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Locked In The Garage: 1960 Mini 850

1960 Morris Mini 850

I’m not sure why, but every time I see a Mini I get a big grin on my face. Talk about a happy little car! I’ve always thought it would be fun to take on restoring one of these tiny British classics. As long as the shell is rust free, well at least relatively solid, I don’t imagine they would be difficult to restore. Parts are readily available, plus there really isn’t much to them. This example has been parked in the seller’s garage for the past 15 years. As it tends to go, life got in the way and the planned restoration never happened. They have decide it’s time to let it go, so this could be your chance to pick up a Mini 850 barn find project!

1960 Morris Mini 850 Interior

The seller admits they don’t really know much about cars, so don’t plan on getting a detailed response as to what is or isn’t with the car. This one is a “what you see is what you get” kind of deals. It looks to be fairly complete, although I’m sure there will be plenty of little pieces missing. If you’re up for the challenge, you can find this Mini here on eBay in Belper, Derbyshire, UK with a current bid of £1,940.

Comments

  1. Avatar Roger Owen

    Quite a challenge for someone! Looking at the lack of floor – I would presume the front subframes is pretty shot too. There’s a gasket set in the photo for a 1000cc engine which might indicate an engine change at some point in its history.

    How much to restore? Not sure you would get much change out of £10k.

    Is it worth it? Probably.

    850 was a nice little engine, I had a van version – loved the floor mounted starter switch. A later 1000cc Mk II saloon was a bit of a disappointment.

    Obviously this will be a total ground up resto project – but at least it wont take up too much workshop space, and as mentioned parts availability is good and not too expensive.

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  2. Avatar Van

    What was the show where a housewife races the family mini. I remember as the show went on the car got faster and faster. Big webbers poking out the hood.
    Turn everyone on to that.

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  3. Avatar Bill

    Front subframes don’t rot on minis because they leak too much oil :) the rears however….. Lots of great parts here. floors and sills are easy enough, I’d say this (based on what I see) is a good resto candidate.

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  4. Avatar Edward

    Is it lack of floor, or a piece of bubblewrap thrown in to the footwell? If you want to twist your neck like a snake, the head gasket label shows that it fits almost every BMC engine known to man & beast alike, except the “S”.

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  5. Avatar john

    this little mini will bring £ 2500 =up..the early body with no recess for the windscreen, as to the floor / subframe rot.. phone call to one of the many spares shop…interesting fact the wheel caps with the square holes where only fitted for the first year..great reason.. the garage mechanic would try to remove them by putting his finger though the hole and pulling.. imagine a cheese grater

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  6. Avatar monsieur le baton

    i think the rot / bubblewrap is actually glass, from a smashed drivers side window – i reckon this will sell for £3500

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  7. Avatar Rob K

    Is that the remains of the side window on the floor in the driver’s footwell? The rear half of the sliding window is there, but the front half appears missing. I don’t think it’s a hole in the floor because the carpet appears to be in place.

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  8. Avatar Roger Owen

    Well sleuthed! Forensics report should back up that theory.

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  9. Avatar Reginald Bruce

    @ Van.
    I think the show you referred to (housewife racing a Mini) was called “Driving Ambition.” The race mechanic doing the Mini mods on this show was none other than Captain Alberto Bertorelli of the “Allo Allo” TV comedy series.

    Reg.

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