Mungler Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) I'm looking at picking up a part finished mini project. The back of the job has been broken - chassis, suspension and body work all completely new, replaced or rust proofed. All parts are available but it now needs it putting back together and spraying. I'm looking for a bloke in a garage at the bottom of his garden at £20 /hour cash and not a BMW technician at £100 / hour plus VAT. The suspension, steering and brakes have all be uprated and the engine is out. Anyone got any ideas? I can look further afield than Essex with a trailer and the right approach. Cheers all, Edited January 22, 2014 by Mungler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnFreeman1310 Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 I dont have any help on finding sombody but would love my own min project good luck with it. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Poon Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Have you thought of trying to do it yourself ? It's probably more satisfying that you put a lot of your own time and effort into the car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodfordpigeon Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) I have rebuilt loads of minis I use to rebuild MK 1 Mini cooper Ss. drove them for twenty years.If I were you I would get a good book and some advise and do it my self. If you do you can call me anytime. I would be pleased to help and ran my own garage( motor repairs) for twelve years now sold.woodfordfpigeon Edited January 22, 2014 by woodfordpigeon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Are you thinking of paying someone by the hour to do it as I thought with this type of job people tend to give a quote say £2000 or something like that as these things tend to take longer that you would think as something that you are expecting to do in 1/2 hour can end up tacking most of the day or be the other way round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted January 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 I had a go at an MG midget when I had just left school - never again. I'll be paying a bloke to do it and I know from lots of friends and clients that whatever you think it will cost, double it. Woodfordpigeon - are you in Suffolk? Fancy me dropping a mini off down the A12 to you for some readies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_ Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 A friend of mine had his 1380 nut and bolt build job done at Williams mini.... Maybe worth looking at them, they're in and around leicestershire way if that's not too far but it was a top notch job, has won many awards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzab Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Always try DC minis in barnet. I know the owner well he builds some amazing cars. Give him a call. Tell him snap on baz sent ya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scragrat Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Here you go. if you want something a bit different. http://www.zcarsuk.com/mini.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzab Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Here you go. if you want something a bit different. http://www.zcarsuk.com/mini.php Ive seen one of theres. Insane things. Id love one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 I'll be starting mine in 2 yrs for my son garage is ready if a donor came up now I would probably start and run it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 (edited) I'm looking at picking up a part finished mini project. The back of the job has been broken - chassis, suspension and body work all completely new, replaced or rust proofed. All parts are available but it now needs it putting back together and spraying. I'm looking for a bloke in a garage at the bottom of his garden at £20 /hour cash and not a BMW technician at £100 / hour plus VAT. The suspension, steering and brakes have all be uprated and the engine is out. Anyone got any ideas? I can look further afield than Essex with a trailer and the right approach. Cheers all, Unless its something special don't bother, paying someone to complete it will cost far more than the car will be worth. I rebuilt this one from this below. To this. If I had to charge someone by the hour it wouldn't bare thinking of what it would have cost them. Edited January 23, 2014 by Luckyshot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 I agree with the above post on paying someone isn't the point of restoration for you to do it yourself, you might aswell just buy one done, Mine if I ever do one will be done by me and my son together as his 1st car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Would not want my kids in a old style mini for a first car. Prefer them to have crumple zones and air bags round them and all the other stability aids cars have now. Great to do something like a restoration with your child. Would only be a weekend/occational use car for me. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Would not want my kids in a old style mini for a first car. Prefer them to have crumple zones and air bags round them and all the other stability aids cars have now. Great to do something like a restoration with your child. Would only be a weekend/occational use car for me. Figgy thats what it will before more of a exercise for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunnerbob Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Luckyshot...cracking little car there, I had 8 minis in the past, love 'em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 thats what it will before more of a exercise for him. See if you can get hold of a 1980's 1275 GT really collectable with the nice little red boot badge. A old friend from years ago, his dad bought one new spent a fortune having it bored out to 1440 all tricked out ,fast as the proverbial till it blows the head gaskets regular. Car still looks original. I prefer the Clubman front end on them. Think anything below 1400 on the engine is more reliable. Bought my wife then fiancé a 1974 mini restoration project for her first car in 1990 had a racing cam and other bits fitted, done the brakes suspension and other bits but the dreaded tin worm got into the a posts and sills, ended up too far gone to make it worth while finishing. Wife's never let me forget it as she never got to drive it. I did from the back seats as the front didn't adjust for legroom do took it out. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 I no it's not the same but I usually buy the odd car from salvage auction and one good thing that has come from the floods is water damaged cars, I've just bid on 2 minis 03/04 I really enjoy doing water damage cheap fix most of the time as they are usually parked up when they get flooded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuji Shooter Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 There was a mint one on Autotrader the other day. One owner from new and only 21,000 on the clock always garaged. It was only about £3.5K so don't spend too much getting someone else to build it for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 I have a local solution for you Mung - Have pm'd you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikk Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Would not want my kids in a old style mini for a first car. Prefer them to have crumple zones and air bags round them and all the other stability aids cars have now. Great to do something like a restoration with your child. Would only be a weekend/occational use car for me. Figgy What you say about the crumple zone is spot on. I was sat in the back of one of our minis when we got shunted at low speed it felt like all the energy from the crash transferred directly to my neck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheene7 Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Go on " the mini forum" there are a few lads on there who will help / advise you. I had a reasonable quote from a lad in Northampton area who makes a good job of restoring minis , still trying to decide whether to send my 1275gt to him , or do it myself . I have got a lot of other projects on the go ( motorcycles) , so it might be less aggro to get him to do the bodywork , then I'll re-build it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Luckyshot - very tidy job. I did one in 1976 for my wife to run. One of four cars I made money on - I have had 107. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Luckyshot - very tidy job. I did one in 1976 for my wife to run. One of four cars I made money on - I have had 107. You must have had the same amount of shotguns Gordon. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 About 60 shotguns I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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