281 replies to this topic

[Crazy]

Hi all (I will edit the topic title as we go along)

So I have decided to start fresh with a new thread that will follow the progress of the restoration/build of my 1980 mini, and I am almost certain I'll be throwing in a multitude of questions for help. The previous forum threads are somewhat a number of years old with not much to them so here we are.

So...my mini is a 1980 HL 998cc which I bought when I was 16 I am now a few months away from being 36 and the entire time the mini hasn't been on the road since I stripped it down around 2/3 weeks after buying it. Back then I managed to secure the mini for a grand total of £600 with tax and MOT, The car has covered 18,254 miles with the paperwork all backing this up.

Each time I've wanted to get this project started something else popped up and I lost interest but I was determined to one day finally get on with it. More into JDM stuff these days but knew I needed to get this mini back on the road and to enjoy it.

The previous times with wanting to do the mini I changed my mind no end of times with what I wanted to achieve which I think also became a stumbling block for me moving forward with it, 10 inch wheels or 13's arches or kit, lairy kit or subtle, One day I would be set with a plan and ordered parts the following month I sold said parts and ordered the opposite only to change my mind and sell that then re buy something else I couldn't keep doing it, till I made a set decision....one that I have now made and is sticking for the exterior at least.

Anyway enough waffling for post number 1 I shall add a series of photo's then reply to my own thread and continue this Journey, on which I hope you'll join me with.

Photo of the mini on the sales ad



The day after he came home





Side angle



Rear view



In the garage where the mini spent a good 10-12 years albeit not a complete car for the most part.



Interior through the window





Speedo / Mileage

Edited by Crazy, 18 July 2024 - 09:34 AM.

[Crazy]

So then we began to strip the mini down.

 

Rear shelf

 

 

Rear - That is my dad in the photo all those years ago 

 

 

 

Inside view part the way through stripping

 

 

Front end

 

 

 

Engine Bay

 

 

Stripped - don't ask about the hat 16 year old me thought my mini wanted to wear it   

 

 

 

Dash wires should of put this further up 

 

 

Rear inside

 

 

Side in between taking off the subframes

 

 

close up of those trims

 

 

Front subframe

 

 

 

Door

 

[Crazy]

My previous old thread would then show a couple of pictures of bits I had bought for the mini how ever I'm going to throw in some more context and photos of the current...

 

So from here on the story/Journey shall once again begin.

 

Why now, after almost 20 years well as previously mentioned I'm quite a fair bit in to my more JDM stuff and the last couple of years along with the help built and by all means not 100% finished a show car with lots of part searching and research etc and enjoyed the journey and the new people I've met along the way and so it gave me the itch to start another project I thought I don't need to buy something else I've got the mini I came back on this forum I used to bounce in and out from time to time but I began catching up and re-igniting my love for the mini and it sucked me back in. 

 

I began to read the project threads again and bounce round the various sections of the forum using the search tool, I then began to E-mail body shops and various mini claimed specialists half came without a response or a 2 year wait time  I had remembered reading a current thread at the time by Ben at Mill Road I then searched out other projects Ben had taken on and enjoyed the updates and the photo's of each job he had taken on, So I thought I would drop Ben an e-mail and see if he would be kind enough to possibly quote me on my own mini as the stuff I had read the photo's I had seen and the heaps of recommendations from people on this forum pointed his direction I thought this is the guy I want to do the work If I could.

 

So a few e-mails between Ben and I and a request of some photos for him to cast an eye over which I shall add a few here below now. This is going back now to sometime 2020 I have no idea where the time or what has gone on in that time we won't mentioned that C word here.

 

Anyway some pics I sent over to Ben.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over a period of time in between lockdown and finally deciding a route I was taking with this project (It had changed once again but we're settled now,) and me taking a thought trying not to loose the will with doing the mini this time round I eventually managed to book in with Ben, this is now getting closer and closer.  I will update the main Thread title when it has left me and goes to Mill Road and hopefully Ben will then update this thread once it's in his hands.

 

For tonight this is as much I'm going to write about in this thread.

 

Crazy

[floormanager]

Oh wow, lovely introduction.  You'll be pleased it's going to Mill Road.  Had to laugh at the speaker holes in the rear parcel shelf - a right of passage for every teenage mini owner.  I remember cutting mine out with the jigsaw blade getting worrying close to the petrol tank!  Good luck, Paul.

[MikeRotherham]

The car looks to be in good condition apart from one or two places.

 

Will look even better when Ben has finished with it.

[johnR]

What look have you settled on? 

[Crazy]

Oh wow, lovely introduction.  You'll be pleased it's going to Mill Road.  Had to laugh at the speaker holes in the rear parcel shelf - a right of passage for every teenage mini owner.  I remember cutting mine out with the jigsaw blade getting worrying close to the petrol tank!  Good luck, Paul.

 

 

Funny you mention the parcel shelf that was actually the chap before me that did that he was in his 60's but I can see where your coming from,

 

I will continue on with the photo's later on with some of the new goodies that are in for the project. 

[Ben_O]

I'm looking forward to getting cracking luke.

Not long now!

 

Cheers

Ben 

[Crazy]

Couple of busy days I end up falling asleep, rather than continuing from where I left off.

 

Just a post with some of the part's I've gained, I say some as there are bits not here yet/not ordered or tucked away in a box somewhere in the loft so here is some more recent purchases.

 

Now this flamed piece is a part I've had sat around since what seems for ever that I was going to house the dials in here , I'm not now 100% the route I'm going to take with it. I need to sit down with my book and throw idea's around. 

 

 

Anyway moving on to the present, So once I decided I was going to stick with 10''s and the overall look I have sitting in my head I set upon searching out for some wheels, (Now bare in mind I bought some about 19 years ago and I've got them still sat in boxes they came in so when i get chance I will throw them in the sales pages) I ended up going for these. Some 10x7 Force Racing FN's 

 

 

 

 

I'm kind of in the moment of adding the photo's of other bits but I am also in the thought of should I just wait and let it all un fold in the hands of Ben, I have no quibbles in posting various parts what do you guys think?

 

On a side note Ben if you see this, still not had an e-mail from Kirsty yet I know you mentioned about speaking to her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ben_O]

 On a side note Ben if you see this, still not had an e-mail from Kirsty yet I know you mentioned about speaking to her.

She has been in contact with the recovery firm and they are going to be coming back with a date so we will be in touch as soon as we hear.

 

Cheers

Ben 

[Crazy]

 

 On a side note Ben if you see this, still not had an e-mail from Kirsty yet I know you mentioned about speaking to her.

She has been in contact with the recovery firm and they are going to be coming back with a date so we will be in touch as soon as we hear.

 

Cheers

Ben 

 

Ahh ok thanks for the update on that Ben much appreciated.

[slidehammer]

A mate of mine put 4.5j 10's Cooper wheels on his and used the original plastic caps (like yours) and nuts and black caps it looked really good with 165 70 10's on. I think he had to reduce the depth of the caps slightly but it gave a good stealth look.

[Crazy]

So time is getting closer to when the mini goes so I had to dig it out of where it was hiding.

 

The 2nd floor in the corner 

 

 

Progress was made, by the end.

 

 

And it's down

 

 

 

 

[Ben_O]

Wonderful.

Well done getting it out.

 

Not long to go now!

 

Ben

[johnR]

looking forward to see this progress