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Post by tommydp on Sept 16, 2014 20:05:14 GMT
Hi all! Yesterday I found this charming thing for sale, a ten minute drive away:-) I actually remember the car from the early nineties, saw it in town now and then. A rare car here even then. It has been owned by a lady, and then possibly her daughter. Then, by some old car enthusiast and now another enthusiast who wants to sell before winter as he's about to buy a Standard Vanguard of all things. I went to see and try it today. Yes, it's road legal and has "MOT" for 2 yrs! It sure needs a little tune up, but the engine sounded sweet, absolutely everything worked, it has new tyres... The interior is very good. Above all there's, believe it or not, little rust. It's had some patches to the outer sills, and there are a few minor holes there but otherwise fine. No rust on bulkhead or inner wings. Subframes and mountings very good. The paintwork is not excellent. Original with quite a few patches of touch up can work. But hey, the car's almost 50! It's a '66 and seems to have done 112 000 kms. The seller used to work with my mum, and he was very taken by the fact I turned up in the 1800! He was keen to sell it to me, as he thought he would have trouble finding a better home for it. It seems he will accept 10 000 NOK, less than 1000 GBP. Well, I'm tempted.... It's not at all as useful as the 1800, which is comfortable, big, very capable of keeping up with traffic and so on. However, this is really getting a unique car.. So it would be sensible to buy, to keep it for the future and take some short, cozy Sunday drives with. What do you think, folks? Tommy            |
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Post by Nick RS on Sept 16, 2014 20:58:15 GMT
I am probably misquoting Oscar Wilde by saying that the best thing to do with temptation is to give in to it.
Looks good value and if you've checked the usual rust areas then worth a go. If you join the 1100 club they have a great members section on their website with all the technical articles and advice. Much more than the 1800, 1100 owners are obsessed with keeping the rust under control and they will readily advise that preventitive action every two or three years is they way to go. I was a member for a couple of years before I took a fancy to the 1800. A mk2 1300 would be in my fantasy garage along with Landcrabs and some 70s Fiats.
Nick
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Post by Penguin45 on Sept 16, 2014 22:48:52 GMT
Buy it! It's a sensible Mini, really. You get the handling with a reasonably sized body. My first car was an 1100; happy memories.
As Nick says, just don't let the rust get hold of it. The bulkhead is an absolute nightmare to repair if it starts to go.
Chris.
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Post by indianajones on Sept 17, 2014 0:08:36 GMT
Buy it _b
My understanding is that the ADO16 is a dog to work on in terms of rust. Also I imagine NOS body/panel parts do not exist anymore?
Given how popular they are, I'm surprised they don't make new panels etc for them, like they do with the Mini & Minor.
-Andrew
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Post by dave1800 on Sept 17, 2014 3:22:19 GMT
Nick - Would it be worth Landcrab owners joining the 1100 club for tips on keeping rust at bay and advice on issues common to the BMC FWD range? I keep looking at 1100s/1300s here in the absence of an 1800 that can be registered for use on the road. My family owned a Mini, 1300 and 1800 in the sixties and I last drove an Austin 1300 around 1974. I guess we are all different as my lasting impression has been that the Mini was fun, the 1300 styling was very neat and it was a good town car and the 1800 was more like the Mini but with the comfort. My friend's mother had an Austin 1300GT that was quite fast in its day, but somehow I never managed to fall in love with the 1300. I can't put my finger on why and I think that is what is holding me back from buying one here. People here say to me why not get the 1300 it's just like an 1800, but to me it just isn't. Maybe if I drove a 1300 now I would change my mind? David I am probably misquoting Oscar Wilde by saying that the best thing to do with temptation is to give in to it. Looks good value and if you've checked the usual rust areas then worth a go. If you join the 1100 club they have a great members section on their website with all the technical articles and advice. Much more than the 1800, 1100 owners are obsessed with keeping the rust under control and they will readily advise that preventitive action every two or three years is they way to go. I was a member for a couple of years before I took a fancy to the 1800. A mk2 1300 would be in my fantasy garage along with Landcrabs and some 70s Fiats. Nick |
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Post by peppib on Sept 17, 2014 7:53:42 GMT
In that condition and at that price - buy it! Family had 3 of them, and I owned 1 in the 60's. As long as you keep on top of the rust. I can remember Father trading his 1963 model for 1966 (at the family owned garage) Garage sold the car on and the new owner of the 1963 car was driving away when the rear sub frame fell off. Car was 4 years old!!
