1968 Austin 1100 Mk1 (Take 2)

[mercrocker]

Blimey is that compression tester broken?? For an A series to be that healthy and clean (and not slathered in BMC green) indicates a pretty good rebuild has taken place not too long ago. Maybe get a good summer use out of the car before getting too bogged down with the bodywork?

[SiC]

Blimey is that compression tester broken?? For an A series to be that healthy and clean (and not slathered in BMC green) indicates a pretty good rebuild has taken place not too long ago.

I hope not! I think Gunson generally are a good brand?

Got similar levels out of my MGB lump.

Dry

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Wet

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I reckon it was rebuilt when it was restored in around 2015. According to MOT history, it's done about 3k since then.

[SiC]

Maybe get a good summer use out of the car before getting too bogged down with the bodywork?

Really the only thing that needs attention first on the body is sorting that bonnet hinge out so it doesn't gouge the body everytime you open it.

Main things that need attention right now is to sort the wobbly and noisy water pump, brakes that you can pretty much push to the floor on, good service and a carb that needs adjusting to allow it to accelerate without choke permanently on. Pretty sure the owner before the guy I bought it off owned it since 2015 odd and deferred most maintenance.

[mercrocker]

Is that hinge likely to be a dash-out job? Yeah that would annoy me, graunching like that. Brakes hopefully might be dried out seals. At least you don't have to worry too much about the engine being a paint-and-gasket type of rebuild.

[SiC]

I probably should have done this before I bought it! To be honest I don't care, it's all straight and solid. Given its a classic, even in a minor bump it's easier to write the car off given the high cost of any body shop work.

For what I paid I'm still happy and even knowing this I don't think I could have got more off.

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Does explain the dent puller receipt in the history. Also means it'll never be worth lots of money. Probably always going to be a fair bit cheaper than those without the marker against it.

Even more excuse to get the necessary bits sorted on it and use it as is getting fun out of it.

[richardthestag]

loving this thread, don't worry about CAT C marker, strictly speaking the seller should have declared it though

Back on 3/1/2012 this car would have been worth less than a half decent suit, so a denting wing and an unsympathetic owner/insurer would have seen it written off.

Looks like a winner for what you paid, do not paint it, maybe you can fix that bonnet hinge from the outside but for me, I would probably live with it for now, the paint is already damaged and probably wont get any worse

[Eddie Honda]

Insurance category markers are a load of bollocks.

Jizz number one was shown by the dealer to be clean as a whistle on the paperwork front, but I could see the paint wasn't matching well on the rear door/corner and overspray on the front bumper corner protector. Was obviously repaired at some point early in its life by an insurer and therefore no marker on it.

Jizz number two I don't think had a marker on it either, but it was 3 shades of yellow and obviously had a bump early in its life too. The airbags must have popped that time as the control module date code wasn't in keeping with the rest of the car. Matters not as it was cheap, steers straight and is still going strong.

One of my Volvos has accident damage, but it must have been repaired at the rear aeons ago before all this marking shite, on top of that it has more recent accident damage, but as no insurer has ever settled on that (and it's too long since), it hasn't got a marker for that either.

[SiC]

loving this thread, don't worry about CAT C marker, strictly speaking the seller should have declared it though

Back on 3/1/2012 this car would have been worth less than a half decent suit, so a denting wing and an unsympathetic owner/insurer would have seen it written off.

Looks like a winner for what you paid, do not paint it, maybe you can fix that bonnet hinge from the outside but for me, I would probably live with it for now, the paint is already damaged and probably wont get any worse

I dunno, looking at the pictures it looks like it's got worse in my ownership. There is always the option of making a plate out of thick galvanized steel and then pot riveting it over that hole.

[SiC]

Currently work in progress, but this is roughly the history I can ascertain. Still need to have a look through the folder again to fill any extra bits in.

Code: Select all

01/03/1968 - First Registration and First Owner
03/01/2012 - Cat C write off
02/06/2012 - Second Owner
03/08/2012 - Third Owner
01/04/2013 - Colour change from Green to Blue
12/06/2014 - MOT Pass at 64318 miles
10/06/2015 - MOT Pass at 66035 miles (+1717 miles)
14/06/2015 - Fourth Owner
16/08/2018 - Fifth Owner
18/08/2018 - MOT Fail at 66294 miles (+259 miles). Headlight aim and tyre under 1.6mm
18/08/2018 - MOT Pass at 66294 miles
09/11/2019 - Sixth Owner ( https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1204953 )
22/04/2020 - Seventh Owner ( https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293575624794 )
21/05/2020 - Eighth Owner (me)

[SiC]

Supposed to be tidying the garage but absolutely zero energy today. Decided to go through the file and go through all what I know about this car. Actually know far more than both my MGB and Dolomite! Wish I pushed a bit harder for the MGB on any history there was.

Code: Select all

01/03/1968 - **** First Registration and First Owner at William Robb, The Kirkcaldy Garage (Crowdenbeath)
11/04/1968 - Service at William Robb at 582 miles
21/08/1968 - Service at William Robb at 2991 miles
31/07/1969 - Service at William Robb at 6195 miles
07/05/1970 - Service at William Robb at 9342 miles
03/01/2012 - Cat C write off
02/06/2012 - **** Second Owner (Insurance company?)
03/08/2012 - **** Third Owner (Newburgh, Cupar, Fife)
14/08/2012 - LH + RH Sills, LH + RH Trumpets
01/04/2013 - Colour change from Green to Blue
12/06/2014 - MOT Pass at 64318 miles
05/08/2014 - Comma Classic 20W50 Oil
10/06/2015 - MOT Pass at 66035 miles (+1717 miles)
14/06/2015 - **** Fourth Owner (East Lothian)
23/11/2015 - Smiths Fuel Gauge sender (ARA973)
16/08/2018 - **** Fifth Owner (Unknown details)
18/08/2018 - MOT Fail at 66294 miles (+259 miles). Headlight aim and tyre under 1.6mm
18/08/2018 - MOT Pass at 66294 miles
09/11/2019 - **** Sixth Owner (Salisbury)
11/11/2019 - Engine Mounts x2
08/12/2019 - Declared MOT Exempt
13/12/2019 - Recon steering rack from Longbridge Motor Spares LTD
09/01/2020 - Door Seal x2
14/04/2020 - For sale on C&C (https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1204953 )
22/04/2020 - **** Seventh Owner (Flitwick, Bedfordshire)
10/05/2020 - For sale on eBay ( https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293575624794 )
21/05/2020 - **** Eighth Owner (me)

Name and contact details of owners removed.