Austin Mini 1986 Restoration
Purchase and restoration tailored to the customer’s request.
Back from the dead
This little car means a lot to us. Austin Mini 1986 went through our hands completely, part by part and bolt by bolt. We spent long days and late evenings in the workshop. The final restoration time stopped at around 800 working hours. Maybe even more. The initial condition was poor: rusted floors, damaged frame, and extensive corrosion almost everywhere. But the car had character and clearly deserved a second life.
Complete restoration
The body required major work. We replaced floors, trunk sections, fenders, front panel, rear spoiler, wheel arch sections and more. In practice, the roof was the only major untouched panel. Everything else needed careful cutting, welding, treatment and preparation for paint.
Every single part needs care
The engine was fully disassembled, inspected, tuned and rebuilt. After blasting, the front subframe received a black powder coating. Suspension parts were zinc-plated and the AP Racing calipers in red completed the setup. It takes a lot of effort to keep every detail right, but the final result is worth it.
Fresh paint and original engine color
The original burgundy shade was replaced with metallic blue "Moonraker". During paintshop waiting time, both subframes were restored and coated. The engine was rebuilt and repainted in yellow, highlighting the A+ unit. The interior was cleaned and preserved to keep the period feel and authenticity of the car.
Hard work
This project came with many challenges: missing parts, hardware issues, damaged rear arms and many unexpected obstacles. In the end, everything came together and we built what was essentially a new car, born in 1986 and reborn in 2015.
Thanks to everyone involved
The project was supported by Pan Kohlbeck a synové, Kuba Petržilka, Bohumil Nevím, galvanovna omega, lakovna Plicka a syn, čalounictví Z.Plch, pan Hajzr, pan Voráč, minisport.com, and minispares.com.
What it costs – restoration budget
Every project is unique. To help you estimate similar work, here is this project’s budget.
| Body restoration | 70 458 CZK |
|---|---|
| Blasting of full body except sides and roof | 8 000 CZK |
| Left/right fenders, front panel, scuttle, A-panels, materials | 14 006 CZK |
| Floors, sills, rear pockets | 7 052 CZK |
| Rust repair, replacement, preservation and paint preparation | ? |
| Painting | 41 400 CZK |
| Engine restoration | 39 986 CZK |
|---|---|
| Aluminium radiator | 3 584 CZK |
| New radiator and heater tap | 1 402 CZK |
| Complete rebuild (original Omega pistons) | 35 000 CZK |
| Engine removal and reinstallation | ? CZK |
| Front and rear suspension restoration | 24 775 CZK |
|---|---|
| New rubber suspension blocks | 5 275 CZK |
| Front subframe restoration incl. zinc plating | 7 000 CZK |
| Used rear subframe as restoration base | 5 500 CZK |
| Rear subframe restoration incl. rear arm repair | 8 500 CZK |
| Subframe removal and reinstallation | ? CZK |
| Vehicle electrics | 6 909 CZK |
|---|---|
| Complete front headlamp units (left and right) | 2 810 CZK |
| Front indicators | 344 CZK |
| Alternator inspection and rebuild | 1 815 CZK |
| Rear subframe restoration including arm repair | 1 940 CZK |
| Installation work | ? CZK |
| Brake restoration | 11 500 CZK |
|---|---|
| Complete brake restoration incl. zinc plating and brake lines | 11 500 CZK |
| Brake disassembly and reassembly | ? CZK |
| Exterior components | 12 969 CZK |
|---|---|
| Front and rear chrome bumpers | 2 000 CZK |
| Wheel arch flare set | 545 CZK |
| Mirrors | 1 146 CZK |
| Minilight wheel restoration | 5 500 CZK |
| New grille | 1 318 CZK |
| Door and window seals | 2 460 CZK |
| Disassembly and installation | ? CZK |
| Total | 420 097 CZK |
|---|
Fulfill your dream too
We offer consulting for selecting and buying classic cars, and we restore historic cars and youngtimers.
Learn more about our services
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