groovylee Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 So, a bit out of the blue, but after a drunken conversation a few weeks ago, it seems that the wife has a hankering for a mini. Not wanting to be in trouble for not doing as I’m told, a purchase has been made! eddyramrod, chaseracer, HillmanImp and 37 others 37 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spurious Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 I know little about Minis. But they seem to have massive support for parts and will always be worth something. Is it a 1275? Look forward to moar photos. That's a nice looking one. groovylee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovylee Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 the steed in question is a 1992 Mini Neon. it boasts a *massive 39bhp, and a fankly eye wateringly fast 998cc engine. we have many plans for it, but im trying to avoid the austin/rover equivalent of pineappling it, so no cooper stripes or union jack stuff lol more to follow as it happens :-) Lee LightBulbFun, chodweaver, chaseracer and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovylee Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 one of the current ideas, is to put the original 'neon' decals back on, as they are still available. im not going completely original with this, but for some reason the pink on blue appeals... thoughts? 500tops, BorniteIdentity, LightBulbFun and 15 others 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spurious Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 28 minutes ago, groovylee said: the steed in question is a 1992 Mini Neon. it boasts a *massive 39bhp, and a fankly eye wateringly fast 998cc engine. we have many plans for it, but im trying to avoid the austin/rover equivalent of pineappling it, so no cooper stripes or union jack stuff lol more to follow as it happens Lee Oh yes. Not another Cooper lookalike please. BorniteIdentity, groovylee and Eyersey1234 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernaut Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 38 minutes ago, groovylee said: one of the current ideas, is to put the original 'neon' decals back on, as they are still available. im not going completely original with this, but for some reason the pink on blue appeals... thoughts? BorniteIdentity, GrumpiusMaximus, groovylee and 2 others 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovylee Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 1 minute ago, Supernaut said: that made me chuckle! excellent, no one thinks its a bad idea yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 I have a mint-boxed Corgi Mini Neon here, 1/36 scale. It is, of course, available... BorniteIdentity and groovylee 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovylee Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 2 minutes ago, eddyramrod said: I have a mint-boxed Corgi Mini Neon here, 1/36 scale. It is, of course, available... ooh, eddy, you are a genius! ill drop you a message Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mally Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Looks like a million dollars, probably cost a little more. As an aside I saw a really crappy Rickman in Hyde yesterday, should have taken a photo. groovylee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutty2006 Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 You did the right thing buying one in that condition. here is Mrs Suttys mini lol BorniteIdentity, mitsisigma01, Tickman and 5 others 2 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovylee Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 35 minutes ago, Mally said: Looks like a million dollars, probably cost a little more. As an aside I saw a really crappy Rickman in Hyde yesterday, should have taken a photo. feels like it did yeah. i remember buying a cooper in about 1999 for £150, now id need to add two more zeroes! this was at the lower end of the spectrum, but still not cheap cheap. mechanics i can do, but bodywork i hate, so it had to be solid. a crappy rickman!? is there such a thing?! strangely, i saw a rough one in st ives (cornish one) a couple of weeks back, but was on my bike hooning about so didnt stop. they get everywhere lol Lee LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovylee Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 39 minutes ago, sutty2006 said: You did the right thing buying one in that condition. here is Mrs Suttys mini lol blimey! at least you'll know all the rust has been dealt with when you're done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulplom Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 I sold an H reg red cooper with a full mot for £1200 about 7 years ago. Was a bit tatty but mechanically perfect. Are they worth much now? camryv6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovylee Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 2 minutes ago, paulplom said: I sold an H reg red cooper with a full mot for £1200 about 7 years ago. Was a bit tatty but mechanically perfect. Are they worth much now? from my research thus far - £3000 gets you a mostly rotten running car, £5000 ish gets you a not perfect, but solid base model, £8000 ish gets you a reasonable cooper. £12000 is where the good cars seem to start! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulplom Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Bollox then. I'd just paid £400 to have it made solid for the mot. I road tripped to Scarborough for it a year earlier. I paid £1200 for it with a full mot iirc. groovylee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulplom Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Great to drive but the G reg metro I had at the time was quicker and more refined. My mate brought the metro back from Scarborough and we raced them 100 miles back. The mini was slightly quicker to 60 but the metro would slowly catch up and go past after that. Same 1275 engine. groovylee and eddyramrod 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Nice. There was a Skoda Rapid convertible that sold for £10k on eBay recently. Car prices are bonkers. I'm waiting for the next 'market correction', lol. Please put the original decals on. St Ives seems like a very appropriate place to spot a Rickman. Probably owned by a 'resting' artist. groovylee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big_al_granvia Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 so what engine is going in, metro turbo??? 