Hi everyone.
I picked up a `60 Minx last weekend. The PO had it listed as a `63, but in his ad something seemed familiar, but wrong. I shot him a message, and we got together and talked. It turned out I had seen this car before, twenty years earlier. Then it was sitting about 10 blocks from where I have it stored now, I was 16, thought it was cool, but was just getting my feet wet with cars, let alone something like this. If my memory serves me correctly, the guy was asking $1000, and the car didn't run. I still wanted it, because I could change the engine (probably to a 350), because that's what needed to be done, and have I'd a little hot rod. I didn't realize that something that large would never fit without some major engineering skills that were, and still are, outside of my talents. Even if it fit, it would tear the little car to shreds.
I remember dad was telling me not to get it, since finding parts would be difficult. I also remember us having a Lancia (I think it was a Beta Berlina) when I was young, and I remember that when it broke, it would be parked for a long time. That left sour taste in my mouth, since I didn't want to have it parked forever while I waited on parts. I still was saving my money for it, just because, until someone broke out its back window. I walked away, thinking I would never see it again, but missing it for some reason.
Well, the car I was looking at had a broken window. It had been set into the car, but it didn't fit. Realizing I had found the same car, I went over it with a fine tooth comb, knowing that the window had been missing for quite some time. The ill-fitting window was also the reason that the current owner was selling it. The window fits very well now, since he had set it in, upside down. I looked hard at the car, but the rear floorboards looked good, but the front is another story. The car appears to have been somone's Bondo project years ago; perhaps to hide rust?
Lots of flaws, and a lot of work, but I own her now, 20 years later.
I picked up a `60 Minx last weekend. The PO had it listed as a `63, but in his ad something seemed familiar, but wrong. I shot him a message, and we got together and talked. It turned out I had seen this car before, twenty years earlier. Then it was sitting about 10 blocks from where I have it stored now, I was 16, thought it was cool, but was just getting my feet wet with cars, let alone something like this. If my memory serves me correctly, the guy was asking $1000, and the car didn't run. I still wanted it, because I could change the engine (probably to a 350), because that's what needed to be done, and have I'd a little hot rod. I didn't realize that something that large would never fit without some major engineering skills that were, and still are, outside of my talents. Even if it fit, it would tear the little car to shreds.
I remember dad was telling me not to get it, since finding parts would be difficult. I also remember us having a Lancia (I think it was a Beta Berlina) when I was young, and I remember that when it broke, it would be parked for a long time. That left sour taste in my mouth, since I didn't want to have it parked forever while I waited on parts. I still was saving my money for it, just because, until someone broke out its back window. I walked away, thinking I would never see it again, but missing it for some reason.
Well, the car I was looking at had a broken window. It had been set into the car, but it didn't fit. Realizing I had found the same car, I went over it with a fine tooth comb, knowing that the window had been missing for quite some time. The ill-fitting window was also the reason that the current owner was selling it. The window fits very well now, since he had set it in, upside down. I looked hard at the car, but the rear floorboards looked good, but the front is another story. The car appears to have been somone's Bondo project years ago; perhaps to hide rust?
Lots of flaws, and a lot of work, but I own her now, 20 years later.