we spent the rest of the year touring around Scotland, Ireland and England.
When we came home to Australia in december we shipped her home with us.
Unfortunatley she failed her RWC, our version of a MOT and so I couldn't register her.
So she went into storage in the garage at mum's beach house.
There she sat whilst life happened, my wife and I got married, had a kid, brought a house, etc.
so in 2002 I finally got around to getting started on her restoration.
After some difficulty I found a bodyshop that was prepared to have a go at rebuilding her body.
They stuck her in the back of their workshop, and worked on her between other jobs.
This helped to keep the cost down.
I took the engine and gearbox, and got them both rebuilt, the engine by a local mini specialist, and the box by a
recommended geabox guy. These were returned to the bodyshop to be refitted when ready.
whilst she was there more life stuff, with a growing family we moved house and had another couple of kids.
the new place has a double garage so I finally have somewhere to work on her.
In June this year, after 8 years i hired a trailer and picked her up from the bodyshop.
Since then I've stripped and rebuilt the front and rear suspension, replaced the entire brake system, had the diff rebuilt.
rebuilt the rear axle, starter motor, fuel pump, wiper motor and wheelboxes.
I've rebuilt the dash, and almost finished rewiring her.
Tonight I've just set the valve rocker clearances and ignition timing.
I turned the key for the first time, the ignition light came on, and when i turned it further the starter motor kicked in and the engine turned over.
I'm so close to finishing her. I just need to refit the radiator, rebuild the tailshaft, finish connecting up the fuel system.
and finish the wireing. Then she should be mechanically done.
She has to got back to the bodyshop so they can finish a few minor details.
Then I need to fit the interior, and I should be able to get her registered, hopefully by christmas.
