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Hey guys I have been looking for a classic mini with a vtec for a while and dont have to time to build one myself or the money to buy one for 30k. What do you guys think about this one? There is definatly some rust, but it doesn't look too major to me.
You need better photos. Specifically some more close ups. They have that one detailed pic of the rust in the rear but you wouldn't ever know by looking at the other pics. You can't easily do a spot repair in the flame area so you need to make sure those areas are good.
If the rot is isolated to the rear valance you just need to knock that piece off and replace. The trunk floor and the hinge panel as well as the part behind the wheel well may have issues as well which is alot more work.
I didn't know it wasn't a 63. How do you know this? I am not partial on the year, just looking for one to have fun with.
I was wondering the same thing. Why would you go through the trouble of getting that nice paint job and putting a vtec engine in if you are going to ignore the underbody? I guess that is why I figured the damage wouldn't be that might. I am giving him the benifit of the doubt that it wasn't like that when the work was done and it had shown itself recently.
a Mark 1 has exterior door hinges, round tail lites and sliding windows.
from MiniMania site:
Mk I Austin and Morris: 1959 – 1967
ADO 15 (for Austin Design Office model 15) was introduced to the public in August 1959 in standard saloon/sedan form under the Austin and Morris badges as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini Minor. The Seven name was dropped early during the Mk I run and the Minor name only lasted until the end of the Mk I Minis. The cars became simply the Austin Mini and Morris Mini. Some countries, like the U.S., received the cars badged as Austin 850 and Morris 850.
During the eight year run, there were many detailed changes up until October 1967 (when the Mk II took the Mk I’s place). New models were introduced. Interiors changed. Exterior paint schemes and trim changed. Seven different engines were offered. Two major suspensions. Five different braking systems. The list is lengthy.
Saloons
Common to all the Mk I Minis were the exterior door hinges, sliding windows, smaller oval tail lights, and the rear, swinging license plate holder. There were more than half dozen grille variations but they all had the moustache and whiskers surrounding the half-oval grille attached to the body only.
********* being a VTEC I'd ignore the grill issues as the car doesn't have an original front end but it is VERY unlikely that a restore job replaced exterior hinges with inside, or round tail lites with square or sliding windows with roll up....many people ADD these to a newer car tying to make it more retro (replace the doors). These are major tattle-tales and suggest the car was a re-vin b4 it was hacked to a VTEC (i.e the current owner THOUGHT it was a MK1; either way he did NOT know Mini's)
I am giving him the benifit of the doubt that it wasn't like that when the work was done and it had shown itself recently.
If thats recent damage, whats going to be next to rust then. That area in the rear has a little cavity in the body where water gets trapped which is why it rusts pretty easily. I'd still want to see better photos before I'd go look at it. Even ask for any pics they have of the restoration process. They should be happy to give them to you if they did a proper job on the body work. It may be a good price for a vtec but if it needs rust issues dealt with that you won't let go then just spend the extra dough up front to get a nicer one.
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2006 MCS - Hyper Blue
1974 Leyland South Africa Mini 1275 - In Primer
2008 Triumph Bonneville T100 - Red/Silver
All stuffed in a 1 car garage.
'79; 02 S {02 - 09}, 07 S
