As a follow up I got an email from one of the guys on 1959 mini register today.  I had contacted them to help figure out just how early our car is.  I recieved two emails back from them with some help.  this is what they said.

Hi Larry,

You do indeed have an early US car, Austin 125XX will be approximately the 
2nd week of January 1960. So it is a pre US launch car (being in March 60) 
and the body number is right on the cusp of 59/60, does it have long slice 
type drain holes in the front corners of the gutter? I.e. not a drilled 
hole.

Regards

Bill

and this...

Hi Larry,

We were at Gaydon yesterday and checked your car out in the factory records.

It lists it as Vin. AA2S7L 125XX. Body number 10093. exported to USA On 
21.1.60.

Best regards

Trevor.

The work didn't scare me. I rebuild aircraft for a living and used to rebuild corvettes andPorsches as a hobby.  I don't have as big of shop at this house as I did at our last place so I had to find a project that fit my available space. I've rebuilt sport bikes and lost interest in them. 

This is so true Dr. Mini,  If I hadn't run into the expert VTEC/Mini restorer my project would most likely be just taking up space in the garage. Oh and in case anyone is thinking - how could I VTEC a true no rust '61, well when I bought it it already had the molded in body kit and a tiny little 850. 

In theory when you look at the parts cost to do a VTEC it looks reasonable.  Too bad it takes about double to triple that to finish it!  I think maybe that's what we should tell those interested in building one (that don't possess a complete mechanical automotive knowledge and shop) that it is going to be WAY more expensive than they envision.  And that there is a level of frustration that could really damper ones progress to finishing it (understated).

If the A series engines were say designed a few decades later I would have been interested in building one up instead of a VTEC.  But to get the amount of power I wanted I just don't feel an A series would be reliable.  Of course there are many high output engine builders on this forum that have no reliability issues but I just can't wrap my mind around it.

Maybe someday VTEC Minis will garner respect in the Mini community like 356 Outlaws do now in orsche communities.  One can always dream...

By that number and its location we can tell its an Austin, made in 1960. The body numbers arent sequenced in such a way to indicate that its the 93rd made that year. The heritage certificate should be able to tell you the exact build calendar date from that number. I have a 60 Austin with a body number in the 33XXX range and it was built in July of 60. Looking at specific features that I mentioned previously can help to confirm that date/number info.

This is great news!!! Excellent choice Sparetime!!! Congratulations on your early Classic Mini.          Mini Estate

Does your car have drip rails on the side edge of the roof gutters?

If made in Jan '60 they shouldnt be present.

There are a number of indicators of earlier cars. Another is the door drain setup. You can also check the date codes in the glass. If original that will tell you something. An early Jan car will likely have glass made in 59.

Yes, you are correct...Carl's car is way beyond most VTEC conversions and was done properly and to the highest standards.  I also think Carl will be one that keeps his car for many years, and I come to this conclusion by knowing who did alot of the building and setup, which I know is done right.  It is still my personal opinion that most foks who buy kits from Minitec and attempt the conversions themselves end up not getting it right and also get frustrated on the way.  In the end they either never finish it or the end product is not right.

Carl you're in a different situation - your car is light years beyond other VTECs and is definitely not yesterday's news.  It's in a class by itself.

To clarify I think VTEC bashing ( such as mine ) is not directed at the car, it's directed at the project.  So again, yours doesn't count because you wanted an all-out ultimate car, period.  You knew you were getting into a gigantic project and are reaping the benefits.

I agree resale value should not even be part of the discussion.

OK my boys and I decided to restore it not vtec it.  based on TSUMINI vin number being 128XX and mine being 125XX almost 124XX our has to be earlier JAN 60 so no chopping this one up.  We will keep the engine moded the way it is and see how it does.  Ill look for a stock head and intake once its done that way it could be made back to the way it came. Im ordering the British Heritage Cert for it and will put it with the other papers I have on it. 

