I had looked at the car a month ago, and was intrigued. After a lot of discussion and soul-searching, I decided to go for it.

The car is a 1966 Morris Traveller, a Classic Mini in every respect. The Traveller model is a "station wagon" style, with a longer wheelbase and extended body. The coolest feature is the "barn doors" in the back. They swing wide open from the center.

The car wasn't much to really look at when it came home. No engine, no signature grille, crappy black paint laid over red with surface rust in spots. There's a thin film of dirt over the paint. Then, there's the awful brown shag carpet that someone covered the floors with. Blech! I promised my buddy Randy that it would be one of the first things to go. It does have new(ish) upholstery.

So, what possessed me? I've been a big fan of the new MINI. I've toyed with the idea of a Miata sports car. But, I really wanted a car with a real mechanical engine, not the computer-controlled power plants of contemporary vehicles.

Once I saw this car, I started looking into what went into a project like this. It came down to the availability of parts, and a community of help. My father had suggested that I look at the suppliers of the bits needed to repair and rebuild a car. I was directed to a handful of good places to find those parts right here in North America. Randy encouraged me through the lure of a strong community of British car faithful who would be more than happy to help with advice and direction.

So, here I am. The owner of a Classic Mini, an icon in the automotive world.

Check out the picture of the car arriving on a flatbed by clicking HERE . (There's an on-going Picasa gallery of the project there, as well.)

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