Lovely, what's the history of the car - presumably you restored it? Do you have 'before' pics?
Yes John I restored it over many years, it was my fathers mini who helped when he could.
It’s a late 1960 build registered in 1961 with original flat foam filled sills and full apron front panel, floor pan is original and good although it has had heritage panels fitted due to the usual rot. It has a reworked 998 over bored Cooper engine which has a lightened flywheel. The head is ported and the carbs and manifold have been internally cast cleaned and flowed. The engine was balanced and rebuilt so runs very smoothly indeed, the cam is unknown but again it’s been worked and close to a 266 when checked. Most of the car is as bought all those years ago including the odd rocker cover with breather, I have been told it has a Downton touring kit although certainly no expert.
We tried to keep most parts as they came like Benelite grille, badges, filters, carbs, engine, Spots, steering wheel, harnesses etc although obviously lots has been renewed during the restoration.
It had S brakes although the original servo was past saving and well seized.
My biggest regret was letting the dynamo with chronometric Rev counter drive go for some works parts for the Cooper (Twinmaster and drives) not knowing how rare that was, I’ve tried to find another over the past 5 years doing endless shows without luck....you live and learn but at the time I was keen to go with an alternator.
It’s now running a LCB maniflow system but originally had a 998 Cooper set up which was rotten. It had a very heavy steel sump guard unlike any I’ve seen before which I was going to bin but decided to fit in the end (Weighs a ton )
Not sure what else to say as don’t know that much more to be honest.
We tried to trace early history by writing to previous keepers without any luck so probably passed or moved, the original plate was removed early in its life hence the A plate. I have a three digit and letter plate but thought just leave it as was from the late 70’s.
I will get it to some shows when life gets back to normal as I’m sure there will be observations.
I don’t have any photos on my iPad but there are some old ones about I can scan if I ask my father, not much to see from what I remember other than a broken spotlight and some rust
The restoration started as a bit of fun to just knock about in as it was just a shelf with stuff stored in and on it looking sorry for itself, I never expected to sink nearly 7 years on and off along with over £20k into it .
Next will be a 1275 GT once the Esprit is done and I move or build another garage.
I still have my first mini a 1972 mini 850 cabriolet in boxes to restore sometime which I bought in 92, the shell was ditched though as more filler than metal. May save that one for retirement unless a good donor pops up.
Dave
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