It occured to me while tinkering with my 35 today that I've never made an entry into Readers Rides with it.
So here goes ;D
I brought the 35 about 5 years ago now, I say brought, I swapped it for my old 93 Corsa. It had been restored to not a bad quality after being in a fire. The reasons were unknown for the fire, but it started inside.
The only real problem with the car was the laquire was peeling all off the door and around the headlights after a bit of a duff job. There were a few bits and peices of rust apearing as well so I took it in for an overhaul. A scuttle panel, 2 door skins, a front and rear valance, 2 new sills, a stack load of new shiney bits and with a fresh coat of Arizona Blue (the original limited edition colour) and £1600 lighter, it looked like this ;D
Just after it was done, me and my partner went to Southern Mini Days 2004 where they were holding the best 45 minis in the UK concours. After entering an hour before the start of the judging (just for a laugh) I got 8th place ;D ;D ;D
This is my partner and the 35 waiting inline to pick up our trophie.
After that I was entered a few more concours events, but because I was in the Limited Edition class, I kept being beat by Mini 30's and 40's (the more popular
) So I just used it as a normal mini of a weekend insted of just keeping it locked up.
When I had the 35 restored originally, I was told the place that did it was a fantastic place. There spraying it top notch, but what lets them down it that they use the cheap Italian steel for the replacement parts. So I had to take it in to have 2 new sills and a whole new floor put in along with a few other bits and peices. Since then the 35 has been locked up in the garage. But I've now ordered a load of bits for the MOT (plus a few I've been meaning to get for a while) because I want it on the road again for the summer ;D
I got it out of the garage about 2 months ago to give it, it's first wash in about a year. Needless to say, it was a bit grubby.
Came up good though after a wash. There is no polish on yet though as although it is lovely and clean and shiney, the surface is a little rough, so I've got some stuff to take that off.
Now to the present day. Today I stripped the interior out to give it a good clean and becasuse I've ordered a new Newton Commercial moulded black carpet to replace the cheap one that was in before.
Before:
After:
Now, before I get to the pictures, I had a lot of trust and faith in the 'specialist' that did the work on my pride and joy. How happy do you think I was when after I stripped out the carpet I found this...
^ That bit is like that because I leaned on it and put my hand though it!!!
He has just welded the new sills and new floor over the existing!!! Everything looks solid, the sills and floor have been welded onto 'clean' metal, but he has just left all the rotted curse word there Is this still safe?
All the bits should be coming in the next few days, so the plan of action is: (in no particular order)
I will keep a photo record on here when ever I do anything and try and get it on the road ASAP!!! ;D
So here goes ;D
I brought the 35 about 5 years ago now, I say brought, I swapped it for my old 93 Corsa. It had been restored to not a bad quality after being in a fire. The reasons were unknown for the fire, but it started inside.
The only real problem with the car was the laquire was peeling all off the door and around the headlights after a bit of a duff job. There were a few bits and peices of rust apearing as well so I took it in for an overhaul. A scuttle panel, 2 door skins, a front and rear valance, 2 new sills, a stack load of new shiney bits and with a fresh coat of Arizona Blue (the original limited edition colour) and £1600 lighter, it looked like this ;D
Just after it was done, me and my partner went to Southern Mini Days 2004 where they were holding the best 45 minis in the UK concours. After entering an hour before the start of the judging (just for a laugh) I got 8th place ;D ;D ;D
This is my partner and the 35 waiting inline to pick up our trophie.
After that I was entered a few more concours events, but because I was in the Limited Edition class, I kept being beat by Mini 30's and 40's (the more popular
) So I just used it as a normal mini of a weekend insted of just keeping it locked up.When I had the 35 restored originally, I was told the place that did it was a fantastic place. There spraying it top notch, but what lets them down it that they use the cheap Italian steel for the replacement parts. So I had to take it in to have 2 new sills and a whole new floor put in along with a few other bits and peices. Since then the 35 has been locked up in the garage. But I've now ordered a load of bits for the MOT (plus a few I've been meaning to get for a while) because I want it on the road again for the summer ;D
I got it out of the garage about 2 months ago to give it, it's first wash in about a year. Needless to say, it was a bit grubby.
Came up good though after a wash. There is no polish on yet though as although it is lovely and clean and shiney, the surface is a little rough, so I've got some stuff to take that off.
Now to the present day. Today I stripped the interior out to give it a good clean and becasuse I've ordered a new Newton Commercial moulded black carpet to replace the cheap one that was in before.
Before:
After:
Now, before I get to the pictures, I had a lot of trust and faith in the 'specialist' that did the work on my pride and joy. How happy do you think I was when after I stripped out the carpet I found this...
^ That bit is like that because I leaned on it and put my hand though it!!!
He has just welded the new sills and new floor over the existing!!! Everything looks solid, the sills and floor have been welded onto 'clean' metal, but he has just left all the rotted curse word there
Is this still safe?All the bits should be coming in the next few days, so the plan of action is: (in no particular order)
- Fit new carpet and refit everything that came out
- Give it an oil change and fit a new sump gasket to stop the small leak
- Fit new windscreen as the current one has a big chip right in the drivers eyeline
- Change clear lenses on the rear for some new ones (originals wont come clean)
- Get an MOT so I can drive it around ;D
I will keep a photo record on here when ever I do anything and try and get it on the road ASAP!!! ;D
I noticed it when I posted one like it in the For Sale section by mistake 
