Victorian Mini Club
To foster an interest in the Mini in its various forms and derivatives.
To foster an interest in the Mini in its various forms and derivatives.
If you are buying classic Mini for the first time, it's important that you do your research first. You will need to decide which Mini is right for you, how much you are prepared to pay, the physical condition of the Mini you wish to own and what you want from your Mini.
"Classic Mini" in this context means a Mini based on the original BMC Minis built between 1959 and 2000. (The BMW parent company’s MINI models are known as the “Modern MINI” in this context. There will be a separate guide to Buying a Modern MINI.) And although a Moke is clearly a derivative of the BMC Mini, we're not covering that type in this guide.
The types of classic Minis you are likely to find for sale in Australia are:
This is not an exhaustive list of the different types and brands of Minis; there are literally scores more! The list represents the types you will most likely encounter when looking for a Mini to buy.
Most classic Minis that you will encounter are Australian-made vehicles. Some 200,000 Minis were manufactured in Sydney from 1961 to 1978, with Moke production continuing till 1981. Plenty of UK-built Minis (and even some Minis made in other countries such as South Africa) were imported into Australia over the last 50 years, so you're also likely to encounter some of these.
If you are planning to restore a sad and sorry old Mini, you will probably pay at least $500 for the shell. Don’t be surprised if it costs you $20,000 or even more to restore it to better-than-new condition, but those who have gone down this path before will tell you it’s money well spent. The starting point for these restorations is often described as a "project car".
If you want a roadworthy Mini of any sort, you will probably need to pay at least $5,000. The cheapest Minis are usually the newest Australian-built cars, which are the square-nosed Leyland Mini Clubmans. In general, the older the car, the more you have to pay.
But then there are the Coopers. The Cooper versions of the Mini, particularly the 1275 cc Cooper S, were the giant-killing motorsport powerhouses of the 1960s. Not only were Mini Coopers winning track races such as Bathurst (first nine places in the 1967 race!), they were also winning rallies on dirt, snow and bitumen! In almost every form of motorsport other than open -wheeler races, Mini Coopers were at the front of the pack. This legendary status means a Cooper S costs roughly $10,000 more than a standard Mini. Some restorers choose to convert their standard Mini project cars into Cooper replicas, so you need to take care to ensure you know whether you're buying a replica or the real McCoy.
It's also important to know that the price of classic Minis tends to vary according to the individual Mini. If a Mini has an interesting history, or has been owned by someone famous, or has been raced at a famous event, it will command a higher price than a more anonymous car. As an example, an English Mini Cooper that won the 1965 RAC Rally sold at auction in the UK in 2007 for $200,000.
Don’t rush! Take your time and do plenty of research first. Work out your budget. Join the Victorian Mini Club (or the equivalent club in your own state), and talk to members who already have Minis. Start reading The BMC Experience (Australia’s Mini and BMC car magazine) to build up your knowledge. Join an online Mini enthusiast community, such as Ausmini, or the Victorian Mini Club Facebook page, and ask any questions you may have.
After your research, you will be in a position to work out which type of Mini you want to buy.
One useful approach is to write down a list of features you want. Disc brakes? Sliding windows? Big engine? Originality? Highly modified? Sound systems? Air bag? Air conditioning? Then, map those features to the type of Minis. The Mini Automotive Web site (http://www.miniauto.com.au/minihistory.htm) has a summary of the features of all Australian-built Minis.
Here's a quick set of pointers.
However, it is very common for a Mini to be upgraded over its life. You might come across a 1962 Morris 850 with a 1310cc engine and disc brakes. Or a 1967 Mini Deluxe with a Honda engine. Or a 1975 Clubman S with supercharged 1100cc engine.
There are still hundreds if not thousands of Minis on the roads and in the garages of Australia. The number of Minis on the roads is probably increasing, as neglected shells and wrecks are bought by enthusiasts and restored to their former glory. The scores of second-hand late model classic Minis imported from Japan add to that number.
You can find Minis for sale at:
Make sure that you are buying what you are supposed to be buying. Check the vehicle identification numbers (see Identifying a Classic Mini) on the compliance plate, block and body. There are also model specific features you should look for to make sure the car matches the badge it has.
There are a number of modifications required for Australian Design Rules for an imported car to be registered in Australia so make sure you know what the car you are importing will require. The modifications will have to be carried out an appropriate premises to be ADR complied.
Information on importing cars is available from:
Over 5 million Minis were produced worldwide, so parts and expertise are plentiful. There are specialist Mini mechanics in every state in Australia. Use a Mini mechanic who advertises in your Mini Club magazine, or otherwise contributes to the Mini community.
Other Mini Club members will be happy to answer questions you may have about buying a Mini. Come along to a Monthly General Meeting, or a VMCi event, and ask away!