$7k is also ok but at the top of my range 
If i spend more i want have any money left to play around with it

$5k for a project Mini is just going to be a ton of work and the only way you may find one in that range is a car that has been imported quite a few years ago when Mini's were a lot cheaper as shipping, port clearance, broker fees can add up to around $1500 to $2000 depending where you are located so a Mini would have to bought for $3000 or less for someone to break even on a car they imported and Mini's in that price range from the UK are junk.
The one you were looking at has already been patched and filled but not to a good standard and that is why the rust is all coming back. If you want a project try to get a more original car that maybe has original paint so you can see exactly what you are getting.
You may have to travel or have the car shipped but buy the best body you can the rest is easy.
To get something halfway decent you may need to look in the $7k range. 

feel free to direct me to these 16 minis you found

so apparently i should of bought that other one for 5300 but many said it was over priced including you i recall


now your telling me 5k is a dream?

$5k for running driving. mini WITHOUT rust..??maybe TEN years ago here in the USA....  better chance of winning the power  ball lottery now..   later bc

thanks for the reply

I agree. i am looking for $5k range

Even a reasonably restored car will need work if only to continue the restoration or personalize it to your liking and there is maintenance. Buy the best one you can afford, there will be plenty to do.

rscott.. you are NOT looking very hard.. I just looked at www.craigslist.org in Phoenix AZ.   They ar 16 classic minis for sale there..   later bc

RScott - hit me offline and will tell you about my journey with what you are going through now.  I also am just finishing up a massive tear down and rebuild with my Mk4 and can also give you advice on that as well.  Pics below to give you a sense of the payoff.  Clearly you may be wondering why I completely re-did a perfectly nice looking white Mini...well, the horrors you discover from what you think something is to what the reality is, is honestly shocking and I learned so many lessons here.  Some I have to live with...and some I will never make again.

Free to chat if you like to help out someone who was in my shoes.

rsscott.. might also try the mini club in vancouver bc.  www.vancouverminiclub.ca  and then have Craigs Auto there  check out the mini before you buy one.. laterb

I had been on both search tempest and the local craigslist from surrounding states

Nothing out there

Thats what lead me to this car in PA

Searchtempest.com lets you search all of CL Nationwide at once.

rsccott..  just look on www.craigslist.org in CO, NM or AZ.. under austin mini..btw  I would NOT import one from the UK..  just too risky as it MUST be OEM.. even the windscreen and seatbelts..  later  bc

Thank you so much guys for the excellent information 

I have contacted some of the guys from the rockies mini club. I had not heard back from the facebook group yet.
I am in denver. Hoping to hear back from them. 

I guess i will pass on this one.


I am not afraid of some metal work, i have a proper heated shop and more money then brains

but i want it to be fun not a total nightmare. The more you guys talk the more you are getting me to think that it might be a nightmare. 

I think your right. At $2500 i would pick it up but by the time i get done with shipping ill be into this one for $6k

I wish i could find a nice one locally. or even semi locally i could go look at.

Thanks again for everyones input

dido what WHEE. just said.. join the local Classic mini club.. and then look around for few months..   I had forgot about the club there in CO.. later bc

If you are going to take on a project like that, better to start with a more desirable model is my thinking. You will spend much the same $ on the restoration and you will increase the value so much more.

Not sure where you are in Colorado - if you are new to Minis, come look at some. Contact MOTR - Minis of the Rockies. I'm in Castle Rock.

Go look at any car you are thinking about buying.  The pictures show that someone covered up rust with paint.  The seller may be the most honest guy in the world, but he may not be or he may not know what he has. 

My 2 cents:

I had very similar rust patterns on my 73. Was eager and bought it anyway. Took it home and stripped it...I soon enrolled in night school to learn to weld and fabricate. Sounds cool, yeah, but not what I wanted to be doing when I thought I'd be doing a quick restore and be on the road. These things hide rust VERY well. 

dido. on price and value of this mini  from Malsal..  sure NOT worth $5300 with lots of patina. aka RUST.. later bc

Based on your pictures unless you are prepared for a full strip down and countless hours of work and an angry wife wondering where all this money is going not to mention a Mini you are buried financially in at the end i would move on that car is rusty and just like Chuck stated you are only seeing 10% of it the other 90% is lurking.
Some folks like to work on cars others like to drive them and some take on a project and bail out half way through buy the best shell you can find the rest is easy.
IMO for that Mini to be a decent buy with the amount of work it will need it should be $2500 to $3000 tops.