Description
Featured extensively in the 2018 summer edition of Mini World, OGU 687D, was restored by JD Classics – a company better known for their achingly expensive Jaguar and other high-end marque restorations. OGU 687D was sold to its new owner while still under restoration and delivered to him in June 2017; total purchase price was in excess of £50, 000.
The car started life as an American-spec model and was shipped overseas in May 1966. It made it back here in 2014, when it was bought by an experienced Mini-fancier who was attracted by its originality. When he parted with it he sold it to Scott Turner knowing that he would do the right thing with the car.
OGU 687D went through the JD Classics’ process with Scott Turner and was delivered to its new owner three days before the big Beaulieu Mini-fest in 2017. He drove it to Beaulieu and was delighted to win the concours award in its class and also went on to win the concours in the British Mini Club’s Cooper and Cooper S class.
Our vendor made a few changes to the car - he replaced the Les Leston steering wheel with an original ‘bus driver’s’ wheel, changed the rose-petal alloy wheels for period-correct wide steel wheels, and removed the period after-market door mirrors. Improving on perfection, making it more standard or just fine-tuning to one’s own preferences?
There is little purpose in detailing the work carried out on OGU 687D as the results speak for themselves and the provenance of the car carries a guarantee of quality that cannot be denied. It is no exaggeration to say the car is better than new (BMC build quality is well-known and not in a good way), and it is probably true to say that no expense was spared in this car’s restoration.
