James Murphy Auction

[Dixminion]

A friend asked me to check out a great looking Mini at James Murphy Auctions on Friday.

http://murphyauction.com/Auction/Details/250

The Sheriff's sale car advertised '73 1275 was actually a '77 small block

(5 head studs showing on a smog head, single bolt sub-frame, dual stalk steering column, octagonal pedals, '76 on the wiper motor, '77 on the boot latch, suspect rivets on the vin)

with a single HIF carb, after market intake, 123 dizzy, aftermarket starter. Sounded great at idle. The only fault I could see other than the re-vin was unstrapped CV boots behind twin leading shoe brakes.

I advised a $6K maximum bid... It went for $14K+.

Don

[Cheleker]

I had a couple of people ask me about the car, but the only photo I could see didn't tell me anything.
5 head studs showing and a smog head could still be a 1275. Look for the angle of the heater valve in relation to the crank centerline. Right angle = small bore. Other than right angle = (almost always) large bore. The exception would be if someone put a large bore head on a small bore engine.

[Dixminion]

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j139/donwhynot-2006/73Mini.jpg

[Cheleker]

Looks like a 1275 head to me. Most likely ADO16 power unit.

[Dixminion]

Yeah,
Me and Sarah Palin, frequently wrong but NEVER in doubt!

Don

[Old No.7]

Funny, I was following this auction myself. Thought if I could get it for 5k it would be worth buying, but I was blown away when I saw it go for $14.5k. Wow

[mascher]

Don, your estimate was very reasonable. At an auction though, there is no predicting what will happen between the right two people and a shiny car. In fact there is an entire television series devoted to it.

Kelley