This is my Austin Mini 1000 that I have affectionately named "THOR". It is a Canadian market car I recently purchased for restoration with 19,000 original miles!! It is left-hand drive and is in relatively good condition. There is rust in the right front fender, both A panels, both rocker panels, scuttle panel and the rear valance. It was partially disassembled when I got it but it is all there.
I will be painting it the original BMC Vermillion Orange.
My plans are to give it the vintage look externally with lots of chrome, white roof and cooper hood stripes, 4 lights across the front, 10 inch wheels and maybe even a white roof mounted luggage rack. The roof is dented so I am just going to add a period-correct Webasto-style rag top.
Interior is going to be stock (original seats are in great shape. See page 7) but will be adding a roll bar, am/fm/mp3/cd player and a few more gauges to keep an eye on things. Kind of a "Resto-Mod" sort of thing.
Here I am picking it up at a nearby British car shop with the help of my Father-in-law (the guy in the yellow shirt). It just fit in the trailer! (By the way, I'm not in the pictures)
Here is how it looked when I finally got it in the garage. The previous owner had already removed the engine/transmission and front suspension which he had powdercoated.
Here are the wheels before and after with some new chrome wheel rings and chrome nuts as well. Thanks to Bob @ Hammersteel Rustorations for the sandblasting. I am still waiting for my 165/70/10 Yokohamas to come. Should be nice and grippy!
!!UPDATE!! I just scored a set of 10x4 MKI Cosmic aluminum wheels for $15 each on ebay!! They are apparently from a Radford mini from the 1960's. They were a little rarer than the seller knew. I only bought them because they were cheap but I don't really like them so I just sold them on ebay. They ended up selling for $612 plus shipping!!! Now I can buy something I like instead. Not bad! After I repainted them, I sold them for over 10 times what i paid!!!!
Here is the boot badge, before and after. It's all in the details!!! I know it's not a MKII but it's the only badge I have. It came with the boot lid I got.
My new KONI adjustable shocks. Even they are painted in the original BMC Vermillion Orange!!! OOOOOHHHHH beeeeuuuutifullll!!
Valve cover before and after. Even got a new decal! (there's those details again!)
(update....got a new Minifin aluminum valve cover...see page 4. I sold this one on eBay to a guy in Florida.)
The steering wheel has also been refinished with new black base/clear coat. I think I might actually paint it white for a more vintage look.
Page 1, intro
Page 2, Fender replacement
Page 3, New parts
Page 4, New engine
Page 5, More rust repair
Page 6, Grille rebuild
Page 7, Interior
Page 8, My other Austin
Page 9, More engine stuff.
Page 10, More rust repair
