Cars for Sale on CL or Ebay - or BaT

[Willie_B]

Looking for my first mini project car. It is extremely difficult to get one here in California. Would love any input about getting this as a first time mini owner

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-Mini-Classic-Mini/333191141195?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D0b8ce7af97f940f7b4c868da2fdd29ab%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D333191141195%26itm%3D333191141195&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A766fc4c2-75d9-11e9-85ae-74dbd1800492%7Cparentrq%3Ab39808c416a0ab148c776a48ffcf795f%7Ciid%3A1

Well it would be a real PROJECT car. Canadian car with LOTS of rust.

[MPlayle]

Even though that one is already titled in California, expect it to have to try to pass smog testing if/when running again.  Being a 1980, it is newer than the no-smog cutoff year of 1975.

As others have asked: What is your budget?  What are your skills?  What are you goals for getting a Mini?

Check with Michael Lewis at MiniGuy (www.miniguy.com) as he usually has a good line on what are available in California - project cars through nicely restored runners.  I know he has a decent yellow 1961 listed - it used to be one I owned.

[Whee]

Looking for my first mini project car. It is extremely difficult to get one here in California. Would love any input about getting this as a first time mini owner

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-Mini-Classic-Mini/333191141195?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D0b8ce7af97f940f7b4c868da2fdd29ab%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D333191141195%26itm%3D333191141195&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A766fc4c2-75d9-11e9-85ae-74dbd1800492%7Cparentrq%3Ab39808c416a0ab148c776a48ffcf795f%7Ciid%3A1

No shortage of Minis in California, or the west coast in general. A couple of project cars up in WA right now if I remember. Check with the Seattle Mini Owners Club.

[knowell]

Even though that one is already titled in California, expect it to have to try to pass smog testing if/when running again.  Being a 1980, it is newer than the no-smog cutoff year of 1975.

As others have asked: What is your budget?  What are your skills?  What are you goals for getting a Mini?

Check with Michael Lewis at MiniGuy (www.miniguy.com) as he usually has a good line on what are available in California - project cars through nicely restored runners.  I know he has a decent yellow 1961 listed - it used to be one I owned.

Thanks to everyone for the input, lots of support on this forum. my budget would be 5-7k for a project car. I am mechanically inclined and have restored engines in the past. I have zero experience in body work and which is the most intimidating part of the mini (rusty nation). That is why as much as possible I would like to find one with a straight body and as rust free as possible ( i know this is rare). The appeal of the one on ebay i posted is the sale price is $2500 which i could probably get repaneled/repaired with the savings in my budget and restore the engine myself.  However, looks like the car has not been registered since 1987 and will probably have a lot of fees to register. And also as you mentioned will have future smog issues.

Thank you for the link the miniguy. I went through all the listing and narrowed some down and will probably go this route to find my project car.

[Whee]

Even though that one is already titled in California, expect it to have to try to pass smog testing if/when running again.  Being a 1980, it is newer than the no-smog cutoff year of 1975.

As others have asked: What is your budget?  What are your skills?  What are you goals for getting a Mini?

Check with Michael Lewis at MiniGuy (www.miniguy.com) as he usually has a good line on what are available in California - project cars through nicely restored runners.  I know he has a decent yellow 1961 listed - it used to be one I owned.

Thanks to everyone for the input, lots of support on this forum. my budget would be 5-7k for a project car. I am mechanically inclined and have restored engines in the past. I have zero experience in body work and which is the most intimidating part of the mini (rusty nation). That is why as much as possible I would like to find one with a straight body and as rust free as possible ( i know this is rare). The appeal of the one on ebay i posted is the sale price is $2500 which i could probably get repaneled/repaired with the savings in my budget and restore the engine myself.  However, looks like the car has not been registered since 1987 and will probably have a lot of fees to register. And also as you mentioned will have future smog issues.

Thank you for the link the miniguy. I went through all the listing and narrowed some down and will probably go this route to find my project car.

Unless you do the bodywork yourself (and enjoy doing it), it *will* cost less to spend more and get a Mini with a good body than getting into a rust-bucket.

[MiniDave]

Absolutely!

Unless it's an Inno, and you keep bringing it back better than it was..... 

[MiniDave]

Check this Innocenti out! Never knew they made a wagon! I Lol'd at his it will go 100 mph comment - with an 850? 100KM maybe   

https://boston.craigslist.org/nos/cto/d/danvers-1970-innocenti-mini-estate/6873516241.html?lang=en&cc=gb

Still, it's a beautiful little woody, and I love the interior!

[Willie_B]

From someone that is anal about the car, where is the top for the air cleaner?  But it does look nice. For a time I wanted a woody.

[MiniDave]

Dan says it's an 850 that makes 47 hp at 6300 rpm.....I was surprised since the English 850 only makes 33hp.

[LarryLebel]

The wood looks like normal ash to me.

[MiniDave]

Nice finish tho - looks great!

[BruceK]

Yup, an Innocenti Mini T with the T meaning Traveller.