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Post by Keef on Sept 17, 2014 8:19:08 GMT
Yesterday I found this charming thing for sale, a ten minute drive away:-) Looks like a fine example. Go for it.  |
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Post by dave1800 on Sept 17, 2014 11:37:21 GMT
I agree! Rotten ones here start at £5000 non negotiable. David Yesterday I found this charming thing for sale, a ten minute drive away:-) Looks like a fine example. Go for it. |
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Post by Nick RS on Sept 17, 2014 11:53:56 GMT
David,
I would say definitely join the club if you are considering one. for 1800 owners I'm not so sure. I remember the rust article was an illustrated guide of how and where to apply Waxoyl and similar products. There was also a guide on repairing displacers and some general stuff like wiring a radio or converting to negative earth.
Nick
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Post by simmo1800 on Sept 17, 2014 13:03:34 GMT
Tommy,
Offer him £750, play the game he'll crack.
Simmo.
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Post by Penguin45 on Sept 17, 2014 18:12:49 GMT
I am not going to buy a rotten one just to spend a year welding it back together again. I'm not..... 
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Post by tommydp on Sept 17, 2014 21:33:34 GMT
Thanks a lot for your replies!
I'm keeping cool, waiting and thinking. I'm quite tempted, but have to think it over. It's strange, but you almost feel it's a mission to buy. I guess you know the feeling:-)
This truly is a unique car in good condition, and deserves to come to a good home. Being an 1100, the fact it has little rust is very positive. Where, and when will I be able to find one as good as this at what may become a reasonable price?
On the other hand, do I need it? Hardly, and in my opinion it's miles away from an 1800 even though it's a miniature crab in many ways.
Well, time will show.. I'll keep you updated!
Regards, Tommy
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Post by threelitre on Sept 17, 2014 22:51:24 GMT
Indeed, very charming! I may add, that no 1800 will ever be as charming as these Mk1 1100s. And no 1800 will ever be the same fun to drive, even if it has twice the power, more comfort, space and strength! The ADO16 has many quirks and a serious (hidden) rust problem, but I can hardly imagine a car that gives me the same joy to drive! That price seems rather cheap, you'll find it very hard to find one (if at all) in that condition for that sort of money I would think.
Having driven all Hydrolastic cars (Mini, ADO16, Maxi, 1800 and 3 litre), I would say that they fall into two groups: The same people were responsible for the ADO16 and the Maxi, hence the Maxi to me feels more like a grown up (but less fun) ADO16 than a shrunken Landcrab. The 1800 and 3 litre feel much more different than the looks suggest, but they also share a lot - like solidity in feel and big car ride - both from the hands of Ron Nicholls if I remember correctly.
Why should it be for small sunday drives only? On paper it does not sound very capable, but I more than once covered huge distances in ADO16s - including a 1100km trip in a Austin 1100 Mk1 as above in one go. And up to 110-120kph they feel happy and keep up with modern traffic with surprising ease!
Regards,
Alexander
PS: Parts supply for the ADO16 seems better than for the 1800, including all sorts of body panels.
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Post by Penguin45 on Sept 17, 2014 23:16:47 GMT
I wouldn't under-rate the 1100's capabilities. It was the best selling UK car throughout much of the 1960's before the Cortina and Escort came along. BMC/BL typically failed to react........ It is a small family car, as opposed to the 1800, which was a large, um, large...... car which didn't really fit into an appropriate box. They're highly practical, very simple, quite nippy and have good handling. The only downside that I can see is that they shouldn't be allowed to get wet in the same way that Gremlins mustn't. Chris. |
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Post by indianajones on Sept 18, 2014 1:03:00 GMT
PS: Parts supply for the ADO16 seems better than for the 1800, including all sorts of body panels. Really? if that's the case, I might need to look into one again. As that was one of the big things that has always put me off. On that note, there's a Wolseley 1300 that has been converted into a traveler/estate for sale about 4 hours away from me.... -Andrew |
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