Advice Please
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 8:43 pm
Hello to everyone. My name is Matt and I am a new young (ish) Owners Club member looking to purchase what will be my first Minor.
I have viewed an otherwise in quite good condition 948 Minor that has some visible rust (4 inches by 5 inches long patch) on one of the chassis legs (driver side running from bulkhead to front of car) and missing jacking points on both sides. The vendor (an extremely nice chap) said that they were lost when new metal was welded into the floors. The floor inside and out do look very solid. I'm just wondering if lack of jacking points will be a problem. Also, the gearbox is very crunchy when changing down due to worn synchro. It's apparently been like this for several years. Problem? or do they all do that?
The car is in good, but far from mint condition, though I quite like old cars to look a bit lived in. Wings have rust in the usual places (at their base next to doors, at front around lights and around the arches) but are not terminal and probably have a good few years use in them yet. The boot lid edge is a bit frilly (but not that bad) and there is some rust visible when passenger door is opened. Also, the driver door jumps a catch when car goes over a bump. The paint is shiny and smart, resprayed in mid 80s, though there is the odd evidence of filler here and there, and it is a bit orange peely in places too. The engine starts on the button, though it had been run before I arrived (bonnet warm when I felt it, and it was parked in the shade) but it does not run on when turned off and restarts easily when hot. The seats are split and very scruffy, but I quite fancy a car that I can re-trim. Maybe. Overall, it is a very honest, and very genuine little car that looks presentable and drives very well. Feels strange having no seat belts though. Are these easy to fit? It's far and away the best car that I have seen so far. We've provisionally agreed on £1700 which is pretty much at the top of my budget. I quite like it, but don't wan't to let my desire to own a Minor lead me into taking on the wrong car. I'm not in a particular hurry to buy, though bad health means that I probably won't be driving in a years time. The purchase of a Minor will be the realisation of a dream car while I can still enjoy it.
Worth proceeding with a professional inspection? or should I keep looking?
Advice much appreciated
Matt
I have viewed an otherwise in quite good condition 948 Minor that has some visible rust (4 inches by 5 inches long patch) on one of the chassis legs (driver side running from bulkhead to front of car) and missing jacking points on both sides. The vendor (an extremely nice chap) said that they were lost when new metal was welded into the floors. The floor inside and out do look very solid. I'm just wondering if lack of jacking points will be a problem. Also, the gearbox is very crunchy when changing down due to worn synchro. It's apparently been like this for several years. Problem? or do they all do that?
The car is in good, but far from mint condition, though I quite like old cars to look a bit lived in. Wings have rust in the usual places (at their base next to doors, at front around lights and around the arches) but are not terminal and probably have a good few years use in them yet. The boot lid edge is a bit frilly (but not that bad) and there is some rust visible when passenger door is opened. Also, the driver door jumps a catch when car goes over a bump. The paint is shiny and smart, resprayed in mid 80s, though there is the odd evidence of filler here and there, and it is a bit orange peely in places too. The engine starts on the button, though it had been run before I arrived (bonnet warm when I felt it, and it was parked in the shade) but it does not run on when turned off and restarts easily when hot. The seats are split and very scruffy, but I quite fancy a car that I can re-trim. Maybe. Overall, it is a very honest, and very genuine little car that looks presentable and drives very well. Feels strange having no seat belts though. Are these easy to fit? It's far and away the best car that I have seen so far. We've provisionally agreed on £1700 which is pretty much at the top of my budget. I quite like it, but don't wan't to let my desire to own a Minor lead me into taking on the wrong car. I'm not in a particular hurry to buy, though bad health means that I probably won't be driving in a years time. The purchase of a Minor will be the realisation of a dream car while I can still enjoy it.
Worth proceeding with a professional inspection? or should I keep looking?
Advice much appreciated
Matt