2l honda civic type r?? or suzuki hyabusa bike engine... seen a lot of each done groovylee and BlankFrank 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulplom Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 A maxi 1750 is the conversion to go for. BorniteIdentity and groovylee 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMC Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 +1 on the original “neon” graphics idea. These were amongst the first models to revert back to a chrome bumper blade after they started painting them in the 80s if memory serves; alongside those rather anonymous unbranded wheel trims in that brochure pic. I remember them well as a neighbour bought one nearly new from main dealer Sur-ply motors, farnworth, Bolton. groovylee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New POD Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 If I might request original 12 inch wheels and wheel trims please. 2 reasons. Skinnier tyres will go faster. Skinnier tyres will put less pressure on wheel bearings and be easier to drive around town. Everyone does the extra wide minilite lookalikes, and it's only got 40 bhp, so every one counts. groovylee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BL Bloke Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Looks like a nice example. I say if you can still get the 'Neon' decals go for it. groovylee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eavb Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 It looks like you've bought a reasonable one, definitely put the decals back on. The 998's are an underrated, smooth little engine and it's easy to almost double the power output with not much work and no negative effects on reliability. Everyone should have at least one mini! groovylee and eddyramrod 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 3 hours ago, big_al_granvia said: so what engine is going in, metro turbo??? 2l honda civic type r?? or suzuki hyabusa bike engine... seen a lot of each done Rover V8, surely? groovylee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big_al_granvia Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 21 minutes ago, eddyramrod said: Rover V8, surely? been done, boy spaceframed a mini, moved the bulkhead back 2 feet and where the back seats were was a pair of race seats, big transmission tunnel, sd1 back axle, sd1 front suspension.... think he had a sd1 that had dissolved so decided to put the running gear in a mini eddyramrod, groovylee and sutty2006 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovylee Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 3 hours ago, New POD said: If I might request original 12 inch wheels and wheel trims please. 2 reasons. Skinnier tyres will go faster. Skinnier tyres will put less pressure on wheel bearings and be easier to drive around town. Everyone does the extra wide minilite lookalikes, and it's only got 40 bhp, so every one counts. unfortunately, it wont be on the original steels and wheel trims. you'll be pleased to know that it will be on skinny minilites though, none of this wide nonsense. Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Laurence Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Looks like a nice one that! I may be wrong here, but I believe it was the neon that Rover changed their mind about the colour of last minute. I’ve heard that it was meant to be a darker shade of blue originally, but it was switched after the decals had been printed, so all the writing has a dark outline that was supposed to be body coloured around them. This may be total bollocks though. As others have already mentioned, prices for these are going mental now, even in the 4 years since I bought mine it seems values have near enough doubled. but I doubt they’ll ever drop back down, so take care of it you’ll never loose money. groovylee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilA Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Nice. I think the only "not been done yet" option is standard factory trim, these days? big_al_granvia and groovylee 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovylee Posted August 20, 2020 Author Share Posted August 20, 2020 5 hours ago, PhilA said: Nice. I think the only "not been done yet" option is standard factory trim, these days? i think you might be right lol the plan, for now at least, is to pull out all of the interior (just finished doing this) and going over the floor with a fine tooth comb (the floor is nice and solid thank god!). ill pull out any loose bitumen sound deadening, before painting the floor again as a precaution, and then replacing the deadening again. new sound insulation has been ordered, along with a new moulded carpet set in grey.. the seats are going to be stripped, refurbished, and recovered. the door cards will be replaced. the steering wheel will be replaced, hopefully with a vintage 3 spoke mota-lita wheel that i have (dependant on retrim costs). if the costs is too high, it'll get a modern three spoke leather wheel. i'll be fitting a new dash, undecided on finish as yet, possibly black (i was thinking brushed ally, but i think it'll be too in your face?) i dont think i fancy the burr walnut one. the front screen seal has had it, so that will be replaced, and i'll be fitting a new heated front screen while im there. the rear seal is the same, so i'll replace that too. ive got new front door pockets on the way with integrated speakers, and there are already two speakers fitted as standard in the parcel shelf. i'm still toying with stereo ideas at this point, but i quite fancy one of the retro look twin knob head units, that have DAB and bluetooth functionality in them. theyre not that cheap though.... as for the interior, the wife has an idea in her head that she wants the upholstery to be cream. as the dash rails will be grey, i think that they should have matching grey piping on the seats (the carpet is also grey). then the dash will be black, the floor mats black, and the door pockets black. so that should all tie in. seat belts in the rear will be replaced with inertia units, probably still in grey, and the front belts are a little tired, so i'll likely replace them too. the shopping list is getting longer and longer by the minute lol more updates to follow as they happen. Lee big_al_granvia, PhilA and rainagain 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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