This is the car that started it all for me. I have wanted an original MINI since before I could drive (I am 27 now so more than 11 years )

Anyway, I have had a couple of new minis, wife has a countryman, and this saturday I am picking up my new baby.



(I posted the car in the general MINI talk, as I did not know this section was around).

Anyway let's be friends haha.

 

Congrats and welcome ....

 

Thanks. Is there a good thread/ location I can do some reading about different trim levels, engines, options, etc?

 

A couple of the more active forums for Classic Minis that I've found are MiniMania and The Mini Forum (UK).

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

and

http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums...php?&Itemid=52

 

hey thanks!

 

Very nice car

 

That thing is awesome. Hopefully I'll have one someday.

 

lookin good!

 

Congrats!!! Very jealous. My dream is to get a classic

 

Well I have done it again! I found a car on craigslist and based on RAZR Quality images 750 miles away and flew out to buy it.

Got to Spokane, Washington this morning around 10:30am MST paid for the car, and left directly from the airport to head back to Utah.

This car is very old, and extremely slow. Also I knew I had a long drive ahead of me, so I really had to stay light on the pedal.

Now we all know that the drive times on Google Maps are usually very conservative, but I was able to somehow take 3 hours longer than what Google Maps had said the trip would take.

Car ran great, and is a champ, but is slow (998cc Engine, 4 speed).

Anyway, here are a few more pics...

 

Oh, and only one horror story: Owner told me lights weren't working and that he would check it out. I got there and he said it was just a fuse and he hadnt had time to fix it. So I drove most of the day and decided I would grab a fuse at lunch. I opened the fuses and there were no bad fuses. Then I looked and found that the light switch wasnt even wired! So This through me into panic mode! I had planned to be home tonight, so there was no option but to be home tonight. I strung up the high beam to stay on constantly, and put these tap lights colored red on the rear window. I had no other choice and made it home with no issues from any of the many officers I passed (GB plate and all)!!

 

Wow! You flew in and drove the car 750 miles home? "You're a braver man than I am, Gunga-Din".

Looks good, actually.

Good luck with the electricals. The Lucas electrical systems in these little monsters make any electrical work 50% engineering, 25% magic and 25% prayer.

 

It will be a Tanuki Wiring system when done. Only thing I will have to worry about is me

Oh and the title states that this is a Morris Mini City. Which better explains the 1000cc engine, and 45-55 mpg

There are definitely a few things that need some work, but overall I am very happy with what I got and how well it did. It was one slow ride back to Utah.

Now I need to figure out which oil filters fit this baby.

 

Very nice looking car... You are a brave man for taking on that trip sight unseen, but life's full of adventures... right.

Great color. I bet there are more red classics now than were ever produced

 

^ha thank you. Every 100 or so miles further I got, I would calculate the tow truck from that point. haha.

 

if it uses a spin on filter and is not an MPi

they all use the same filter

http://www.minimania.com/web/item/GFE148/InvDetail.cfm
The fewer miles you drive your car each day, the more frequently you should change your oil! Spin On Oil Filter, fits all models including single point injection up until 1997 (twin point injection).



ordering a box of these last week what I actually got was

MAHLE OC 21

no problem - it fits . . .

and 20W-50 is the most commonly recommended oil ... synthetic is not recommended.

 

And if you can still find any, oils with ZDDP > oils without.

 

Congrats on your new mini. Looks really nice. I did the same thing. Flew to LA to buy mine and drove it back to OR. I could write a book about that trip. BG.

 

yes, I'll admit I've bought into this one and you can find oils with ZDDP .... I just buy ZDDP as an addative

eastwood has it if you can't find it at the auto part store

http://www.eastwood.com/zddp-plus-oi...e-4-fl-oz.html

cheaper in multi-packs

 

Thanks for all the tips.

Took it in for Safety and Emissions yesterday, passed safety, failed emissions.

Started researching today, and UTAH just passed a bill that makes cars 30+ into vintage models rather than 40+ so because mine is 30 this year, I don't have to do emissions as of July 1, 2011. BUT because the bill already passed, they are not requiring emissions up to 60 days prior to July 1. What does this mean? I can register today as is! Also means i can use my antique plates!

I am excited.

 

What great story, Tanuki!! LOVE the pics, and the story of your MINI adventure!!! AWESOME, AWESOME car!!!!!

 

^Thanks. I feel very blessed and things just keep falling into my lap with this car.

oh and...

I am legal!

 

Got out with my flock tonight




I am getting used to making people smile everywhere I go

 

Went to put the swivel on conversion for the oil filter got halfway through the process and realized it already had one. So I put the new one on anyway and changed the filter. Cleaned the drain plug and filled her back up!

 

All I have to say is... YAR.
aside from the electrical gremlins, does it need any body work? I presume since you flew 750 miles to drive it home that it's in good shape.