GIVE YOUR OPINION

[paul dowd]

i have a mini and cant decide to keep in as a classic or upgrade parts(modify)give your opinion :!:

[Mark]

What year/model is it?

[The Marcos Graveyard]

Paul has a 79 Mini 850.

I'd say keep it original, there aren't too many 850's around these days, nor 70's Minis either,

[woody]

Sounds like you've reached that crossroads that most mini enthusiasts eventually do. Usual solution is buy another and have the best of both worlds (or two cars lying around with nither ever finished).

[Billy]

Paul,

If you can, try to keep it original. As TMG says, there are very few original 850s left. One that comes to mind is Liam Cotter's mustardy coloured 850 that has completed in all (I think) the Mizen to Malin runs to date. It might be slow but it's reliable.

The thing to keep in mind if you go down the customising route is that what you think is the dog's goolies might turn 99% of potential future buyers off. Just look at the number of Pimp-My-Ride Corollas and Hondas for sale at the side of the road. No dealer will touch them!

My vote is to keep it original.

Billy

[BlackSe7en]

I think there is a difference between "Pimp-My-Ride Corollas and Hondas" and a 850 done up to look like a Cooper. There are some simple add on modifications that can improve the look of a Mini and not lose too much of its originality. These will not put off potential buyers, if you are thinking of selling.

[kerryminigringo]

i think that calling liams brown 850 slow is a injustice to it,it travels along at a nice relaxed speed and it should also be remebered that this and all 850,s came from an era when getting from a to b as fast as you could was not as important as just getting there ,long live the 850,s a more elite bunch than the 1000 or 1275,s.

[mini_sprite94]

Well I think restore, if there aren’t that many left, it makes it all the more desirable.
But after all our talk Paul, its your car, and if you don’t get that little wee smile every time you look at it, then restoring it or tricking it out, will have been for nothing!

[woody]

You can always tweek it with period bits ,ie. old style alloys and arches,chrome wirers and fillr cap,cooper grill. At the end of the day its you car anyway you like it.

[kerryminigringo]

the thing about mods is that eventually they go out of fashion and if you wait long enough they will come back into fashion again(though not so sure 3 spoke alloys will ever return) but that an original car is always in fashion but period mods always look good

[bsmythyjr]

keep it as a classic dont join them muppets with there crap cars
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Merlin]

Well I can simplify this whole dilemma, just buy 2 Minis, make one fully custom and the other concourse class.

Simple,
AH