Beschrijving
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
20th September, 2023 13:00
1968 Morris Mini Traveller
Current ownership since 1992
Estimate
£14, 000 - £16, 000
Registration No: VML 698G
Chassis No: M-AW6-1190206A
MOT: Exempt
Comprehensively restored in 1996 including full replacement of the woodwork
Used sparingly since the restorations conclusion
Very rare example fitted with automatic transmission from new
In the vendor’s possession since July 1992 and 53, 000 recorded miles
With the reverberations of the 1956-1957 Suez Crisis being felt worldwide, Leonard Lord commissioned Alec Issigonis to work on a radical small car project. His response was the now legendary Mini. Featuring an ingenious transverse-mounted powertrain (with engine sat atop the gearbox), all-round independent 'rubber cone' suspension, front-wheel drive and compact rack and pinion steering, the newcomer was a packaging masterpiece; not to mention one of the most influential automotive designs ever conceived. Available with saloon, pick-up, estate and traveller body styles, the ubiquitous mini proved to be an extremely successful and long-lived motoring icon. The Morris Mini Traveller and Austin Countryman were the two-door estate variants with double, barn-style rear doors built on a slightly longer chassis of 84 inches compared to 80. 25 inches for the saloon.
Manufactured new in 1968, the Mini offered was completed on the 7th of August that year and dispatched new on the 9th of August. Fitted with the 998cc straight-four A-Series engine, it was allied to the rare automatic transmission from factory, with the Mini is presented in the attractive colour combination of Tartan Red with complementary Red interior upholstery. Displaying a recorded and credible mileage of 53, 000 miles, the Mini was acquired by the vendor in July 1992 for the price of £125 from the previous lady owner, with the accompanying V5C document showing four former keepers. Subject to an initial renovation in 1992 to ensure that the Traveller was roadworthy before a house move, the ‘VML 698G’ was supplied with an interior refresh including Riley Elf front seats, a new MkII rear seat, carpet set, and new door cards and trims, and a reconditioned gearbox and driveshafts at this time.
The improvements continued with a full overhaul of the original engine provided in 1993, including a skimmed block before subsequently being provided with a comprehensive restoration between March and September 1996. The Mini received a full bodywork restoration and repaint with new inner and outer sills and floor section, front panels, door skins, rear valance, rear subframe mountings, scuttle repairs, and B pillars; full woodwork replacement; front and rear suspension overhaul with extensive new parts; brake renewal including replacement wheel cylinders, copper brake pipes, renewed hoses, overhauled master cylinder, and new handbrake cable; and stainless-steel exhaust system amongst other work.
Sparingly used since the restoration’s completion, the Mini Traveller has attended a few local shows. Starting readily and running well during our photography session, ‘VML 698G’ is offered with a history file that contains a book with images documenting the restoration and breakdown of the restoration, numerous previous MOT certificates dating back to 1989, several tax discs back to the early 1990s, handbook, purchase receipt for the vendor’s acquisition, sundry paperwork, and a current V5C document. A very scarce automatic example of the popular Mini variant!
