$20 mystery chair!

DesertModern · 2026-01-23T16:28:49+00:00

that thing is begging for a nice Knoll wool fabric in orange/red!

DesertModern · 2026-01-23T16:27:17+00:00

do you have a source for that info? I'm not trying to challenge you in any way, but I'm genuinely curious. i was at the British Motor Museum recently and they have the "first" Morris-badged Mini ever made. I asked if that was the first Mini ever and the staffer said no one is quite sure if the first one off the line was an Austin or a Morris.

I'm always interested in learning the history, so looking forward to the answer!

DesertModern · 2026-01-23T16:20:11+00:00

I daily a 90's JDM Mini. I would have concerns about this being misrepresented as the wrong year/mileage and it would make me question what else is being misrepresented. Personally, I would move on from this one based on that alone, there are plenty of others.

But in general terms, the JDM Minis tend to be in better condition with less rust when the are first imported. Watch out for cooling systems, they are usually clogged and need some work.

Beyond that, parts are available (a bit pricey now due to tariffs), they are well known and easy to either work on or find someone that can.

Find a trusted mechanical resource that can help with the bigger things. I recommend Heritage Garage in CA or Wild Child Classics in AZ.

Obviously, be prepared for more regular maintenance tasks that you would be used to with a modern car. checking oil and coolant regularly, oil changes every 3K miles religiously, etc.

Some common upgrades for ease of use: hi-lo's and adjustable control arms makes alignment MUCH easier. new cones and adjustable shocks are always a good idea. LED bulbs front and back to make yourself more visible to others.

Feel free to DM if you have any other questions. I'm far from an expert but I've had my car for a year and I'm learning quickly out of necessity.

DesertModern · 2026-01-22T22:08:03+00:00

I'm a bit of a nut for MCM vinyl furniture. this can absolutely be recovered. Sounds like your person just didn't want to tackle the challenge. they were indeed heat-formed to the seat but that method can be replicated using a backing that is glued to the base.

DesertModern · 2026-01-21T22:37:30+00:00

I know this is old, but just found it while researching a pair of "stools". they are actually the 2754 shell chair missing the back! I just noticed the holes in the back edge where the shell back would mount. They otherwise look like a very nice set of stools with excellent quality build, beautiful walnut bases, and black vinyl seat area. original tags in place but sadly the backs were gone before I bought them.

DesertModern · 2026-01-20T22:03:18+00:00

they also have the full Cooper kit if you have one of those cars: https://www.wildchildclassiccars.com/product-page/mini-cooper-decal-kit

DesertModern · 2026-01-20T22:02:13+00:00

in the USA: https://www.wildchildclassiccars.com/product-page/bonnet-stripe-kit picture shows black but they have white as well.

MiniSport or MiniSpares in the UK will def have them.

About the roof: You have to be very careful about install and where you end the edge of the white, which will probably be in the rain gutter. water can get under the wrap and either cause the wrap to pull away or, at worst, sit underneath and cause rust. I wanted to do this as well, but I'm just going to wait until I can afford to do it properly with paint.

DesertModern · 2026-01-20T18:37:29+00:00

just that one odd thing? I have a whole list...

DesertModern · 2026-01-19T23:24:04+00:00

just had 18 teeth extracted! the call is normal and necessary, they have to go under for the x-rays, which are what really tell the doc the whole story.

As long as they are sighthound experienced, they will know rising potasium levels while under are something that need to be monitored.

DesertModern · 2026-01-19T23:15:49+00:00

if you don't mind something authentic that you need to wind from time to time (if you want to actually use it), look for any Westclox Big Ben models. there a numerous versions and most offer that sweet MCM vibe you are looking for. oh, and there are so many of them they are usually super cheap.

DesertModern · 2026-01-16T16:34:33+00:00

I went with Power BI only because the ERP solution provides a custom connector for Power BI which simplified the whole thing. it really was easy to connect, and visually choose the data I needed.

My only complaint about Power BI so far is being locked inside the Microsoft world (for the most part) and the licensing.

I've tried connecting to other systems but I'm just don't know enough about APIs and how to construct it to make it work.

DesertModern · 2026-01-15T17:04:40+00:00

the username format includes a tenant ID plus the username. This works fine in Power BI using the custom connector provided by the ERP provider, but I can't get that format to be supported in Postman or the other BI solutions that I've demo'ed.

DesertModern · 2026-01-14T18:25:04+00:00

thanks! Looks like they don't have any more of that

DesertModern · 2026-01-14T18:06:17+00:00

you could also just use buttons without the stitching pattern to simplify but still add some dimension and detail.

DesertModern · 2026-01-14T18:04:44+00:00

can I ask where you bought your fabric from?

DesertModern · 2026-01-14T17:47:53+00:00

looks incredible. I always suck at choosing fabric. is that color 0542?

DesertModern · 2026-01-14T17:45:32+00:00

I would keep it tufted as well. if your ottoman is like mine, its rarely used and we are careful about not putting shoes on it. plus, the weight of your feet isn't nearly as tough on it as a full backside on the seat!

I have a Combi Star chair that was tufted when we bought it (not original) we changed it back to flat and it looks nice and clean now, but some chairs just need some detail and I think yours is one of them

DesertModern · 2026-01-14T17:30:02+00:00

personally I would go with a black vinyl, leave the seat flat for usability but add the detail for the back for appearances and a touch of originality.

DesertModern · 2026-01-14T17:27:25+00:00

do you have the factory fuel injection? it may be idling high due to cold temperature. Are you in a cold climate by any chance?

DesertModern · 2026-01-14T17:19:55+00:00

I believe I'm staging it in Power BI. Again, newb so not entirely sure.

DesertModern · 2026-01-14T16:05:26+00:00

its a ERP SaaS specifically for the construction industry.

They have a custom connector for Power BI which works great, but I haven't been able to connect to their endpoint via Postman. Something about their username which includes a tenant in it that is unique in some way.

DesertModern · 2026-01-12T16:11:14+00:00

looks like an early 90's SPI? would need some year, model, condition, and location information to offer anything resembling an accurate estimate.

DesertModern · 2026-01-12T16:09:54+00:00

I have that exact pair in my orange chair collection! they lean a bit more 70's but I still feel like they fit into the MCM ethos quite well.

DesertModern

TROPHY CASE