My New Toy

[gizmobob123]

Hi everyone! I am 16 and earlier this year I was on a hunt for cheap car insureance. After I failed to get a reasonable quote (over 12 grand for my mums car, a 2 litre 56 reg Mondeo!) I decided to look into classics, after reading posts on here about young driver insureance, my heart became set on a Moggie Minor. So after a lot of searching and persuading on my part, on the 18th August I became a proud owner of a '61 4 Door Moggie. As you might expect for £500 I have some work to do and in its current state I have some doubts about it passing the MOT! All in all I am over the moon with it and compared to my friend who spent the same amount on a Mini I have no doubt I got the better deal!













Meet BUGSY!



As you can see there is some work to do but I have almost a year to do it in!

Let me know what you guys think!

Cameron

[Amorrisman]

Welcome Cameron,

Looks great, quite a project. This site is a valuable source of information, the authors here have often helped me with queries.

Best of luck,

Chris

[gizmobob123]

Yes I have had a good look around.

I forgot to mention that as well as the car I also got many many different parts from doors to dynamos. Literally a shedfull!

[orb596]

Fabulous colour - clipper blue is one of my favourites. 4 doors are quite rare and especially so in that colour.
Good luck with the restoration - keep us up to date.

[samuria]

welcome to a great forum...
nice project you have there..
nice set of cobwebsin the glove box
yes you have some work ahead of you..
but when its done you have a better car
than a mini

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Looks solid enough. Just take your time and do one thing at once, don't be too hasty in condemning old parts.

[whyperion]

While on Clipper Blue ones , what shade of grey should the wheels be ( Pearl Grey ? )

[LouiseM]

Yes, pearl grey.

[gizmobob123]

I wasn't aware that the blue was rare? Obviously it needs a respray and I was going to go for gloss black would you advise against this?

[stag36587]

I wasn't aware that the blue was rare? Obviously it needs a respray and I was going to go for gloss black would you advise against this?

Yes definitely - clipper blue is a fabulous colour and quite rare

[DaisyMayFozz]

Keep the blue, Gloss Black will show all the scratches and imperfections in the car.

[brucek]

To help you see what it could look like, here's a pic of my convertible in my opinion, clipper blue is the best of the blues Good luck with your project.

[frame][/frame]

[lowride stepside]

Matt black

[irmscher]

That will keep you busy over winter but it will be worth it

[gizmobob123]

Sorry for taking ages to reply, I've been busy.

Today I removed: rad, battery, the grill on the front and all of the removable bits and bobs of the engine ready to take it out when the weather is a bit more forgiving! Blimey the nuts for the bumper in the wheel arches are the biggest pain to get out! I had to jack the car up and lie on a plastic table under it to get at them!

I must admit I am starting to come round to the blue, the more I look at it, the more I want to keep it as it is!

Well there's my little update for you.

Cameron

ps. brucek: I think I might print that out and keep it on my desk at work, a bit of motivation!

Edit: I was looking on wikipedia and it said that A reg plates came out in '63 however mine is a '61 and it has an A plate on it?

Its a bit baffling does anyone have any ideas?

[LouiseM]

I was looking on wikipedia and it said that A reg plates came out in '63 however mine is a '61 and it has an A plate on it? Its a bit baffling does anyone have any ideas?

Before they started to issue age related numbers it was very common for the DVLA to issue an 'A' plate to vehicles which had had their original registration sold/transferred.

[gizmobob123]

Oh yeah I think I remember reading something about that, shouldn't there be something in the V5 though?

[margriff]

learning curve much?

[gizmobob123]

Hello everyone, I hope its alright to resurrect such an old thread but I thought I'd give you all another update

Been quite busy, however the weather has not been in my favour but I suppose its better than being on the somerset levels

Anyway, we have removed: engine, gearbox, rear axle, prop, steering column and suspension. Nearly ready for welding

We have managed to place the car on a rollover jig, however it does not quite flip over Thats home fabrication for you We're in the process of altering it so that it will flip all the way over

Pics:

Empty engine bay


Rear end of jig


Front end of jig


Mess underneath made by previous owners botching


For some reason I really like this picture


Rear axle with 50 years of rust


Nice and clean


LOOK! Its sideways!


So theres my little update. I'm glad we are finally over the hump of winter and I can actually get some proper work done

Cameron

[bmcecosse]

Good sturdy roll jig - just move the cross bars down.