldn't have with an ordinary mini. Wheel arches have to be cut and enlarged and the bulkhead cut and a box inserted for the turbo, additional cross beam on the floor for the seat runners...etc etc, ...still worth it though.

[Cooperman]

There is a chap near here who has a very good body jig capable of handling very comprehensive body restorations and about £3500 + painting would see it as, effectively, a new shell, but with its original identity.
Add £1200 for painting and, a guess here, around £6000 for the complete sub-frames, suspension, interior, electrics, wheels, tyres, braking system, engine rebuild, gearbox rebuild, etc, etc, and you have a fully restored price of around £11000.
What is a 100% restored ERA worth?

[1984mini25]

But surely if you re-shelled it and then cut the bulkhead of the new shell for the turbo box, it would then need an iva test?

Maybe it’s just me being picky, but and original or rare mini is only original if it’s still running its original shell. Other wise its just some new shell with a few old bits and a logbook.

[Cooperman]

But surely if you re-shelled it and then cut the bulkhead of the new shell for the turbo box, it would then need an iva test?

Maybe it's just me being picky, but and original or rare mini is only original if it's still running its original shell. Other wise its just some new shell with a few old bits and a logbook.

It has to be said that the ex-works rally Minis which can command sale prices of c.£80k to £100k have almost all been re-shelled at some time. In fact, many had different identities from rally to rally.
The current DVLA regulations for restoration really are a nonsense. If you re-shelled the car with a heritage shell to exactly the original spec for the homologated model, then no IVA test would be needed as the car would be as original.
Now, if you re-built the shell using a jig and replaced all the rusty panels, keeping, say, just a part of the floor and part of the front bulkhead, then you have restored the original shell and all is legal.
Now, how is a Mini shell identified? It's identified by the rivetted-on VIN plate which can be removed and re-fitted after repair and re-painting. It is also on the front scuttle lip on later cars as stamped-in numbers. Having just replaced a scuttle panel with a new heritage one which has no stamping, I asked my MoT testing friend if I needed to get some metal stamps and re-stamp the number in. He said not to bother as they never check that, they only check the VIN plate. So one might wonder where the issue and risk of re-shelling actually is. Probably the risk is in talking about it openly.
I do know someone who wrecked a Mk. 1 Cooper 'S' valued at a lot of money. Was he to re-shell legally with a later heritage shell and have a non-original car, or get a Mk.1 shell which needed some renovation and re-build into that in exactly the specification it was originally? You guess!

[JakeJakeJake]

What is a 100% restored ERA worth?

They tend to be advertised for £15k - £20k, don't see many red ones though usually green or black.

There's this one for just shy of £10k http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item3cb8b50ece has had a price reduction, was up for about £14k

[lewis]

we dont have the DVLA or get IVA testing in Jersey, we dont even pay vehicle Tax or have M.O.T'S, just insurance to pay and that's that

as you can tell this works for and against the cars over here. a reshell would not be too hard to do or pass through our own driving vehicle standards agency, the issue would be explaining it to customs when the shell is brought over

its stupid over here in some ways, were not allowed any fiberglass vehicles like a Mini minus etc, yet they seem to turn a blind eye to some seriously old deathtraps floating around the island

Edited by lewis, 29 June 2011 - 06:52 PM.

[Tommyboy12]

They tend to be advertised for £15k - £20k, don't see many red ones though usually green or black.

There's this one for just shy of £10k http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item3cb8b50ece has had a price reduction, was up for about £14k

The guy bought that at an actual auction for £8000...

[jaydee]

A reshell will turn out cheaper than full restore imho..

[jamiestevenbell]

just go and buy a brand new heritage shell it will be well worth it and it will reflect the final value once its done as it would be a gauranteed rust free shell