Beschreibung
MK1 Austin Mini Cooper S with Downton Engine Conversion - Tweed Grey with Old English White Roof
About five years ago I purchased the above car from the estate of its deceased owner who owned it for 20 years. The car was dismantled by the previous owner and stored away until I bought it.
From the history I have been given, the car had several parts missing or lost due to changes in storage; items such as the interior trim, the wheels and the boot lid and bonnet, passenger door, some glass and numerous small components. My extensive knowledge of the car industry began in 1959 when I served an apprenticeship with Stewart and Ardern, then the largest BMC Morris dealership in the country. After working for various dealerships I went on to start my own company specialising in gearboxes and engines. Many years ago I owned several Minis, Mini Vans, Pickups and Coopers from the sixties and as a result accumulated many N. O. S. parts along the way, some of which were used to restore this car.
The body work was generally very good although the front wings, front panel, A panels, outer sills, inner wing and rear valance were replaced by a local welder although some work had been started by the previous owner. A rotisserie was used by the welder to assist with the assembly. Another specialist carefully prepared the body, which was etch primered and given a high class respray underneath, inside and externally in its original colours of Tweed Grey with an Old English white roof. The underside and wheel arches were first etch primered and stone chipped before the final grey paint.
- Engine and gear box: stripped and rebuilt original Downton engine plus 20 - Standard crank with centre main strap?- New oil pump?- New bearings throughout
Lightened and balanced original rebuild of Downton engine by Bill Richards in 1999 - Large valve cylinder head?- Rebuilt HS4 SU?s (the original H4?s with metal mesh filters were missing)?- Specially adapted original design air box for the HS4?s connected to new inlet manifold
New clutch and release bearing?- Rebuilt 333 gearbox?- 3. 44 DIFF?- New oil cooler with Special Tuning hoses - Central oil pick up replaced the Downton item?- New two core radiator?- New water pump?- New Maniflow exhaust manifold suited to Hydrolastic pipework around front floor tunnel?- New RC 40 single exhaust box?- New rear compensator valve?- New clutch master cylinder?- Electronic ignition, new leads and cap with waterproof covers
Suspension:
Original blue banded displacers all round - NOS ignition coil?- New S distributor
rebuilt top and bottom ball joints
Brakes:
Original Servo reconditioned and upgraded with stainless steel piston?- Rebuilt Callipers
- New discs
Braided hoses front and rear, new Cupro-Nickel brake pipes throughout
New master cylinder and brake switch
New rear wheel cylinders
Sub Frames:
- Stripped, primered and painted front and rear sub frames - All new seals and components fitted
Electrics:
New loom?- New H4 headlights?- NOS rear numberplate light
New rear lights?- New Dynamator (looks like original Dynamo with alternator internals) - Extra earthing leads to body (back and front)?- NOS electric washer pump replaces manual push pump?- Slim profile fan (electric) fitted to inside wing, manual switch
Interior:
All new interior supplied by Newton Commercial to include: reclining front seats, rear seat, door cards/ liners, parcel shelf and dashboard surround. New carpet including boot board and liner?- Rebuilt heater?- Bespoke aluminium fittings each end of air pipe from engine bay to heater (a big improvement)
- New sun visors?- New door window rubbers and seals, new rear quarter light and windscreen seals?- Re-conditioned speedo which has the indicator lights, left and right, illuminated within the speedo display
Exterior:
Bare metal respray including inside and underneath, engine bay and boot area?- New stainless steel bumpers?- New corner bars and over riders?- Stripped, primered and painted original 4. 5 inch ?S? wheels plus spare - New Blockley tyres 165/ 10?- Nos original hub caps (not copies)?- NOS front windscreen?- NOS front Austin Cooper badge?- NOS interior light?- NOS Linread interior courtesy door switches?- Re-chromed original grille surround?- Re-chromed rear quarter light opening windows?- New grille?- New front indicator lights?- Trico wiper arms and blades plus new washer bottle and jets
Where available, the large number of invoices are mostly from
Mini Spares.
Engine:
The engine has only covered about 600 miles since it was with Bill Richards. This is a genuine Downton engine and performs like one and it still retains the rare 333 gearbox with Hardy Spicer couplings. The rocker cover was repainted before the genuine gold and green Downton badge was reattached in it?s original position. I?ve seen some badges riveted to the vertical front of the rocker coverOutstanding example for the next discerning owner and comes with a new MOT.
