Three Amigos - splitting up

 Mini "Moo" . Officially my wifes car, even though she doesn't drive. Originally a City with 998, 44k miles, now sporting a 1293 MG Metro unleaded (bigger valves) rebored and head rebuilt a few thousand miles ago. Superlite 6x12s and Yokos. Still has standard interior. Had her for four years and bodywork has been good on the whole.




MR2 MK2 "Muttley" Japanese import owned for five years in Teal (only on the 93 imports) Car was imported at 47000 kilometers and converted to MPH, odo now reads 95000.

Came with cream crackered Ohlins J spec shocks replaced with Turbo Black Billies.
 
Also featured Phoenix Power Departure 1 exhaust which promptly dropped to bits so I had the pipework remade throughout in stainless.

Nardi steering wheel which needs a refurb. I've swapped in 16" Enkei RPF 01 three piece split rims with trackday rubber.

Proper Spring cleaning will be in progress soon, car attracts more attention than it should given the bargain purchase price.




Above is the Eunos recently added to the family for my Mother in law to play about in. Bought from Russ and Georgia who were absolutely brilliant to deal with and had owned her for around six years. Original sale thread here forum.retro-rides.org/thread/203195/mazda-manual-abergele-north-wales

Sooo pleased with this car. Just needs paint work scratches removed and rear bumper repainting, I also suspect rear shocks may be on their way out - apart from that she drives great! Rust is minimal and MOT history is amazingly advisory free.


All three cars will be spruced up very soon ready for Summer



 

Cheers 👍 will post again in a few weeks

Well done, looking good. That car was a great friend to me, I'm glad to see it being loved and looked after.

🤔

So mother in law has whizzed off in the Eunos, happy days ..

MR2 is next in line for pampering - I'm also viewing another MR2 tonight .

My wife looks at me this way a lot ... 😒

Sorry, the "Three Amigos" are when your brake pressure, ABS and traction control lights don't go off when they should, or come on when they shouldn't, often pointing to a potentially expensive problem on Discoverys and P38 Range Rovers.

Oh, and might buy an mgtf vvc 160 tomorrow. C/w nice raspy exhaust

Quick update, happy days continue for the amigos, that is after I managed to kill the Mini's 1293 engine 😞 Mx5 passed mot just needed a loose indicator wire and track rod end rubber boot replaced. Cost £90 inc mot

Mini now running well with £80 eBay 850 engine, great fun having to work so hard to make progress. Captures the charm of the original smallest engined cars. Just renewing front suspension cones hoping for a more compliant ride.

MR2 needed a new battery, other than that it continues to display typical Toyota reliability. Keeping it for now but may sell for the right price if someone offers

All in all good cheap thrills

And then there was...a 4th amigo !

Haven't mentioned bro in laws MX-5 MK2 phoenix edition (the grey one)

Mini still off road til spring with mega rusty sill maladies, new eunos hood rain channel stopped boot leaks on a recent Paris run, MR2 hardly turns a wheel lately - possibly having Greddy sideskirts and front lip fitted if the new house move doesn't eat up too many funds 🤔

The amigos are having a reshuffle with some going their separate ways.. Eunos is away living with parents in law and the mk2 mx5 found a new owner, leaving the Mini and Mr2 at home with us.

All was quiet on the new motor front, until this happened..




'79 bgt black exterior/black vinyl interior with chrome 14" wires.


The plan was for the mgb to replace both the Mini and Mr2, however the mg proceeded to catastrophically overheat on its first trip in my ownership. Someone had added radweld to the system completely blocking the lower rad hose.

The seller immediately offered £500 to pay for a new head etc. Turned out a gudgeon pin had dislodged scouring a massive groove from the cylinder wall.

So after buying a few dud secondhand motors I've fitted a low mileage ivor searle remanufactured motor with a new clutch.

Plan is to get the car on the road next week, then it's a few months of reliability testing going solo before letting my wife in the car. That way if its running well it will encourage her to keep the car.

Neither of us is happy with the terrible ownership experience so far, but I'm hoping that will change.

Jen has named the car which potentially bodes well. Welcome Milo the new third amigo - don't let us down!