#3 Getting the Engine Out

It was a relatively easy process to remove the various engine components and then, finally, the engine itself. Despite having the Haynes Owner's Manual and Restoration Manual, I took a lot of pictures as I went just in case I don't remember what I have done. I also tagged and labelled all of the wires and bagged all of the small parts. I have taken notes of the various idiosyncrasies of the car itself as I have begun to strip it down.

The floor is hanging on with the barest of remaining metal. As can be seen in the picture, the tunnel and crossmember aren't even intact--and the floor panels are in pieces. The sills and door steps are virtually nonexistent. The entire floor assembly will have to be replaced, probably with an entire new assembly. No doubt the Mini is seriously out of alignment and it will take some doing to ensure that it is returned to its square and true original form.

I have started to compile a list of the panels that will need to be ordered to replace the parts that are rusty. So far it looks as follows: Floor Assembly, Crossmember, Outer Sills, Mini Scuttle, A-Panels, Door Jambs, Jacking Assembly, Rear Subframe Mounting panel and more!

#2 Opening the Package

For all of the Mini's obvious difficulties, getting it into my garage and taking a good look at it was like Christmas morning. I was eager to "open it up" and finally determine the model more precisely and to see what really needed to be done. It was clear from the serial number and engine identification plate that this was a 1967 Austin Mini MkII with a 998cc engine -- positive ground, hydrolastic suspension, dynamo, drum brakes all around, non-synchro first gear, larger rear window, new square rear lamps, and a new-style grille. Although the Mini had long ago been repainted blue, it was evident that it had originally been green. All in all a great model and one of the last original styles before the sweeping changes introduced with the MKIII.


Here's a brief walkaround of my Mini on the day I got it home...

#1 Bringing Home Baby

Dragged from the "back 40"

The task of bringing the Mini home was much more challenging than I had anticipated. A sign of things to come no doubt.

It sat buried in a shed full of car parts--its home for the last 12 years or so. Surrounding the shed was a field of old and neglected vehicles. Each car looked as if it was waiting patiently for a new owner to rescue it from a bleak fate--like old dogs at a forgotten kennel, tired but still hopeful.

When I first saw the Mini there was no way of ascertaining its true condition. All I really knew was that it seemed more or less intact and that it had the two features that I had hoped for--external hinges and sliding passenger windows. That was good enough for me.

On the way home

The owner dragged it out with a tractor since the tires had long ago cracked open and the front wheels were seized. As the Mini scraped along the grass, it left behind a long trail of large rusty metal chips. By the time it made the journey across the field to where my trailer was waiting, only the sides and roof were holding the front and rear ends together, the floor was mostly gone.

It was challenging to get the Mini on the trailer. But after about an hour of dragging and lifting and nail-biting, it was securely on and we could make the trip to my house. It was similarly difficult to get it off the trailer. I was relieved to finally get it tucked away in my garage so that it could start its new life.