Hey all, I know nothing of classics and a friend of mine is looking into getting one. The car is currently in Chile and we will be visiting at the end of the month but he wants to see if you all could identify the model year. The owner says it's a 1974 but he wants to be sure because he has his doubts.

Here's what he told me about the car as well as some pictures.

Make- Mini
Model- 1000
Transmission- 4 speed manuel
1 left hand side fuel tank
Exterior door hinges
Apparently the owner of the car says its made out of fiber vs the traditional metal.
Window? Sliding or Winding
Lights?
Suspension?
Grill?

 

And one more pic:

 

http://www.minimania.com/subteaser.cfm


just what the doctor ordered....

except I'd say what you have there is a hodge-podge....(but I didn't run thru the quiz I referenced)

My thoughts:

grill is a MK1 Morris (smooth slat vs Austin wavy slat) but incomplete - missing the 'wiskers'; roll down windows, and those square tail lights with outside hinges say MK2; and a 74 would be a MK3 with interior hinges..or is it MK4???? Mirrors look like MK4 or maybe later. A complete fibre body? It doesn't look like a glass front only from the pics...

I dunno..... It's almost as much of a stew as mine!

Could be a 74 that someone tried to 'retro' by replacing the front metal with MK1, and the doors with exterior hinges....

my 79 has a glass front clip for the MK1 grill, and MK1 tail lite inserts.....an enuf susp' changes to take 10" wheels.... so it certainly can be done... Mine started as a Saloon 1000 also.

In classics the manufacturer was never "Mini" ... but could be many things. The VIN plate for my 79 says Austin Morris Group British Leyland UK LTD

Austin, Morris, Austin Morris, Leyland Group, and don't forget the Italians!

 

If it has exterior hinges, shouldn't there also be exterior joints running down from each corner of the roof to the corresponding wheel well?

 

You're right...it's de-seamed. Back to that 'fibre body' issue ....

Well, one way to look at it is it's very unique!

 

So basically this thing is a mutt?

Thanks for all the input guys, appreciate it. Keep it coming. How much would one of these be worth more or less?

 

It is worth?????

It's worth every dollar some one is willing to pay for it

not a dollar more...not a dollar less.....

driveable classics are drawing about $8000 in the states, in my opinion. That's a starting point for a drivable car....in my opinion....

This is unique? .... dunno what we're lookin' at really......

on the other hand

I'll sell 'em mine for $20k ........

 

It's not de-seamed. Its not a mutt. There were some a FG Minis made in South America. This is likely one of them. Someone from Miami brought a shell for sale to FLAME's Spring Thing in Orlando a few years ago like this.. Was well built.

 

In my sporadic efforts to learn more about Mini's made in Chile, I've been told that they were made there in the late 60's and had fiberglass bodies. I'd be willing to bet this is one of the more rare Chilean Minis.

You might find out more via someone in http://www.clubminimania.cl/, the Chilean Mini Cooper club. (in Spanish)

 

see {next post...I had the wrong page}

teaser - this site says 1974 was the last year for production in Chile...

 

Great site, though the above link does not talk about Chile. Try this one:
http://www.aronline.co.uk/index.htm?chileindexf.htm

 

it's bitsa




bits or this and bits of that!

 

Not true - when I was on my search, the entry point for drivable was about $5K-6K, ranging all the way up to $15K or more for a particularly nice vehicle. I was in deals on no less than 3 separate classics, all in the $6K range before I found my current car. For $6K I got a car with a solid motor ((72K miles on the clock though), very little rust, original, cloth interior and no stereo. It cost me another $400 to re-do the interior, $150 for stereo, speakers and board for the speaker pods and beyond that everything was bling (new badges, etc.). I(ve also spent about $50 in mechanical repair parts, mainly new engine steady bushings, gaskets and a rod change oil seal.

You WILL have to look harder the lower the asking price though, that's for sure - be ready for a bit of a quest to find just the right car. That's half the fun though, right?

 

No, but likely a Mini Cord
note the corners of the bonnet are rounded the same....steel Minis are square



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Class...3286.m14.l1318