Caspers Journey

[Ridhwaan1275E]

I was always a Mini fan , new and old , from early years watching my family own a good few , to it being my parents mode of transport to school.

So my hunt began early last year when i joined MOCKZN alongside Trinesh and Ed , they knew i was looking for a classic Mini of my own.

There was a good few that i came across and for some reason or another i just did not manage to seal the deal ,

On the 9th of December 2015 that all changed , i came across a beautiful 1275E for sale and again with the advice of my trustworthy companions i made the call and sealed the deal

I took a lift with a friend down to PMB and literally had no lift back , i entered the sellers yard and was graced with this site


Seriously it was love at first sight!

Had it's known issues , front suspension collapsed , Hi Los were included not fitted so had my first task at hand!



Was sitting a bit too low!

but i still loved everything about the car! it was neat , the seats and interior was neat , was missing backboard and hood lining (More exciting times regarding that coming up)



so it was time to get Casper loaded ! called up a flat bed and the journey back home began

we started this long drive back , and gitty as a child i was eager to get her in the yard and start her up.

We reached home and it was time to offload my new pride and joy



By then i was even more keen to get in and drive! so the next day bright and early , i contacted my good friend Ed and asked him for advice on attempting to do the Hi Los , he told me what he could and gave me some pictures and diagrams , and i was also being advised by Doug , so with a good luck from them both i started my first ever mechanical job which was tackling Hi Los on a Mini



Got my tools out and got the wheels off and started the struggle! constantly on the phone for help with Ed (Sensei)



My help via diagrams had arrived



so with a bit of motivation behind me i got cracking , a few cuts here and there , pinched skin , squashed fingers and a lot of sweat later i reached my next stage



Did not want to stop there so head down i got on with it , again numerous calls to Ed and Doug and i managed to get the passenger side done !!

At this point i took a break , realised that this was no easy task at all , but i was already half way there , so head down i got on with it , it took me 11 hours !! yes 11 hours! to complete this task



Greasy fenders later the car was ready to hit the road , started her up with the aid of jumpers only to find out after the drive that the starter motor was fried as well , Doug was at hand to help me out there and supply me one

came home got the new starter and fitted it



Starter in and with the first swing Casper shook into life !

Loved every minute of driving it , i was content at the time but slowly but shortly the eagerness to get things done kicked in

so what would have taken me 5/6 months had now turned into a 2 month frenzy!

That nasty mark on the door that you see , was because the driver side door had no door stop , got one of those and fitted it in , good thing was i was doing the work by myself so learning about the car as my journey goes on.



Doors did not open from the inside so for the few weeks i was stretching and opening the door from the outside like a gentleman that i am

Went to Doug who helped me with one door only to find out that the door opening mechanisms were put on upside down , so right door had left and vice versa

got home and started with that !

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Success! i could finally open the door from the inside!

At this point i was quite happy with my progress so far leaving me with a few things to sort on my list to begin with , reverse light , radio and hood lining ...

decided we go easiest one first , went and bought me a radio , which was going to be my first time ever installing a radio!






Aaand done ! Mind the wires which thanks to Zak for supplying me with some cable bulking i have hidden !

again i was happy for a few days then realised i needed to sort the reverse light switch! so under the car i go!

remove switch go to Doug ( by now i was a regular) bought switch returned home , under the car again , switch fitted and .......



Now my car was in working order but still the hood lining and now we figured out CV joints needed to be replaced as well!

Boy it felt like it was never going to end!

Well this is Part 1 of my jouney with Casper!

still a lot more to come ! (Hood lining , Self made Boot Board , little bits and bobs) all in part 2