Rather than brush painting or rattle canning it, this Minor is the car you need to learn to paint with. With a gun and compressor I mean. If you can weld, you can use a spray gun.

That one is scrap and beyond repair.

A 1.6 DV6 (PSA) Diesel MINI clutch job is £1500+.

BMW quote £2600 or so.

Hmmm. As much as I'd like it to live, I think that is fucked. I'd be looking to rehome as many parts as possible, taking the number plate off and weighing it in. Outdoor storage has ruined it.

Of course you should rebuild it. I'm just a realist/defeatist.

The auto tunnel was different to the RS one - they were huge, wide and flat. At AVO, the standard Escort tunnels were modified with a hide mallet at the front to clear the bigger bellhousing. It's very difficult to do a clutch change on an AVO car with the engine fitted and it's easier to pull the e...

Yes. Only when you delete-optioned the stripes did you get a Mexico badge, otherwise they had the 1600GT one as the stripes already incorporated the Mexico name. I don't think Ford ever sold a model badged 1600GT? They sold a 1300 Sport and before that a 1300GT which can be spotted by the hydraulic...

HP or LP? If LP could just put a bit of hose and clamps on the section that is leaking. From what I saw they looked like 12mm rigid aluminium. He reckons he's done ten sets this year. He showed me how the cv joint at the gearbox end would be spinning and flicking the rain, gravel and shit directly ...

The metal on the Moggie is very thick though. Not sure of the thickness but much more than I've seen on other cars previously. Possibly a good 1mm/20 gauge or even thicker? I guess this is why these cars have often lasted so long. Christ no. The state of a 15-20 year old Minor in 1981.......they we...

An excellent story, one which makes it difficult to scrap. I'd feel so guilty. I guess all you can do is make it roadworthy and tidy it up.

LOB is a Brum number so it may have been registered new to Austin Longbridge.

It's a miracle it's made it this far.