- 2014-09-24 12.18.14.jpg (3.4 MiB) Viewed 11444 times
Well - this was advertised on the forum a couple of weeks ago and after a straightforward negotiation it was delivered to me in Salisbury from Nottingham on the 24th September. The registration document shows it as being registered April 1978, but of course it was actually bought in 1986 and finished in 1988. There is a note in the paperwork about police inspection in early 1988 to confirm no stolen parts. So I am lucky to have a plate related to the donor car and not the built car.
I understand the car was built by Engineering Students at Sheffield Hallam university, the Head of Engineering paying for everything in return for keeping the car when finished, and the University agreeing to allow the students to build the car as a project. My one criticism would be the over-use of pop rivets where self tapping screws should be used. Makes life difficult for simple jobs!
The last MOT was in 1990 and it had not been on the road since then, so the whole purchase was a bit of a gamble. It had however been kept in a warm dry garage. The White fibreglass body is definitely scruffy, and the front and rear bumpers show signs of solid object contact and star crazing.
SOOO! As it was able to move about under its own steam I decided to bite the bullet and have it MOT'd in order to get a list of things that needed doing to pass an MOT. The local garage came to collect it (with much amusement) and I sat like the expectant father in the waiting room whilst they put it through the rigours of a modern MOT.
WELL! It passed. How jammy was that? The car now features on their front page for their Facebook thingymajig.
I have not put it on the road yet as delay with DVLA trying to get it registered in my name (only 2 weeks in to 4 week period of grace) so I shall tax it from 1st November.
Jobs done so far are new rear window gas struts, new rear SPAX shock absorbers and coil over springs, second hand SPAX front adjustable shock absorbers and Hi-Los, and K&N cone filter. And two new rear tyres to match two new front ones fitted before sale.
I have ordered a MIDAS spec. manifold and exhaust system from Maniflow (yes, they have bespoke Midas system on their books) and will fit this before November.
It currently has a 998 A+ engine, but it came with a 1275 Gold Seal brand new engine, which over the winter I will find a gearbox for, and strip the engine down and rebuild it for my own edification.
The car is currently an unattractive white and we have plans to alter this very rapidly, funds permitting. Has anyone tried having theirs wrapped yet
I also have a 1971 MkIII Cooper S, which I use at speed events, and I am hoping to upgrade the Midas to take over from the "S", which is worth rather a lot of money if I stuff it
And a 1989 Racing Green with 1275 engine which is being upgraded by Slark Race Engineering (who also did the S engine - 1330 with 91.5 bhp at flywheel and loads of torqu)
And a 2012 BMW MINI Clubman to carry my golf clubs and old chaps electric trolley.
The days are just Packed
Look forward to meeting you all
Malcolm
PS Sorry - didn't realise picture would be full size!!!!!