Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

mini.inno · Joined: 24 Oct 2023 Posts: 13 Location: Germany

Hello everyone,

I am Stephan from Germany. I am 34years old and enyoing Britain an british classic cars since being 13.

Today I own several classics of severals decades. I am not only "collecting" cars (I never searched for a specific car, but sometimes I just can't say no), but also repairing and restoring classics to keep as much of the fleet active as possible.

The most cars are not on a perfect optical condition, but daily driveable and with MOT.

Today's classic fleet:

Mini Innocenti 1001 (MOT'd)
Mini Special 1100 (ongoing restoration)
Mini Mayfair 1989 (ongoing recommissioning)
Austin 1100 (ADO16) (in need of restoration)
Austin A35 (working fine, but needs MOT)
Austin A60 Cambridge (in need of a new engine, brakes and some welding)
Triumph Spitfire 1500 (MOT'd)
Peugeot 205 (MOT'd)
VW Golf 2 (MOT'd)
VW Beetle (ongoing restoration)
Ford Sierra (MOT'd but need head gasket and new brakes)
BMW E36 318i (MOT'd)
Mazda323 (needs heater matrix and MOT)
Volvo PV445 (MOT'd)
Lambretta D125 (MOT'd)
Simson Schwalbe (MOT'd)
....

I decided to make just one thread for all the cars and hope this is fine for you. If not just let me know.

Also I will try to give a regular update on whatever I am working at this time. Very Happy

Unfortunately time is short as I am also restoring an old farm (The German Barn;-) ) to get all my cars together on one place over the next years. Some are already there, but there is also still a long way to go.

I am looking forward to the upcoming discussions and the many other ongoing projects in this forum. And a I am also visiting GB at least two or three times a year.

Kind regards
Stephan[/img]

badhuis · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1391 Location: Netherlands

Welcome! There are probably not too many German Liebhaber for old British cars so wonderful to see you have a couple. Also good to see you maintain / restore them yourself, a habit which seems getting scarcer over the years.
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Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22447 Location: UK

Welcome to the forum

RJ
(former Volvo PV owner)
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Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
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Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6317 Location: Derby

Rootes75 · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2023 12:36 am Post subject:

Welcome to the forum, looks like a nice varied collection of classics!
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

mini.inno · Joined: 24 Oct 2023 Posts: 13 Location: Germany

Thank you very much for the very warm welcome and the kind words!

This is the main barn of the U-shaped farm. Not as charmful as a "Fachhallenhaus", but no comparison to as it was two years ago:-)
Next to it is a former pigsty (housing the lathe, tyre changer+wheel balancer, sand blaster and other bigger machinery), a smaller barn and a row of garages with a second floor for storage space. And if course the residential building.

Until I found this neglected farm, my stuff was spread over 4 different places so I am really happy to bring it all together over the next years.

Today I moved all cars out for a good clean up of the barn and then carried on with the recommissioning of the Mini Mayfair. I will try to have it finished until spring, as I plan to attend the International Mini Meeting 2024 with this one. [/b]

mini.inno · Joined: 24 Oct 2023 Posts: 13 Location: Germany

Around a month ago I equipped the Mayfair with new sills, new door skins, a panels and some patches here and there:

mini.inno · Joined: 24 Oct 2023 Posts: 13 Location: Germany

Today then I renewed the diff output oil seals, the bushes of the tie rods and the lower arms, fitted new brake discs/pads and Kayaba shocks all round. Happily all the parts were still on stock.

On stock were also two new brake calipers I purchased a few years ago at a well known mini parts dealer in England. Unfortunately the offset for the brake disc clearance was 4mm different to the original ones, so I couldn't fit them without touching the brake discs. I then refurbished the original ones, what ruined my schedule for today. Laughing

I also didn't have a replacement for the disintegrated steering rack gaiters so couldn't finish the front suspension. I will order new ones and hope to find motivation to fit them as well as new rear brakes the next weekend.

:

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2023 1:15 am Post subject:

I think we're all a bit jealous of the space you have there! I for one could fill a barn like that in no time at all... Laughing

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh

Welcome Stephan,

You certainly have a large collection and your barns and tools sound like a dream come true.

Best wishes,

Peter
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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

mini.inno · Joined: 24 Oct 2023 Posts: 13 Location: Germany

mini.inno · Joined: 24 Oct 2023 Posts: 13 Location: Germany

The last week I refurbished the rear suspension and the rear brakes of the Mayfair, fitted new steering rack gaiters and changed the oil and filters.

So from the underside now everything except the exhaust mountings is done. I ordered a few missing parts at Minispares today and hope to receive these the next two weeks.

Yesterday I also fitted a new set of tyres on some chrome style finished NOS Dunlop original stell rims. I bought these rims last year cheaply from another local mini ehtusiast.

These were sold originaly in the nineties and noughties under the name "Metallica" by MiniMania. In Germany it is only allowed to mount "TUV" -approved rims. As most of the aluminum rims on the market don't have this approval Mini Mania reworked new original steel rims to make it look a little bit like aluminum ones.

I am still not sure if I really like this (blingbling) look, but they are maybe a little bit better than the rusty original ones.

Unfortunately I forgot to make a picture of the complete car, but will add a picture the next week.

The Mayfair was the last time registered in 1997 so of course nearly none of the electrics were working. I cleaned all of the connectors and most functions came back to life, but indicators, parking lights and rear lights are still out of order. So still some electric gremlins to find...

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2023 7:23 pm Post subject:

mini.inno · Joined: 24 Oct 2023 Posts: 13 Location: Germany

As soon as the exhaust mounts of the Mayfair arrived and got fitted, I will have to do some work on the daily driver (Ford Focus Mk1) as it also needs new MOT in December.

But the next classic guest for the two post lift is already waiting....

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh

The steel wheels are probably lighter than the alloys anyway.

Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon