I think it is finally time to introduce my first car. The fact that it doesn’t have a thread is poor but it has been a long time since I worked on it for all the usual excuses – no time, no money, no space etc. Mostly thanks to this video series I am kicking that mentality and cracking on regardless. So let’s start at the beginning…
4am on Christmas morning 2003, 13 year old Metroboy wakes up and finds a large box wrapped up at the foot of the bed. He picks it up but expecting some mass loses his balance – it’s empty. Almost. Inside is an MOT certificate (expired), a V5 (in his name) and a key. The key is for a 1983 Austin Mini Mayfair.
The boot floor had a nasty hole next to the subframe mount and the brakes didn’t work but the car ran and seemed pretty solid. My dad had also decided that it was pretty good fun to drive and wanted it on the road but as neither of us had a clue mechanically he sent it to Sevenoaks Minis to get the welding done, sort the brakes and get an MOT on it. Whether this was the plan all along or not I have no idea!
When the car came back I slowly started going over it cosmetically with a lot of help from my late grandfather, some Haynes manuals and Wheeler Dealers. The learning curve was steep and some extremely questionable repairs were made…
Regardless, the car slowly got prepped for paint as a rolling restoration…
A family friend with a bodyshop stepped in and gave a masterclass in prep, sorting the dented bootlid and some rot in the quarter panel. I was extremely lucky to have this help and learned a huge amount that day.
I was also blessed with having an incredible garage to work in at the time, built to house a pair of XJSs with the doors open. For Christmas 2004 Santa brought a compressor, a spray gun and some Almond Green celly paint.
I think may dad was pretty pleased with the result!
All birthday money and pocket money was blown on new brightwork and the finished product was really not bad after a good polish, needless to say I was extremely proud!
The paint was thin, especially on the sides but I was delighted. My dad used to drive it a fair amount, taking me to school in it and going to couple of local shows. Over the next few years I continued to work on the car, constantly learning. It was rewarding but also very frustrating, not understanding how parts worked or came apart and constantly getting stuck. Eventually we got an internet connection and I found Minifinity. I generally made a complete nuisance of myself on there but learned a lot.
I converted the front brakes to Mk2 Fiesta calipers and discs so the 10” wheels could be kept and got hold of some hi-lows, adjustable tie rods and negative camber bottom arms. I really struggled with the ball joints and was quite disappointed when my dad didn’t think the car drove any differently with the new racy suspension geometry.
After a lot more saving I bought a Nikki carb on eBay along with an LCB and exhaust which was great. It sounded excellent and was apparently faster which was very exciting. The clutch thought otherwise and I got over ambitious.
I did my best with the engine, putting in an MG Metro cam, lightened flywheel and new shells, along with a 12G940 head but this was definitely a step to far for my limited abilities. I can’t find any photographs of the build. The engine did go in and after a lot of headaches did run but not terribly well. Sadly my parents divorced around this time and the house was sold. Thankfully the Mini was able to take refuge in my grandmothers garage for a few years.
More to follow next time.
James
4am on Christmas morning 2003, 13 year old Metroboy wakes up and finds a large box wrapped up at the foot of the bed. He picks it up but expecting some mass loses his balance – it’s empty. Almost. Inside is an MOT certificate (expired), a V5 (in his name) and a key. The key is for a 1983 Austin Mini Mayfair.
The boot floor had a nasty hole next to the subframe mount and the brakes didn’t work but the car ran and seemed pretty solid. My dad had also decided that it was pretty good fun to drive and wanted it on the road but as neither of us had a clue mechanically he sent it to Sevenoaks Minis to get the welding done, sort the brakes and get an MOT on it. Whether this was the plan all along or not I have no idea!
When the car came back I slowly started going over it cosmetically with a lot of help from my late grandfather, some Haynes manuals and Wheeler Dealers. The learning curve was steep and some extremely questionable repairs were made…
Regardless, the car slowly got prepped for paint as a rolling restoration…
A family friend with a bodyshop stepped in and gave a masterclass in prep, sorting the dented bootlid and some rot in the quarter panel. I was extremely lucky to have this help and learned a huge amount that day.
I was also blessed with having an incredible garage to work in at the time, built to house a pair of XJSs with the doors open. For Christmas 2004 Santa brought a compressor, a spray gun and some Almond Green celly paint.
I think may dad was pretty pleased with the result!
All birthday money and pocket money was blown on new brightwork and the finished product was really not bad after a good polish, needless to say I was extremely proud!
The paint was thin, especially on the sides but I was delighted. My dad used to drive it a fair amount, taking me to school in it and going to couple of local shows. Over the next few years I continued to work on the car, constantly learning. It was rewarding but also very frustrating, not understanding how parts worked or came apart and constantly getting stuck. Eventually we got an internet connection and I found Minifinity. I generally made a complete nuisance of myself on there but learned a lot.
I converted the front brakes to Mk2 Fiesta calipers and discs so the 10” wheels could be kept and got hold of some hi-lows, adjustable tie rods and negative camber bottom arms. I really struggled with the ball joints and was quite disappointed when my dad didn’t think the car drove any differently with the new racy suspension geometry.
After a lot more saving I bought a Nikki carb on eBay along with an LCB and exhaust which was great. It sounded excellent and was apparently faster which was very exciting. The clutch thought otherwise and I got over ambitious.
I did my best with the engine, putting in an MG Metro cam, lightened flywheel and new shells, along with a 12G940 head but this was definitely a step to far for my limited abilities. I can’t find any photographs of the build. The engine did go in and after a lot of headaches did run but not terribly well. Sadly my parents divorced around this time and the house was sold. Thankfully the Mini was able to take refuge in my grandmothers garage for a few years.
More to follow next time.
James
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