Red Mk1 on Ebay

Reduced "Buy it now" £1100

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GENUINE-MINI-SCAMP-1961-HISTORIC-VEHICLE-REGISTERED_W0QQitemZ300399663606QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item45f13719f6

2nd time around.

Guys/Gals, I'm keen to get a Scamp this year and wondered what the concensus on this one is.

I've seen by the previous thread that a number of you know this car. Not much is original and the v5 doesn't reflect the engine size but is it considered a sound peice of kit or should I keep looking?

Also, It's not like any other scamp I've seen, does anyone know why the front panel is unusual?

I quite like the idea of being able to remove the bodywork in the summertime. I guess I will know more about how feasable this might be if I see the car but any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

Hi there Si, welcome to the forum.

£1000 is quite a lot for a Scamp, it would need to be in really good condition and/or well-equipped to justify that sort of asking price. From the pictures, that could be the case but you'll need to take a long hard look at the actual car.

This particular Scamp must have had major modifications to take the Metro engine, including widening the chassis - not in fact a particularly difficult job for a competent welder. If the running gear is bogstandard Metro through and through, including both front and rear subframes, there should be no problem with it. If on the other hand it's been "adapted" from the Mini setup, it may take a bit more looking after, depending on how well or otherwise the builder knew what he was doing. You'll need to be able to assess this.

The Scamp has some of the hallmarks of a Fred Howard job. This gentleman is a Club member, unfortunately not on the forum AFAIK, who in the past has come up with some very interesting and well-engineered modifications. If it does turn out to be one of his - something I can't confirm - then that would be in its favour.

As to the bodywork being removeable, this will depend on how it is attached to the chassis. It is (fortunately) nothing like the ali hardtop supplied by Robert Mandry, by the way. If it, and any associated framework, can be removed as a unit then all well and good. If the panels and frame have to come off separately, that would be a weak point. As you say, you'll have to see the car in order to tell.

From what I can find out its still reg as a mini ? - Not on a Scamp log book

https://www.autocheck.co.uk/Secure/AutoCheck.asp?AutoLocateID=8E1403EE054547C04EDD4C3C


Vehicle Registration Mark
NSJ698
Make
AUSTIN
Model
SEVEN
Transmission & fuel type
PETROL
Body Type
SALOON
Colour
ORANGE

Oh, not so good then.. ?

Should the logbook say 'Scamp'? D'ya reccon it could end up with problems insurance/MOT wise?

I was under the clearly naive understanding the logbook remains that of the original car.

Thanks for your support guys. I really appreciate it.

In 1971 when this Scamp was built, the rule was that if most of the major components came from a single donor, it counted as a "re-bodying". The Scamp inherited not just the donor's registration but the whole of its identity, including make, model and age. The log book details would only have to be changed if the body type was different, e.g. convertible instead of saloon.

OTOH when several donors were used, a new registration would be assigned and a new log book issued, endorsed "built from new and used parts" or words to that effect. The make and model would be whatever the builder chose to put on the application form - my own Mk1 is registered as an Austin for example: BMC could have taken issue with that, but it would have been their business, not the licensing authority's.

In this case, the "rebuilt mini" has been taxed & tested in its Scamp form, and for that to have happened, the V5 must be OK.

Went for £900. Somebody must have been suitably impressed.

..had booked to see it today but missed out.

Again, thanks for all the advice, I'll keep it in mind as I continue my search!

Just a few points on the above post ref registration .

With the MOT being computerised the garage knows what make of car it is testing - so if you arrive in a scamp and the v5c says austin seven or austin mini then the tester can refuse a ticket be cause you have not presented the correct car.

Also how would you get insurance - Would you tell the insurance company it is an austin seven/mini or a scamp/kit -
they will know by the reg it is a mini when they type your details in so would you be insured when they try and get out of paying in the event of an accident ???. - sorry sir our records say it was a 998 mini.

Had a friend who was driving a lo-cost 7 on a ford escort convertible v5c - now a track day car as he got pulled from using it on the road - Seems to me a scamp on a mini v5c is the same.

I may be going up the wrong path here so your thoughts on this would be helpfull to new buyers!!

Pete

...not presented the correct car.

That would depend on when the Scamp was built. In the early 70's, the Scamp could under some circumstances still remain officially a (rebodied) Mini. OTOH if a new registration was applied for, the car was inspected to verify that the details were broadly correct. I may be wrong but I believe if you chose to call your Scamp an Austin Mini, then that would be fine as far as the DVLA were concerned although BLMC (as it then was) might have grounds to object. For insurance, you'd need to declare the "modifications" anyway.

The rules changed: my Mk2 was still registered as a Mini when I bought it, and when I notified the DVLA of the rebuild, they insisted on giving it a Q plate. Presumably the builder just ran it as a Mini until the original MoT expired (or possibly until he did, from a heart attack).

NEWS!!

It looks like we have ourselves a scamp.

I've left a deposit. Wasn't able to drive it and the guy is delivering next week so no idea what we've bought!

It was the one listed on car and classic: http://www.carandclassic.com/classic_cars.php?make=82&keyword=Scamp

Here's a picture I took on my mobile - if it works..

[img]https://2img.net/h/i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy31/si-gibson/Scamp/Scamp.jpg[/img]

If anyone knows any background to this car, It'd be much appreciated.

Cheers, Si

Registration looks familiar. Wasn't it on ebay a couple of times but it was a different colour? Or am I mixing it up with another one?

I think it has been painted a few different colours. Yellow? Green?

Thankfully v5 states White now.

From my database, compiled from all the info I could find:
KAE 153L, Mk1, White, e-Bay 25 July 2007.
Previously green, on e-Bay 17 Apr 2007. New owner painted it white, fitted nice wheels and used it as a wedding car.
Nice bonnet mods.
Sorry, no pics.

Congratulations Si, we'll give you a flash/toot if we see you pootling about.


Elaine & Richard J (Whitwick).

Looks good.

See you at Stoneleigh on the May BH

Thanks All,

Elaine, Richard, if you can recommend a fairly relaxed MOT place, that'd be great!

Si

si wrote:Thanks All,

Elaine, Richard, if you can recommend a fairly relaxed MOT place, that'd be great!

Si

Can't help you there I'm afraid... I think those days are long gone! Why, what's wrong with it? Nothing that a bit of TLC won't fix surely?


E&R.

I guess I'll know once I get the failure sheet!

I'll take the old scamp to my local test centre and see what they say..

How does it usually go?

In my experience if you can find a back street garage that does a good Mot without picking up stupid things.

Stay clear of ones that do Mot's for £30, these tend to be job creation zones.

I find that garages are quite happy to actually see something different.

If you havent had a problem with getting your other vehicles Mot'd at your normal place then i would just go for it.

With the recommended cost of an MOT £54.85 (www.direct.gov.uk) I would suggest a chat with several local MOT stations and find out if they MOT kit cars as many won't entertain them and some will charge you a re-test and then it starts to get expensive and they are entitled to charge you labor for changing a blown bulb etc. so do all the work first - if you don't know the rules take a look at http://www.ukmot.com/manual.asp - good luck.

si wrote:How does it usually go?

Ok around here, Reg has had his Monster Scamp for 10yrs now, and has never had any probs with MOT stations/testers...

Elaine&Reg.

Thanks all for your help. I'll let you know how we get on.

A better link for MOT info is this one, it's the official manual online, exactly as we refer to if needed whilst testing. MOT INFO CLICK HERE

Top Tip.. Thanks!

No need to fit a load of rear view mirrors now.