All BMC Mini variants equate to loads of retro fun. Mix that with the cheeky looks of the Riley Elf and some Rally preparation and you have an absolute gem of a car. 

Bought by the present owner in 2014 as a demure 998cc standard Elf and then restored extensively with little regard for the cost to create this Rally replica.

Once purchased in 2014 the owner set to making the standard Elf stand out from the crowd. The engine has been swapped for a tuned and balanced 1293cc version. The suspension has been converted to dry and has Gaz shocks. 

On top of a delightful and in-depth body restoration, the car now boasts lots of Rally spec additions such as a roll cage, race seats with harnesses, a sump guard and Rally timers. There’s a host of invoices tracking the spend on the restoration process which clearly shows that there has been attention to detail. 

The Elf has always had those little additional touches to the interior that enhances it beyond a regular Mini, but this one goes a good deal further. Inside the cockpit of this car, you’ll find some serious Motorsport additions. You’ll notice straight away a pair of body-hugging race seats complete with FIA-approved TRS harnesses along with a rather purposeful roll cage. 

The dash has a few extra instruments to keep an eye on the engine and an onboard Brantz Rally Timing computer. Having said that, the interior is still fully carpeted and has a very clean headlining, so still provides a comfortable and pleasing place to be.

The body is still in very good condition after its restoration in 2015 with only minimal corrosion appearing on a couple of edges and joins. The chrome fittings are original and remain bright with just the right amount of patina which just enhances the historic feel of the car. 

The motorsport theme is maintained by the addition of a pair of period auxiliary lamps on the front and a Lucas fog lamp on the boot lid for reversing. The underside hasn’t been fully inspected, but the photographs taken at ground level appear to indicate that the underside is in good order with evidence of rust proofing liberally applied.

It’s not just the outward appearance of this delightful little Elf that has been given the motorsport treatment, the engine has had some serious attention too. Originally fitted with a lowly 998cc standard lump, the owner has taken the decision to fit a lightened and balanced 1293cc engine which has a 270 high-lift cam. Fuel is now delivered via a twin-carb set-up with performance filters. A nice Powerflow exhaust adds a sporty tone. 

There’s now a pair of disc brakes fitted up front and the brakes are also now dual circuit. The suspension has been converted from wet to dry and a set of performance shocks by Gaz all adds up to a better handling car. The wheel rims are a little wider than standard and are without hubcaps which again amplifies the purposeful Rally appearance. 

Everyone knows what a hoot any Mini can be and there can’t be many people that don’t have fond memories of a Mini. However, if you were to combine those fun memories with a bit of tuning, tasteful, period upgrades and the Mini’s Rally heritage, you could easily end up with something like this stunning little Riley Elf. It has all the fun and charm of the standard car but it has also had that motorsport history built into it too.

This feisty little motor has stacks of enjoyment built in and is guaranteed to put a grin on anyone’s face.

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