Is definately going to be a Mini!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1980-AUSTIN-MORRIS-MINI-850-SUPER-BLUE_W0QQitemZ290172437595QQihZ019QQcategoryZ38708QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Did an insurace quote on this, well not exact model... But anyway itd be about £300 for insurance, currently, and the running costs, in terms of tax and petrol would be low as hell!

So what are parts like for these cars?

Mini stuff is readily available, also easy as **** to do repairs, all you need is a manual.

Check for rust if you can though!

Theyre also balls of sh*t.

Crap, rubber cone suspension, pissy, pissy engine. sh*t brakes, unsafe as hell.

sh*t beyond belief rust protection, there probably isnt one that isnt 70% fillers

Theyre all excessively priced. I paid £20 for one in good shape in 1994 to drive round an orchard, it had MOT.

My brother bought one for £70 that was in good shape.

Nowadays, pieces of absolute crap are selling for a grand.

If that really is "no rust" its a top buy. Only thing is itll have drum brakes all round, which is ok for a 850 I guess and the 10" wheels are cool.

They are awesome cars. Get a 1litre, stage1 kit and cooper head and you got a little (rusty) rocket. Mechanically cheap, ~£10 water pump, ~£40 radiatior, but bodywork you should plan on spending £300+ per year fighting rust on a poor one.

If youre buying:

- Check the sills, the subframe and the mot bits for rust, and fix rust fast.
- Check for white gunk under oil filler cap.
- Check bodypanels line up proper.
- Check floor pans for holes.
- Check carpets for damp.


www.dsnclassics.co.uk
www.minispares.com

are the two I used to use most.

Might also be worth buying some MIG welding gear...