Full bare metal, stripped shell restoration by Seller from 2016 to 2021
Professionally rewired custom loom
Tax and Mot exempt
Fitted with 1275cc metro engine
Nicely balanced between modified and standard
Scope for further cosmetic improvement to interior
Covered less than 300 miles since restoration completed
The Appeal
The Mini. Few humble, everyday cars have ever quite offered the same scope for personalisation and improvement than Issigonis’ diminutive city car. From subtle cosmetic modifications to extreme makeovers, if it can be done to a Mini, chances are that it almost certainly has been.
This 1974 Mini sits somewhere in between – it has been tastefully modified but nothing extreme, the work concentrating on enhancing rather than exaggerating what makes driving a Mini so good. So it has more power – thanks to a 1275cc Metro engine – and it sounds better, thanks in no small part to that lovely twin-pipe straight through exhaust.
Most of the work on the car has been undertaken by the Seller over a six year period to 2021 and is carefully recorded in the photographs. He took the car back to a bare shell and gradually built it back up. The change of engine and colour are correctly recorded on the V5. This is a pretty Mini with work done to a high standard. There is scope to improve and personalise the interior if the buyer wishes – or just enjoy the go-kart delights of this carefully restored car.
Later wood veneer-effect Mini dashboard fitted with dash top padding
Wooden Mountney steering wheel
The original Mini interior was a spartan place to be, its iconic central speedo dominating an otherwise almost featureless dashboard. This car eschews that approach in favour of a blend of original and later features. There is scope to improve and further personalise or enjoy it as it is.
The original dashboard has been replaced with a more luxurious wood veneer-effect version from one of the last models. This brings extra dials and a glovebox as well as dashtop padding for an air of luxury. The dials and dashboard are in good condition, a modern Bluetooth stereo completing the picture.
The blue vinyl seats are period correct if not perhaps original to the car, as are the black door cards. All are in good, used condition, like the black carpets. The door cards appear to be missing the lock trims and the door handle is also missing from the passenger side.
The original ventilation and heating controls have some signs of damage.
All Mini parts are inexpensive and easy to obtain.
Underside of car glass beaded before being painted
This car left the factory painted Sunburst Red. The bare metal respray in white may have lost some of that colour’s vibrancy but it hasn’t sacrificed any of this car’s character. If anything the tasteful combination of white with checkerboard roof, black coachlines and black Minilite alloys makes this car stand out more than it did when it left Longbridge. The ‘29’ numbers, which reference the Matchbox model of this car, are a nice touch.
The temptation can sometimes be with Mini makeovers to go extreme. This car thankfully avoids that. The work has been done to a high standard – the photographs show that the shell was stripped and taken back to metal before being fully resprayed, including the engine bay, underside and boot area. The paint looks even and the graphics carefully applied.
The work was completed in 2021 and has held up very well. Particular attention was paid to carefully preparing and rust proofing the underside of the car, including the subframes, before painting.
There are a few small areas where the Mini’s legendary propensity to rust is starting to show, notably below the offside headlamp and in the roof gutter on the same side, but these are minor and could easily be rectified. Elsewhere there are some imperfections in the paint on the offside rear seam and around the offside front indicator. Again, these are minor and not immediately visible.
The dinky 12inch Minilite alloy wheels are in good condition all round, the black paint appearing unmarked. The chrome appears mostly original and in good condition, including both bumpers.
Professionally tuned by local specialist Custom Classics
Braking system overhauled and replaced
You don’t need to go fast in a Mini to have fun, but if you can go faster then clearly there is scope for more fun to be had. This car left the factory as a humble Mini 1000 but during the restoration process received a 1275cc engine donated by a Metro. The Seller was told that this engine has only covered 37,000 miles but tells us that there is no paperwork to substantiate this.
This engine provides significant scope for performance enhancements but in standard form delivers a healthy dose of extra power. In this car it is largely standard, with just a single carburettor. The four speed manual gearbox is original.
A straight through, twin pipe exhaust helps this otherwise understated Mini look and sound the part.
The Seller undertook all the mechanical work himself, but says that he referred to a local classic specialist where necessary. This specialist rewired the car with a custom loom and also set up the new braking system. Although the car is MOT exempt, the Seller took the sensible precaution of getting it tested to satisfy himself about the standard of his work.
The car was fully serviced when the engine was fitted and the car has covered less than 300 miles since that MOT in 2020 when the work was completed.
Few cars have the exuberance and sheer ‘smiles per mile’ of an original Mini. Standard cars are a hoot but modified ones are even better. There is an army of specialists out there ready to improve your car or provide inexpensive parts so you can do it yourself and an equally committed group of enthusiasts with whom to enjoy your creation.
This is a restored and modified Mini where someone else has done all the hard work. The work has been extensive and to a high standard, yet retains the simple essence of these wonderful little cars. There is scope to personalise it further or just enjoy this pretty car as it is. Either way it has fun written all over it.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller.
1974 Morris Mini
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