Here's what Fester's Dad had to say about him afterwards:
"When I saw the advert in a Magazine for Fester the photo looked really
impressive. I called the owner and arranged a visit. Like loads of other
people, the only option was in the evening, and it was subsequently dark. I took
a couple of mates just so I'd keep my feet on the ground. I think I should
have taken concrete boots instead.
We checked it over and found loads of rust, but also found loads of goodies,
including 4 pot alloy callipers on vented disks, real Minilites and a tuned
turbo lump liberated from a Metro - best thing you can do with a Metro in my
opinion.
We sorted the price, and both of us where happy. I picked it up with my
girlfriend (who on seeing it thought I was completely mad) as the heavens
opened. I managed to drive it about 200 yards and it died going onto a
roundabout. With no hazards (not standard on 1968 MkII). After a few
minutes I got him going, only to die 2 minutes later. I was thinking of heading
back but pushed on, like a madman, using the old Mini Owner technique of rev the
nuts off it to fix it (we've all seen this at every Mini Event).
We popped in on the way back to show my parents, who ask the question 'WHY ????'
'Dunno, seemed like a good idea at the time!'
I took the car to Colin at Custom Autos in Sutton Common Road, Sutton, Surrey
and started ordering bits... loads of bits. I think I should have got bulk
discount from Summerford.
Serveral months later I spent a little time with Colin finishing things off so
we could head to Minis in the Park. I really wanted to take it to at least one
show this year. We managed get most things sorted and all was going well until
we hit the massive queue getting into the event on the Sunday. Every year
they make you wait while they mince around handing out tickets at a snails pace.
When I got to the LSMOC stand things where getting hot - very hot. When I opened
the bonnet oil was everywhere. All over the new paint job. I thought it
was the breather hoses backing up, which was
only partially the problem as I was to find out.
After spending even more money we headed back getting petrol and more oil. I
checked under the bonnet and found half of Texas under the bonnet. I managed
it as far as the M40 and when the oil was spraying on the window I decided to
stop. Everyone came to our rescue, but it was terminal. The oil feed pipe to the
turbo was cracked. Game over. Makes you glad to have the AA. I got a replacement
braded pipe and fitted that, again with some help, but I was still getting oil
everywhere, this time from the rocker box. On investigation it turns out the
last owner blocked the breather on the timing chain case.. mad ! So I got a new
one and removed the crap inside. Did the same on the other end too, which was a
good job as that was blocked too.
Before I managed to do this my car tried to kill me. The throttle jammed while
overtaking a car at 70+ at 11:30pm. Not nice. A couple of mates helped
taking the head off for us and cleaned it up, ground the valves and changed the
oil seals. It was at this point that we found the head was genuinely a Slark
head, as the last owner had claimed. Your never too sure when you buy
something. I've never owned such an expensive engine.
Things are panning out now after spending some time sorting the suspension. But
there is always something to do. Gaz shocks have been fitted to the
front now, and the back ones will follow soon.
This car has become both the Money pit, and the Forth bridge of a project.
But I'm really happy with it. Who'd want a Ford Puma or Audi TT anyway?
