..Hey Everybody! I posted this on 1st gear also introduce myself.

I currently do not own a Mini, but I fell in love with my GF's new (09) Mini S. I am an owner of a Genesis Coupe 2.0T and really like to participate in GenCoupe.com (Genesis Coupe Forum).

Anyway... I fell in love with my GFs Mini and now I'm in the hunt for a classic Mini. I am currently looking into buying a 1983 Mini.

I was wondering if you guys could help me...

I found a 1983 Mini 1000cc with 75,000miles for $5200 OBO... This is within my price range but there are couple things but there are couple things I just found out:

There is a small oil leak. (I think all Classic Minis have them)

It does smoke upon starting but not while running. (Is this Bad?)

After market headers and carburetor to make it more drivable. (What does this mean?)

The breaks have not been serviced. There is an issue with the breaks, haven't had time to investigate more since it's been winter but they still make the car stop just not very well. Happened right before winter. (I do not even know what to think)

How hard/expensive is it fix classic minis? I just want to be able to drive it within the city nothing fancy.... from point A to point B.

Any suggestions or help with the decision are greatly appreciated.

Thank you! And I hope to own a Mini soon!

 

Brakes on the mini's are pretty easy to fix, I re-did mine myself.
Can't comment on the oil leak but be sure and check it over real well for rust. They are really prone to rusting.
If it runs and drives good, and fairly rust free I think that is a real fair price.

 

Thank you Birdman.... I think I saw an article on MiniMania.com about common rust spots.

Where do you guys usually get parts for your classic minis? Website?

 

I get most of my parts from 7 Enterprises in CA.
Or Mini Sport in England.

 

Parts can be found in many places.
I found a used head by joining a local forum. (Sunshine Minis in Florida)
but the big sites are

MiniSport (UK) -- they have a US site but everything still ships from UK
Minispares (UK)
Minimania
7ent.com
Moss motors

* the After market parts making it more drivable means it give the car more power so it is more able to keep up with traffic.

What color is the smoke, how long does it smoke, what quantity...
Mine smoked a lot for about a mile... remember that head I said I found it doesn't smoke anymore.

The oil leak I wouldn't worry to much about it, you just need to keep oil in it.

As far as expense to fix if you can turn a wrench they are super easy.

Mine is a '69 so less emissions controls but they are designed as simple basic transportation cars. They just happen to be a blast to drive.

That being said they are lets just say different. I would suggest you learn to fix the car as a good mechanic could be hard to find.

My car has a the 1 liter engine and I would say to test drive the one your looking at don't expect get things from this engine. I think mine is fine your just not going to win any races... in a strait line.

My Mini story is I bough mine off eBay sight unseen non-running 5 hours away for $3000. Now about $350 and two months later I drive it daily. I would say go for it but not many people would have bought the car I bought.

Good Luck

 

I would suggest you have the car checked out by a mechanic. Have him check compression and leak down.
Although 5200.00 is in your budget, you don't want to spend more big dollars for engine work.
Any "good" mechanic can do the work as compression and leak down are basic tests. You don't need a specialist but if you can find one that knows the Mini, so much the better.
As others have said, brakes are basic and simple but new rotors are costly.

 

www.gbcarparts.com is great. If you don't know anything about a car though you might want to read up a bit before buying a classic..

 

Thanks for the info guys! I'm still looking around. The problem I'm finding is the no one is selling classic minis near Chicago. It seems like all of them are on the east or west cost. :(

So yeah this is taking time

 

Year I was born!, Go for it

 

Hi there, just to let you know I purchased my 1984 mini from England 2 years ago from a picture on E-bay, I was lucky I got a good one. Mine does leak oil but like someone in the forum said you just have to add oil to it. I have to add about a Quart every 3000 miles not bad. It smokes at start up but only for a min or two and goes away. If your sub frames are not rusted out you should be OK with that purchase. I buy most of my parts from the UK. Cheers.

 

I have an 83, and if this is the actual year of the car you are looking at, here's a couple of things to look out for when buying parts or fixing it. It's a drum-brake all around car, as the discs only came in the next year. If you have a "two clock" dash in front of the driver, you will have one heck of a time getting the right wiring harness stuff. They used up some of the last of the clubman wiring harnesses with these cars, and 83 is absent from most supplier's lists of bits, since there was such a substantial change in 84. If you can get a newer, or older car, you may be better served...