Mini Cooper MkI

We are indebted to the vendor for the following description:

“This Mini Cooper was built in January 1967 towards the end of MkI production and finished in striking Island Blue with Old English White roof. It spent much of its life in the South East, before being purchased by the previous owner who lived in Colchester. I purchased the car in December 2003. All the previous owners have been identified and there is considerable detail between July 1975 and February 1982 in the history file. During this time a Weathershields sunroof was fitted. The bodyshell was restored during the 1990's and receipts from 1992 to 2003 are also in the file.

In my ownership the car has been completely overhauled mechanically and all the bearings bushes and joints were replaced. It still retains the Hydrolastic Suspension which is leak free, and has competition bump stops and front dampers. The brakes are Cooper S specification with 7.5in discs at the front and alloy drums at the rear. A servo is also fitted, along with Goodrich stainless braided flexible hoses.

Initially the 998cc engine was overhauled, but in 2008 this was replaced by a 1293cc engine based on a 1300GT block assembly with a 12G1805 Cooper S head, converted to run on unleaded fuel. The carburettors are SU HS2 which provide better bottom end torque (over an HS4 set-up) for ease of driving out of Alpine hairpins. Aldon Ignitor electronic ignition is also fitted. The gearbox has standard Cooper S gear ratios and a cross-pin competition differential is fitted. The engine is fully balanced and has a Kent 276 camshaft, along with a lightened flywheel and Cooper S clutch. The exhaust system is a Janspeed long centre branch with RC40 system. The engine was set up on a rolling road and produced 78bhp.

The interior features Corbeau Classic bucket seats with full harness seat belts. A works style dashboard is fitted with matching Smiths instruments. The oval centre instrument binnacle features a Cooper S speedometer which was fitted in 2010 after the original instrument failed. This has the advantage of having kph markings for continental touring.

The car is fitted with an alternator and hence is now negative earth. All the main electrical circuits use soldered Lucas connectors. Auxiliary lighting consists of two Cibie Oscar+ Sport and two Lucas L731 with 700 headlight units with halogen bulbs, mounted on a works type lamp bar. The five wheels are FIA spec Minilites with Yokohama A008 tyres.

I have used the car for touring events and have completed two ‘Minis to Monte’ events in 2008 and 2010, covering some 2,800 miles in a week each time. Additionally I have completed several one day tours in the UK and a trip to the Le Mans Classic in 2010, where the car ran faultlessly through temperatures of 40 deg C (a supercool radiator is fitted). To help with the navigation on these events a Brantz Retrotrip is fitted.

The history file contains the current documents plus receipts for parts still under guarantee, receipts from 1992 onwards, articles about the restoration written for a local club magazine, a CD about Minis to Monte 2008, and details of previous owners. The car has a new MOT from 4th November 2011 and the tax disc expires on August 30th 2012. Additionally I have a large collection of parts, which would be subject private negotiation.”