This is a true barn find! 1973 Innocenti Mini 1300 Export - the Cooper S of Italy. It has the 11 stud head, twin carbs, twin fuel tanks and the unique Innocenti dash and alloy wheels. It hasn't run in years but looks in really good shape. Can t wait to get it home next weekend and see it up close.
AAHdave,,, have you forgotten about the rule that you can't own more than 3? Better load this one up and send it to me to avoid Mini jail. Just sayin'...
Ha, that does make 4 now! First thing I'm going to do is drop the engine and front subframe out and swap it back to left hand drive - as that's the way all Inno's were built, this one was imported into England in 1980 and I assume that's when/where it was swapped over. Then I'll go thru the motor and suspension make sure it's all sound, then bolt it back in and make some noise! It will also need tires as there are undoubtedly well past their prime, then back to my partner Dan's shop where he will get the body and interior all shined up and pretty. Then...who knows? Maybe I can finally win a car show or two?
Yes, you have to put a different steering rack in, to swap it is easy once the subframe is down, impossible with it in place.
Part of the reason I'm driving classic Minis these days is that's it's so hard for me to get in and out of my E-Type - almost impossible anymore due to my bad knee. I like small cars, so I looked at Spitfires, MG Midgets, Bugeyes etc, can't get in and out of them either. TR4, TR6, Big Healey aren't bad as long as the top is down, but impossible with it up
Nice find! Reminds me of one that I use to droll over when I was stationed on the mainland in Japan. One of the locals had a chili red classic all dressed out with Union Jack accents, really nice ride. Hopefully someday I'll have one in the driveway.
A few more pics, the car has been picked up from the seller and is headed to my shop on Monday, can't wait to see it. It was given a quick hose off this morning, based on the lic plate it's been in the garage for over 10 years....it looks to be in even better shape than I hoped. The interior is dirty but he cleaned up one of the seats and it looks like new again! Cromodora wheels with the factory wheel locks - and we even have the key! Can't find a key for the locking gas caps tho….might have to get a locksmith to take them off for me.
The Innocenti arrived today and it's even better than I thought.....straight as can be, original paint and panels - no oversills! It has a few period accessories like the Abarth steering wheel and Cromodora wheels. First thing we did once we got it on the lift was put a battery in it to see if the engine was stuck. It cranked, so I pulled the plugs and cranked it over - oil pressure came up quickly and it carried 50lbs just on the starter! Tomorrow I'll clean out the carbs and see if I can make it run! View attachment 42591
Today I needed to remove the fuel tans, they were both full of nasty rust and varnish from sitting for the last 10+ years, but before I could do that I needed to remove the locking gascaps,I have the keys but both caps are frozen tight, and since we won't be using these anyway I had to go all medieval on their asses to get them off! First I used a Dremel to carefully remove the chrome covers, the I pried off the center cap (where the key goes in). On the right side I was able to turn the lock with a screwdriver and the cap came right off - the left side was not having it tho, so I got out my big drill and drilled out the center, once that was done the cap came off. Next I pulled both tanks and stripped them down to take to the radiator shop where they will clean them and redcoat the insides. My shop smells so much better now that those tanks are out of it! Lastly I pulled the sending unit, it's stuck tight just like the carbs were - I'm going to try and save it as it's unique to the Innocenti and I seriously doubt I can find a new one....but I'm not very hopeful of success on that.
Dave.0 on this, you are right on the button, I really like to watch these builds, wish I had space and 1/3 the skill. Sigh!
Thanks guys, more as it happens. I found a place in New York that swears they can rebuild the sending unit good as new, waiting for a quote from them. My gas tank guy said 3-4 weeks to get the tanks back so I may check around in the am for another place.
The quote from the sending unit guy was $75 to 175 plus parts and shipping! That's what happens when you're working on an oddball and want to keep it original. We get spoiled by the price and availability of Mini parts - a sending unit for an English version is about $20 brand new. Today I started removing components so I can drop the motor and subframe....a few interesting things to note....we figured out that the carbs are probably from an MGB, when I pulled the manifold I can see that there is no way to accurately index it to the head - normally there are rings inside the manifold (you can see where they go in the pic of the man and carbs) but this head has been port matched, so those receiving grooves are not there any more. The carb shafts are seized too but I was planning to rebuild them anyway. You can also see from the gasket remains on the manifold how it wasn't quite lined up right - sorta makes all the effort to port the head not worth it if it doesn't line up!