Hello,
My name is John and I was offered a 77 Mini for $3000 yesterday. I'm going to take a good look at it tommorow. I have always wanted one but when I look at what it would take to keep it up it makes me think otherwise. Then the customizer in me started to think about what I could replace to make up keep cheaper without sacrificing quality performance.
I have checked out the VTECH powered mini's and I must admit I like the concept. I think I may go that direction but not with the VTECH motor. I will also customize the suspension for easier maintenace. The body is going to be the deciding factor. I have seen this car before but really didn't take a good look. So, I don't remember what condition it's in.

Anybody here have a 77?

Anything I need to look out for on the 77?

Anyone here done any custom work on thier Mini?

 

RUST! http://www.minimania.com/web/SCatago...3/ArticleV.cfm




Check it thoroughly esp the areas above, the floors (lift all carpets).


Nothing special about a '77. Buy it. Learn about it. Enjoy it first. Take your time. The more you learn the more you'll know what you want out of it. You can enjoy the car for $3k or $20+k, your decision.

Go to Minimania.com message board. Search for cosmowog's Mini Meet East photo s. You'll get lots of ideas there.

 

Well I found out that this car was imported from Germany and I would be the 3rd owner. I got a good look at it and it's pretty rusty in some spots. I would have to take it completely apart and have it sand blasted then start rebuilding the body by fabricating some of the parts and buying others. For most people this would be a car to stay away from, but I am currently restoring a 1967 VW Bug for my wife and it's condition was close to the same. I believe I will change one thing. I'm going to build custom floor pans for it with a custom suspension in the rear. I have all the tools needed to build any part I may need. I took photos but i have no place to upload them....anybody have an idea as to where I could do it?

 

What about your gallery here????

All panels are available for the Mini at reasonable cost including floor repair panels (Front & rear, L&R) or complete floor.

There is a "beam" axle with coilovers available to replace the rear subframe, btw.

Keep us posted on your progress.

 

These are the pictures of the car that I was offered.....any comments good and bad are welcome.

I see the rust at the bottom of the door.

This is where the rust has won the battle but not the war...

This side has alittle cancer on the roof and at the bottom of the door...

The front really isn't that bad. but like I said bring on the comments

Points of interest:
Car was imported from Germany in December.
I would be the 3rd owner.
They want $3000 for it.

 

Is that a Landau top (sorry for spelling).
If it is then that is a good place for rust to be so be carefull.
It's a good looking car
I am jealous
Good luck Doug

 

On this side..look at the lower section. Obviously patches needed at bottom of rear quarter, door skin bottom, A panel. But look lower at the sill which is painted black or undercoated. Look at front, back & inside of it. Pull up carpets F& R. Check floors in corner behind F tire & in front of Rr tire. Pull the liners out of the rear storage pockets & with a flashlight look down to see the inside of the Rr quarter rust damage and down where the rear subframe mounts. Look under the F fender well up to where the heater vent hose goes thru the cowl. It rusts around that openeing. Check the joint between the F Fender & windshield cowl top & bottom. Check the roof corners & seams. Same on the other side even if it looks okay. Its been repainted and you don't know how well they did it.


Obviously a rear valance & boot lid. Check the boot floor, bottom of the battery box and the floor behind/around the Rr wheel arches.

Check the rear subframe for rust.


Looks like the front fenders may have been replaced. They look too good for the condition of the rest of the car. Missing grill surround trim. Check lower valance for rust.

Plan on replacing all panels with new. Depending on your ability & resources, plan putting several thousand in it to get it right. Done properly (?), its worth $7,500 - $9,000...any other guesses?


That said, I think the car is priced correctly, but start lower with cash in hand.

Now if you want to add a VTEC, add another $4-5K for that project. (motor, subframe, custom work, etc)

 

The great thing about this is that I can fabricate alot of what I need. Some of the parts I will buy but I really don't want to use the VTEC conversion...after talking with a few of my buddies we believe we could build it to house a 1.9 CVH motor from a 1988 Ford Escort. I believe I could rebuild it for less than $4000 with all the facilites and capabilities I have at my disposal...we will see..but first I need to buy the thing...LOL!!!

 

Thanks for all the info.....I can see that this will be a challenge but will be won none the less....if the deal goes down.
The seller is getting cold feet about the deal.....but that is to be expected...It's Mini!! It would be hard for me too!! I will let you know when i have the keys in hand.

 

GREAT NEWS!!! I will be getting my Mini next week!!! then I will have something to talke about!

 

Congrats! You'll love it!

 

Well...I'm about to go over to look over the Mini again.....take few more pictures and talk about payment....Hope it all goes well.

 

Here is a pic of the dash. I like the gauge placement but, I'm thinking about changing the wood to brushed aluminum.


The Motor needs a tune up and cleaning.....I am going to swap a turbo motor in once I get the rest of the car in shape.



The boot looks good except there is a little rust in there. Has anyone seen a steel gas tank for our Mini's?



A close lookand the rust under the rear bumper. Looks like it's done alot of damage....I guess a new panel is in order.



The rust here is on the passenger side door. The passenger side door does not close correctly...it's actually pushed back so when it closes the rear partof the door contacts the body of the car. Don't know why the door is set back further than the other but that is what I can tell is the problem.



Both side look like this but i'm not sure how bad it is YET. So when I have the body bead blasted i'm sure we are going to find some rough stuff under all this bubbled paint.



The under carriage looks ok I guess...it will last long enough for me to make some changes I'm thinking about doing.



As you can see it was imported from Germany.



Those were some of the 20 pics Ishot today on the mini alone...LOL!! Comments are welcome.

 

John, I've built several classic Minis from the ground up over the past several years. Hence I feel I can say this with some experience. Run, do not walk, away from this car! There are too many cars out there that are much much better than this one for about the same money. This car is a rust bucket money pit. Just to get the car right (let alone any goodies you may hang on it) will cost you thousands of dollars. When you're done, you'll have a 3500 to 4000 dollar car. It's a Loser! Way too much rust! If you buy it, part it out. You'll likely make a few $$ and can put that towards a decent (less rust) car. When buying a Mini, the golden rule is "NO RUST"!! Although a rust free Mini is rare, the goal is to get as rust free a car as possible. Anything else can be crap but you want a clean body. DON"T BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ripley,
I respect your suggestion to RUN!! but I'm already in too deep. I like this car and it challenges. The cost to restore this car to it's original glory would be expensive to say the least but that isn't my plan for this car. 50% ofthis car will be custom rebuilt. The cost for all the body panels I need to fix things is going to be around $2000 which isn't bad at all.
Your not the only one saying that I should rethink it ...my wife is saying the same thing, but what she dosen't realize is her bug was worst than the mini.
I talked to the owner today and I will be picking it up tomorrow..lot sooner than next week....I will email you if I have any questions about parts andthings if that is ok with you?

Again...Thanks

 

You're a brave man, John Smith. There are definately easier paths to take but there's also something about bringing a car back from the grave. And this car you've bought appears to have one foot already there. But, if you've got the tools, money and experience, it's not all bad. I know there's just something about a project and bloody knuckles that's apealling. But as I've gotten older, the bloody knuckles are more painful. I'm now at the stage where I'll let someone else pour blood, sweat and tears into a car. Then I'll "take it off their hands" when they get tired of it. It's definately cheaper and my finger nails are clean.
That being said, go forth and wrench, screw and weld! You'll have a blast. Fell free to contact me if you wish. I'll be happy to help you where ever I can.

Regards, ripley.

 

I hear you loud and clear I'm only 34 but I have three more cars to build before I call it quits. This mini being the first.....94 mustang convertible into a twin turbo 800hp monster (For street and track use)
65 Mustang fast back with a 427 (this is my cruising car) Already have a 69 Corvette Stingray with matching numbers. I might build one more depends on when I get these done.

I have to agree with your assesment of the car....one foot in the grave is right but the challenge to bring it back to a better life..with me... is going to be fun...for once I'm going to build a car like I want it!

Thanks for the vote of confidence....I am going to build a tube frame for it...my first one When this car is done it will be like no other....under it's skin atleast.