www.tdcireland.com Forum Index
HomeRegister Forum About UsMembershipFixturesResultsUpcoming EventsPhotos Log in
Dashboard
Latest Posts
Past Events
Club_Championship
Videos
For Sale
Turbine
Private Messages
Search Forum
Your Profile
Child Safeguarding
FAQ

Recent Topics
» 2024 Latest Club Championship Standings
by Piers14 on Tue Mar 26, 2024 2:31 pm

» 13th Apr 2024: TDC Irish Classic Retrospective Trial
by lauraf on Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:43 am

» 24th Mar 2024: TDC Club Autotest Results
by Piers14 on Mon Mar 25, 2024 12:57 pm

» 24th Mar 2024: TDC Club Autotest
by Philip on Tue Mar 19, 2024 7:53 am

» Round 2 - National Autotest Championship - Sunday 10th March
by guyfo on Tue Mar 05, 2024 4:18 pm

» Connacht MVAT February 18th 2024
by Paddy_paddy on Mon Feb 05, 2024 9:27 pm

» 21st Jan 2024: TDC Dave Griffin Memorial MVAT Results
by Piers14 on Sun Jan 21, 2024 7:01 pm

» 21st Jan 2024: TDC Dave Griffin Memorial MVAT
by Philip on Tue Jan 16, 2024 7:29 pm

» 2024 TDC Club Championship Dates & Driver Classification
by Piers14 on Sun Jan 14, 2024 10:47 pm

» 2024 Production Car Regulations discussion
by garrett.kennedy on Thu Jan 11, 2024 9:03 am


User Block
Username:

Password:

 Remember me



I forgot my password

Don't have an account yet?
You can register for FREE


Who is Online

In total there are 142 users online :: 0 Registered, 0 Hidden and 142 Guests

Registered Users: None

[ View complete list ]


Most users ever online was 604 on Sun Jul 21, 2019 1:26 am


Mini (1980 or earlier)
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
 
Reply to topic    www.tdcireland.com Forum Index » Wanted View previous topic
View next topic
Mini (1980 or earlier)
Author Message
J



Joined: 03 Feb 2009
Posts: 348
Location: Dublin

Post Mini (1980 or earlier) Reply with quote
Hi All,

I'm in the market for a Mini, 1980 or earlier.

I'm on a very tight budget so I'm expecting to buy something which needs work and may not be currently roadworthy.

Ideally a reasonably solid car with a running engine (engine size not important).

If you know of anything suitable please post it here.

I'm saying 1980 or earlier so that if I make the car roadworthy for eventual use at multi venue tests, I could get classic tax & insurance (I can't afford to pay full tax & insurance on another car! Smile ).

If anyone can suggest other suitable cars I should look at which will be 30 years old next year then I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

J.
Wed Sep 02, 2009 5:48 pm View user's profile Send private message
Rory



Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 155

Post Reply with quote
Hi J

Have you thought about a Midget? They are cheap at the moment, mostly over 30 yrs old and are as tune-able as a Mini. I've bought a couple of them in the UK over the last few years. They are amazing fun to drive. If you pick up a 1500 version it will take Morris Marina 1300 running gear. The 1300 Marina had a 1275 engine with a midified head. An early Metro might do too. Also Austin A35 or Morris Minor will take MG Midget running gear - ie will take a MED engine.

Hope this helps

Rory
Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:11 pm View user's profile Send private message MSN Messenger
Damien



Joined: 03 Feb 2009
Posts: 229

Post Reply with quote
Rory the A-series in-line and tranverse engines are different, so a metro wouldnt fit a midget. The marina would thought as far as i know.

J, i have a 92 cooper if that would be any use to you?
Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:22 pm View user's profile Send private message
Patricia



Joined: 01 Feb 2009
Posts: 295
Location: Leopardstown

Post Reply with quote
Hi Damien, just as a matter of interest what is the difference between a Cooper and a Cooper S
Wed Sep 02, 2009 9:13 pm View user's profile Send private message
Philip
TDC Committee Member


Joined: 02 Feb 2009
Posts: 410
Location: Dublin, Ireland

Post Reply with quote
What spec is the '92 cooper Damien?
Wed Sep 02, 2009 9:59 pm View user's profile Send private message
Damien



Joined: 03 Feb 2009
Posts: 229

Post Reply with quote
Trish, all the old coopers were under 1 litre where as the 's' came in 970 1071 and 1275, had twin tanks etc. The mk1 1275 one is the one people want for retros etc. The late coopers that are post 90 like I have dont compare at all really. They were all 1275 and came in carb, single point injected, and multi point injected. The MPIs are a bit of a pain because they are distributerless so cannot be converted to carb without using expensive electronic ignitions like megajolt.

