First Sight

On Friday, I had off of work and I needed to be in Philadelphia. So earlier in the week I asked the seller if it would be beneficial for me to stop by. He said he'd probably have the car painted and back at his shop, and that we could discuss some of the smaller details.

My Dad joined me and when we got there, (surprise!) the car wasn't painted yet.  First, he showed us the parts for the LHD conversion (pedals, etc.) and explained how they worked. However, he still hadn't received the steering bracket. Then he showed me the emblem I had requested for the bonnet. Below is a picture of what was originally on my car followed by the new piece he'll attach.

We talked a little more then headed over to the paint shop. My car was sanded down and disassembled in preparation for the new paint (glass taken out; wheel arches, bumpers and door handles removed, etc.). Unfortunately, this made it hard to see the true color of the vehicle. From what I could see, I liked it. But who knows. I also sat in the car for the first time. The seats are in great condition and it was quite comfortable. I fiddled with the controls and the shifter, and I'm very satisfied with the interior.

Overall, the body looked to be in great shape. The car currently has 12" alloys on it with the Great Britain flag centers (pictured below.) I asked the seller if he had any plain centers, preferably black ones with "MINI" written on it. This way they'd match the emblem on the bonnet.

Other than the initial disappointment of not being able to see the car in full, it was neat to see all the Minis at his shop and to finally see my car in person. It's supposed to be painted early next week, but I've learned to not get my hopes up anymore.