2001 Mini Chassis number 310

Bryan

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I know a lot of people won't get excited about a bog standard 2001 Mini but to me this is a holy grail car. The original Mini R50 production began in April 2001 and was officially launched in July 2001. This car was built in May 2001 and is chassis number 310 so it is a very early car. What's more is that it wasn't registered until August 2001 so that probably means it was the showroom display model at the time.

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Finished in Indi blue with a white roof it's still in pretty good condition for age and still has some of the original subtle differences that early 2001 Minis have to the later R50 models such as the pedals...

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Sadly the car has been re-registered and I was expecting it to have an original registration that was English however it seems that it is an NI registered car from new. Its original registration is ILZ something so I now have to try and get it reunited with that registration.

Plans are to just keep it totally standard and tidy up the bodywork here and there. I don't usually do a thread on my cars because I have had 25+ Minis in the past few years but this one will be a keeper.
 

davyk31

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Lovely. I had the first Indi Blue with a white roof supplied by JKC, it was a Cooper chilli pack ordered July 2001 and delivered early Sept. Think it was the 8th they delivered. At that time the new Minis literally caught every eye and stopped traffic around town. So many people wanted to have a look any time it was parked.
 

Bryan

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That's strong money for a 2001 Mini. I absolutely stole this one if that's the case. I'd love one in double digit chassis number but then again I *think* from looking at the Y-reg register my car is the earliest chassis number that was originally NI registered from new.
 

Bryan

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Yes, totally standard. I have been told that it would have had a blue roof originally though so someone has painted it white at some point. They have done a good job of it though and I quite like it.
 

davyk31

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Yep correct, Mini One wouldn’t have had a white roof but a few owners did make the change after delivery as it adds to the looks nicely.
 

Bryan

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I think I'll keep the white roof although some of the bodywork needs tidying up so who knows.

I finally got a cover over the polytunnel I've been building to store cars last week so it's now in the dry away from the rain with some friends ...

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I've also sent the V5 back to DVLA requesting the original registration for it. If I get it I'm hoping to get some dealer plates made up for it as well.
 

Pumesta

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Check out furiousdriving on Youtube he has a Y reg one

 

MarkyMck

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love it, i forgot to look the information up for you in work! I'll hopefully get that done for you after Easter :grinning:

It wasnt uncommon for a MINI One to have its roof painted to make it look like a Cooper back in the day!
 

Bryan

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I started in to changing the gearbox in 250 yesterday...

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It had zero oil in the gearbox so had destroyed the bearings. Luckily I have another car with a good gearbox so then had to strip it as well...

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I didn't really want to break the red car but needs must plus it saved me forking out for a gearbox.

Hopefully have the 250 blue car sorted over the weekend and ready for MOT next week.
 

Bryan

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I've been waiting over a week for the gearbox seals to arrive in the post so I got stuck into getting 310 ready for MOT. I had to rob a front hub from that red car due to an ABS issue and fit a new track rod end but otherwise it seems to have been well looked after and I can't see anything else it's going to need.

Fingers crossed for its date with the MOT ramp tomorrow...

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Bryan

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I was hoping to get at least one of the cars to the Mini show in Wallace park at the weekend but sadly the parts for 250 still have not turned up and the MOT man had other things to say about 310 on Friday...

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It was all polished and ready to go but sadly didn't get going anywhere. The engine management light came on during the drive to the MOT centre and I didn't have my computer with me to clear it so I knew it had failed before I even got through the door. What a waste of an hour driving to Lisburn in rush hour traffic on Friday evening. Turns out the light was to do with catalytic convertor performance so possibly because it hasn't been driven a long distane for a very long time but I've cleared it again and set the headlight alignment.

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It's back in the shed now until I finally finish 250 and then I will replace the dreaded bush which is a subframe out job.
Is that newspaper article up there for #250?

That will be TC00250 which is Cooper. Mine are both TB which is the One. In reality they probably are more than 250 and 310 because you also have the Coopers built at the same time so numbers are probably doubled.
 

Bryan

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It may have taken the DVLA over 2 months but 310 is finally wearing its original registration number...

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And once again @Neil@rockvale stepped up to the mark and provided these excellent dealer replica plates with period correct font.

Hopefully it will now pass the MOT retest this week with new polybushed front suspension and finally get back on the road for the summer.
 

Bryan

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Finally back on the road. Third time lucky - it failed the retest on Tuesday with the left headlight being slightly too high still. Beam set yesterday and another full test (outside of original 21 days now) booked for this morning. Straight through thank goodness.
 

Bryan

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Finally got 250 through MOT today first time which is highly unusual for a Mini. However given that it's had all brake pipes and flexis replaced, front suspension bushes and all brakes and tyres are like new there wasn't much they could fail it on. It has also been reunited with its original NI registration now as well.

Hopefully will have both Minis tomorrow at the Causeway Coast Mini show in Portrush.
 
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