1973 Mini Clubman Auto - Harvest Gold!

[1380mini]

Hi all, I’ve just acquired a 1973 Clubman Auto in a lovely (!) shade of Harvest Gold.

It’s a total barn find, been stuck in someone’s garage unused for 20 years and the same owner for over 41 years.

I’ve had it a couple of weeks now and after an initial wash, I decided it had a couple of niggles with the bodywork so it’s had a full strip down and it’ll current a bare shell on a roll over jig!

I’m finding small patches of rust/holes in the usual spots and will be cutting these panels out and replacing properly.

Anyway time for some photos...

app.photobucket.com/u/1380_mini/p/a71be765-6689-4dc2-b9e4-d05587b04ffe

[jockduck]

Nice car, had a 1978 Clubman LS 998 Australian manual, liked it a lot, teenage kids drove it a lot very little problems, wish I had kept it. Auto should work well in the extra under the bonnet space. I presume you are overhauling the motor/autobox?
Jock

[1380mini]

The plan at the moment is to focus on the minor bodywork issues (few standard areas of rust). Then rebuild all of the running gear.

I’ll be recommissioning the engine and gearbox with a full service and flush the oil a few times.

Then I’d like to be able to drive it for a while to see how it handles etc. I don’t want to jump straight into too many upgrades unless necessary as I’d like it to remain as original as possible.

[limby2000]

Hi 1380mini and welcome to the group, looks like youve picked up a straight one there,it shows there out there. I think you doing the right thing keeping her original. Deffo do your oil change, sitting in old oil would have done the gearbox internal no good. I,m sure it,ll scrub up well. Regards Terry.

[1380mini]

Thanks Terry.
It looks pretty straight, finding a few patches of rust to repair and rectify properly.
Engine/gearbox wise I’m looking to give it a good once over and I have an unleaded head which I could pop on but I’m happy running additive in the fuel if better to keep the original head.
Cheers
Henry