The price I paid for Audrey was a "mates rates" price but it did reflect the condition and rarity of the car. It would have fetched more on the open market I reckon. But I never intend to allow that to happen.
Most of the roundnose Minis we have here are from the 1960's. Reshelling with imported Rover shells does happen, but it's gaol time if you are caught.
The rust problems are nowhere near as bad here and the Aus-built Minis were rotodipped, which means the survival rate is high. It's not hard to find an Aus-produced Mini as good body-wise this one. But it is rare to find an Aus car with low mileage or any sort of history file.
I don't think Audrey's ever been welded. The passenger door skin and battery box will need replacing sometime. The boot floor looks a bit thin in places and there is some bubbles around various seams. But we don't really want to restore it to "as new". We both like it with a few marks and scratches that show it's been loved and used.
The 69 Mini Van Rally Car I'm working on is very rusty by our standards, but probably quite normal for a project car in the UK.
Your Mini Cord sounds very interesting JPB. I'd love to see some pics and details of that one.
- a late miniCord from its one and only previous owner, I'd find some space for a MK1 to keep the GRP-bodied South American product company on those long nights in the dark of the steading I bought to keep old cars in..