Philip, its a fairly standard spi.
Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:35 pm View user's profile Send private message
Rory



Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 155

Post Reply with quote
Marina 1275 running gear will go into a midget fairly easily, the 1500 midget has the advantage of having slightly raised suspension so might be better for multivenues. Metros, with their hydrolastic suspension should be pretty good for multivenues, especially with a decent engine. A clean MG Metro would also be a good investment.
Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:53 pm View user's profile Send private message MSN Messenger
Rory



Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 155

Post Reply with quote
Damien, are u selling your Cooper? Whats it like?
Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:58 pm View user's profile Send private message MSN Messenger
J



Joined: 03 Feb 2009
Posts: 348
Location: Dublin

Post Reply with quote
Thanks for the suggestions, keep 'em coming Smile

@Rory: I hadn't though of a Midget but it does tick some boxes in terms of age and price plus it being rear wheel drive would be fun. Very Happy Are Midgets a good car for autotesting though? I guess I've been aiming for a Mini as they seem best suited for the job (looking at the Hewison Trophy results, 9 of the top 10 cars are Minis). As I mentioned before cost is a factor for me (Honestly I'm not a miser Smile but I already run 2 road cars so another road car needs to be a classic i.e. 1litre tax €172 Vs €48 classic).

@Damien: Thanks for the offer. If I was only doing autotests I would be interested but because I want to leave myself the option of putting the car on the road I'm going to try to get something which qualifies as a classic for the moment. If that plan changes I'll get back onto you Wink
Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:03 am View user's profile Send private message
Malcolm
TDC Committee Member


Joined: 03 Feb 2009
Posts: 28
Location: Donore

Post Reply with quote
The 1500 midget has the cross member in a different place to the 1275 and I thought that stopped fitting a 1275 engine

The Marina engine fits a 1275 midget and is what you use to bore out to 1450 as the block is thicker walled.

Fot a ford 105E back axle and Toyota or seirra gearbox and the midget is bomb proof
Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:36 am View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Rory



Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 155

Post Reply with quote
@J
Midgets are fantastic fun. A lot of people used to use them when Autotests were called Test Trials. They were fairly spectacular. I've run a couple of Midgets as classic road cars and loved every minute in them. Have you looked at classic insurance? Through the Irish Vintage Society classic insurance is very reasonable. Starts at €130 for 3rd party. I've got 4 classics on the one policy, all with agreed values for €380. A relatively decent Midget should be yours from ebay etc for less than £2,000, from the UK. Don't even think of buying one here, way overpriced and usually ropey as hell. They don't seem to have a problem spending £5k on a car over there and then selling it for £1500. Can only be good!
If you're looking for something a bit different I have a very nice 1973 Mercedes 450SLC for sale. Its a beast of a car, you could use it for drifting too!

Good luck with your search.

Rory
Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:24 am View user's profile Send private message MSN Messenger
Damien



Joined: 03 Feb 2009
Posts: 229

Post Reply with quote
Why not take the easy option and get a starlet, you can get classic insurance but not tax. None of the headaches of minis and you dont have to drive it as sympatically on multivenues.
Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:00 pm View user's profile Send private message
J



Joined: 03 Feb 2009
Posts: 348
Location: Dublin

Post Reply with quote
You may be right and I am making things difficult for myself, I guess I'm trying to make sure I only have to buy my car once and that's why I'm trying to get the most universal car I can.
Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm View user's profile Send private message
Piers14
TDC Committee Member


Joined: 31 Jan 2009
Posts: 2030
Location: Leopardstown, Dublin

Post Reply with quote
Damien wrote:
Why not take the easy option and get a starlet...You dont have to drive it as sympatically on multivenues.


Laughing Depends on how much TLC you put into it Damien...

I must say I'd love to have a rwd for the multivenues.. Trish has a Midget lying idle in the corner of her garage... Hmmm.


Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm View user's profile Send private message
Peespeed
TDC Committee Member


Joined: 01 Feb 2009
Posts: 490
Location: Carlow

Post Reply with quote
J have a look on carandclassic.co.uk some cheap enough Midgets on there, if i had somewhere to work on a car I'd have a serious think about buying one.




@Trish, get that Midget on the road and use it on the Retros and let Piers out in the Starlet Very Happy

_________________
Peespeed Photography
Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:52 pm View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:    
Reply to topic    www.tdcireland.com Forum Index » Wanted All times are GMT
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Page 1 of 4

 
Jump to: 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2015 phpBB Group