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 Posted: Apr 5, 2021 04:02PM
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Kfry,
fill out your profile so folks close to you can offer help and we can know where you are in general.  Just the state is good enough. If the car was down south all it's life and in a field for a while, it might not be as bad as a car that sat in a field near the beach or up north in the snow belt.   If you're not gonna buy it, I might be interested in seeing some pix to try to further id the car. I would imagine if there's any interior, it's pretty much rotted by now.  I'm in NY. You can pm me from my profile.

 Posted: Apr 5, 2021 07:48AM
 Edited:  Apr 6, 2021 07:21PM
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I bought mine for $5K and am putting another $4K just in replacement metal body parts back into it. As long as you're doing it for the love of Minis and not doing it to flip it and make a profit. You probably won't get the latter. 
I saw a few other Minis that others gave up on part way into their builds. I should have went that route. Would have cost more on the initial purchase price of the car, but would have saved in the long run on replacement parts, labour, and metal fab. But when shopping for one that someone else has done some or all of the bodywork on, look hard into it. Receipts, build photos, and a good visual. Not everyone has the same work ethic and attention to detail.

.
Simple recipe for Excitement:  Take 1 Classic Mini. Throw in 1590cc's of engine. Add 5 gears. A dash of 94 octane. A sprinkle of style inside and out. Toss in 1 MadMan and finally heat tires and pavement to taste. Recipe produces 1 Mini VTEC conversion and full satisfaction. Motor on!
 Posted: Mar 24, 2021 09:24AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Moffet
Quote:
Originally Posted by 6464s

A 20 years horizon is a long window of time. Guys get married, can't work the mini, have to work on the honeydew list. Guys get jobs, can't work on the mini, have to go to work. Guys have families, can't work on the mini, have to tend to the family. Guys get old and fat and the body doesn't work like it use to, can't work on the mini.

Get yourself a driving mini and have fun now, not hoping you'll have it restored in 20 years.
+1 to what 6464s advises.
I've been through those stages of life and am at the third "guys get old..." stage. when I was "needing" a Mini about 20 years ago, I thought about the prospect of restoring a basket case. Instead, I prowled the web looking for something that was driveable and I would at least get some pleasure out of.  About the second best decision I've ever made, the best one being marrying a wife who would actually agree to buying a Mini.
Consider also what the world might be like in 20 years. Right now electric cars are beginning to take up market share and recharging stations are springing up all over. Where will gasoline stations be in 20 years? Maybe about as common as blacksmith shops. 
Off topic; Porsche is investing in E fuel that could allow gasoline engines a longer lease on life.

On topic; If cheap, and you have room, go for it. Might take several to make a car, but they come up from time to time.

 Posted: Mar 24, 2021 06:33AM
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If the field is somewhere dry it might be restorable. You need to post a picture of it. I've seen some very rusty Minis restored but if the roof is rusted out forget it.

 Posted: Mar 24, 2021 06:31AM
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CA
Quote:
Originally Posted by 6464s

A 20 years horizon is a long window of time. Guys get married, can't work the mini, have to work on the honeydew list. Guys get jobs, can't work on the mini, have to go to work. Guys have families, can't work on the mini, have to tend to the family. Guys get old and fat and the body doesn't work like it use to, can't work on the mini.

Get yourself a driving mini and have fun now, not hoping you'll have it restored in 20 years.
+1 to what 6464s advises.
I've been through those stages of life and am at the third "guys get old..." stage. when I was "needing" a Mini about 20 years ago, I thought about the prospect of restoring a basket case. Instead, I prowled the web looking for something that was driveable and I would at least get some pleasure out of.  About the second best decision I've ever made, the best one being marrying a wife who would actually agree to buying a Mini.
Consider also what the world might be like in 20 years. Right now electric cars are beginning to take up market share and recharging stations are springing up all over. Where will gasoline stations be in 20 years? Maybe about as common as blacksmith shops. 

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Mar 23, 2021 05:12PM
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At this point every part of the car will be rusted, seized or rotted. May be to far gone to even save some of the mechanicals. Something led to it being in the field also. Does it come with a vin and title? If so then you may be able to make a few bucks on just that if you can get it real cheap. Like $100 and you haul it off.

"How can anything bigger be mini?"

 Posted: Mar 23, 2021 04:50PM
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I am sure others more experienced in Minis (i.e that have restored a Mini themselves) will chime in but you have to take into account a few things when considering what to do with the car:
1) If it has been sitting for that long out in a field, it is more than likely that, as it was suggested before, the car has basically disintegrated.
2) anything can be restored/replaced in a Mini.....at a price. When you add up all the panels needed to put the car back together, you will realize that you might have been better off either with a new shell or a more solid Mini
3) the cost of restoring a Mini will be a lot more that you will get should you desire to sell it.

So,if restoring the car is a hobby for you, then go for it. If you are not concerned about the time and money it will take, go for it. if you there is nobody who will be asking you 'when are you going to get rid of that car', then go for it.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck...and show us the car, if you can,
cheers,
Abel

 Posted: Mar 23, 2021 02:19PM
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Thank you very much for your insight its greatly appreciated but I think anything thats running is super hard to find and out of my budget at this time .But later I maybe beable to grab somthing running 

 Posted: Mar 23, 2021 02:03PM
 Edited:  Mar 23, 2021 06:54PM
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ALL minis have rust. Some more than others. The idea is to get a running mini where you can drive it and work on it. The last mini came off the assembly line 20 years ago. They have rust. All minis have rust. They rusted at the factory. A mini that's been in a field for 26 years is probably dust by now.

A 20 years horizon is a long window of time. Guys get married, can't work the mini, have to work on the honeydew list. Guys get jobs, can't work on the mini, have to go to work. Guys have families, can't work on the mini, have to tend to the family. Guys get old and fat and the body doesn't work like it use to, can't work on the mini.

Get yourself a driving mini and have fun now, not hoping you'll have it restored in 20 years.

 Posted: Mar 23, 2021 01:22PM
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Good Day all 

I have a question. I found a rusty dented up 1963 Austin Mini and was wondering before I purchase it .Is all rusty mini restorable  ,its been sitting in a farmers field for 26 years and theres no oil in the motor . Is it worth buying and restoring or is there a point where they are not restorable . Im gonna do everything myself for restoring it has no time frame to be complete I believe they cut the back of it to make it look like a mini truck. floor is rotted out in spots panels rusty and dented. Thank you everyone for you time and advice I really wont to get in to one for cheap off the hope . Then take 20 years to restore it lol