MX5 Donor Cars and Rust
 

Hi all. New to forum and looking at kit car options - hoping to start a build in the next 12 mths.

I like the MX250C but know a lot of both MX5 MK1 and MK2 cars have sill issues, rear inner wing issues and some chassis rail rust issues.

A lot of the MX5's about have had some sill repairs and inner rear wing repairs. Looking online most of these repairs were patch jobs which may give issues down the line.

Has anyone done anything about this went building MX250's or will these areas still be accessible if repairs are required in the future.

IF anything was done what way it and what was the typical cost?

Also interested in the typical build costs people are achieving for a basic finish. I would do a basic build and upgrade some finishing touches down the line.

Thanks for the help guys.

Vin

Hi, and welcome
I have built two mx250c s a mk1 and a mk2. They both had hidden rust issues. The mk1 was rear sills and cost over £1000 to repair, the mk2 had front chassis rust, both common issues. Check your donor over very well.
A little surface rust is salvageable and can be used as a negotiating tool.
Good luck

Rust free MK 1s and MK 2s are pretty thin on the ground and are commanding high prices. 3 to 6 grand for a MK1..

The best advice is a tatty unmolested MK1 for £500, spend the £900 on the sills and you have a good base.

In terms of build cost £2k for the kit, £1500 for the repaired car, another grand for wheels, tyres, paint etc and you have a good starting point for £4.5k.

If i were doing it all over again I would buy something like this as a base http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.p...pic=364601&hl=

Before buying check the DVLA MOT history available online free of charge.
Any history of rust on previous MOT's, then walk away. Bad rust develops over a few years so any rust should be mentioned on previous MOT's.
Ignore "underbody slightly corroded", this has to be mentioned if ANY surface rust is present, it will be on any car around 20 years old. Problem rust areas will be mentioned separately, or should be.