Todd, you make it sound like that as long as you keep a Mini somewhat original but pump it up spending big $$$$ you are going to be able to sell it for what you put into it, really?  And that's hoping it doesn't go ping ping pow.

Since when does a Mini have a dancing horse from Germany or Italy on its fenders?  Sure you won't get your money back on a well done VTEC conversion (or most other hot-rodded cars for that matter) but that's not why you're building one.  You are building it for the rush you get in a 1600 lb. car with 180 horses that still handles pretty well and looks oh so cool.

Too bad you didn't make it up to Thunderhill this year then we could have compared your state of the art cast iron block A series against "yesterday’s news" at 7000 rpms!  I guess we will just have to wait for the next MOASF run...

Sparetime;

 As a reference here's the numbers on my early 1960 Austin 850 British Heritage Certificate.

VIN  A-A2S7-L128XX

Engine 8AM-U-H/118XX (engine missing  from car)

Body number___0108XX  You may want to check 4th digit. Pic looks like "0" but may be "8"; "8" would fit better datewise imo

FEnumber___ FE160XX 

Specification___ LHD,North American Export, Super deluxe

Tartan Rd

Grey cloth

Date of build__ 20 January 1960

Date of despatch___28 January 1960

Certificate will cost north of $100 fOR British Heritage.  You can ask one question for I think 5 pounds. I gave the VIN number of an early Morris and asked for the original engine SN. The correct engine was with the car. Cheleker's link to the 59 Registry has lotsa info on 59s and is useful for identifying 59 parts which can be found on early 60's. Wasn't sure but the sliding window looks to have only one hole for slider mounting. Understand this to be rare for 60 model. Doors appear to be the early pull cable although they aren't here.

I was intending to Jazz mine up a little but decide not to when I found it was early import and the whole thing was in almost rust free condition. Most of the original parts were still there with a few missing such as the seats (reason for buying seats) and engine. Shafts were early 18 spline so to upgrade would take some serious cash. 

sparetime,

where are you located?

But if you put all those nice fun parts on it that sort of kills the argument about keeping it stock doesn't it. Remember I'm talking about a 1960 car and EFI and wide band sensors were not thought about yet. if was going to all that bother why not go modern drive line?  But it's looking more and more like a restoration for this one. I'm just on hold to hear back from a guy in England on some stuff. 

I was actually referring to the newer advances in the last couple years that provide Honda-quality tuneability and reliability, like the open source ECU and EFI controllers, wideband sensors etc.

Thanks I emailed them.  We will see what they say. 

Aloha Sparetime,

Quote; "The engine and wiring are already butchered so cost either way will be equal", unquote. Famous last words I'm afraid. Even if the cost were equal, what is the value of the finished product??? Everyone that builds a VTEC powered Mini ends up selling at a loss. Alot of guys too, ended up overwhelmed, not finishing what they started, so yeah, no shortage of VTEC project Minis. An early model Mini would certainly be more than worthwhile to restore to its original splendor, and it is noteworthy that you have taken the time to reach out for options and opinions. If you have loads of cash, you can do pretty much what you want to do, but don't expect to ever profit or break even on a completed Mini VTEC resto. The noble course would be to research your early example Mini, and do a spot on original restoration that will take the world by storm! Hope this helps.     Mini Estate

Yes. Body number.

Run that number by these guys  //1959miniregister.com/?loc=43  to see what they have to say.

That is the body number.

VTECs are not yesterday news. The reason the OP is being discouraged has nothing to do with the VTEC not being an advantage. There are some folks who believe that the VTECs will make the Mini a fast and reliable car. However there are other folks, myself included, who appreciate the A-series in all its various guises, whether stock or modified.

As far as new A-series stuff being cooler we been appreciating A-series modifications from Alexander, Westlake, Clive Trickey, Longman, Ripseed, Oselli, Swiftune, Vizard, et al since the 1960s. Also 8-port and 5-speed gearboxes have been around since the 1960s, all "state of the art" for their time.