Classic mini wanted
 

Mine's for sale, but that's an extremely low price point if you're wanting something that runs.

Yes, it's in this thread:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-for-sale.html

Classic Mini
 

since OP is perhaps not familiar with Mini

one should note that there is no such thing as a 1976 or 1979 Mini Cooper ..... both of these are probably Saloon models ....

the Cooper (and S) model was built from 1961 thru 1971 ..... and even in those years it was a trim/equipment package .... an optional package

a 'real' Cooper or S is potentially worth substantially more than a non Cooper Mini ... Not every 66 Mustang is a Shelby either ...

Walton's book "Mini Cooper and S" (Jeremy Walton, 1982 and 2004) using numbers from "Longbridge" set production at about 45,000 units for Cooper and 101,000 for S counting only the 61 - 71 units . With total Mini production being over 5 million units that makes about 3.3% if my math is correct

You're quite correct about "real" Coopers or S models, Capt__bj. One thing OP should know is that it's common to change out the engine for a larger size--mine is 1275cc. My car also has upgraded 8.4" brakes. It stops pretty well!

Saloon was just the 'run of the mill" Mini from the beginning ....
this article mentions the Saloon model name often https://www.minimania.com/Mini_Identification_1803#9
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.
...
Saloons
The major changes from the earlier cars were a different shaped front grille (incorporating trim on the leading edge of the bonnet), a slightly bigger rear window, and larger, square tail lights.
...
Saloons (Non-Clubman)
Along with the roll up windows and lack of external hinges, the rear quarter windows were larger and the boot lid, swinging license plate mount went away with the rear plate now mounted right to the lid.





My 79 was a Saloon 1000 originally, 1000 reflected the engine size (998), I got a lot of original paperwork from UK with mine and this is on early registrations and MOT.
The badge on mine originally read simply MINI 1000

as DAF states too, most Mini you find in the states today are probably gonna be modified in some way ... and knowing what to look for along those lines is significant too.
{if you play in the collector car world there is the thing of "numbers matching car" ... not many Mini in the US fit this category and those that do are $$$ esply if a Cooper.
The guys at Classic Motorsports Mag found a 'barn find' that fit the bill and did a <mag sponsored> full restore and sold the car for upwards of $30,000 .. I saw the car at a show last year. The articles about the restore are on their web site}

my 79 wears body parts from a Mark 1 (early) car like the rounded grill and tail lites, and front brakes from a Cooper S (7 1/2 inch disks which allows use of 10" wheels)
the original 998 engine replaced with a 1275 A+ MG Metro .... and that engine is further modified.

I show my car a lot, and have fun with the sign I put on it: Mini {not a Cooper}

{p.s. $10,000 and you can buy it today}

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Innocenti???? Do you know what that means? An Italian company that built the Mini under licence .... another factor to consider when buying a 'classic'. They were not all made in England! They were made in MANY countries and how much is original Brit and how much is local parts and how similar they are can vary widely. New Zealand cars, South Africa cars, South American cars, Italian cars. A non UK built car can introduce some parts issues along the way. I know a guy with an 'original' body shell that's 100% fiberglass . . . not a UK car (he's been trying to get it together for 10 years ...)

and let's not even get into the entire category of a car flying under false colors cuz the VIN was falsified for gray market import ....

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I'll admit I knew NONE of this when I bought my car in 2004 ..... I got lucky in that as I learned I discovered I'd not been horribly ripped off .. VERY LUCKY.