We are moving in a couple of months and I will have a garage! So this old weird mongrel of a car has appeared on my radar, and I have an option to sell my 63bhp rover Mini Cooper and come back to my beloved 500s - sadly both cannot fit into my life.
It's not cheap, but it's an N! That someone has thoroughly disrespected, and spent a huge amount taking it as far from its original self as possible.
I would plan to take it back to classic, but I'm not sure if it's too far gone for me to tackle. Things that concern me:
- that engine! Owner says it was from a niki, and bored out to ? It looks like it would potentially run hot - I would be keen to put a more simple/original carb on it if possible... The owner claims it has a synchro box but he was unclear - if the engine is that much of a beast, would it likely require the synchro to run safely?
- I would want to, but can you go back to original 125 wheels and tyres on an engine like that? I assume it would have disc brake conversion and maybe needs to run big wheels
- the poor dash - so many gauges and switches - I know a whole new dash can be fitted, but maybe on that engine the gauges are a necessity. Steering column also looks modified - has the ignition in it?!
- THEY PUT ON ELECTRIC WINDOWS? I would be tempted to keep them for the novelty but seriously?...
Anyway, it's a small world of N cars, and I would love to rescue this one, but fear it could be a money pit and too far gone for me.
Any thoughts? And on the engine in particular?
It's not cheap, but it's an N! That someone has thoroughly disrespected, and spent a huge amount taking it as far from its original self as possible.
I would plan to take it back to classic, but I'm not sure if it's too far gone for me to tackle. Things that concern me:
- that engine! Owner says it was from a niki, and bored out to ? It looks like it would potentially run hot - I would be keen to put a more simple/original carb on it if possible... The owner claims it has a synchro box but he was unclear - if the engine is that much of a beast, would it likely require the synchro to run safely?
- I would want to, but can you go back to original 125 wheels and tyres on an engine like that? I assume it would have disc brake conversion and maybe needs to run big wheels
- the poor dash - so many gauges and switches - I know a whole new dash can be fitted, but maybe on that engine the gauges are a necessity. Steering column also looks modified - has the ignition in it?!
- THEY PUT ON ELECTRIC WINDOWS? I would be tempted to keep them for the novelty but seriously?...
Anyway, it's a small world of N cars, and I would love to rescue this one, but fear it could be a money pit and too far gone for me.
Any thoughts? And on the engine in particular?
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