Description
"Shorty" is a 1964 Austin Mini Mk I, built to full Cooper specification, and one of the most characterful and usable classic Minis you'll find.
She was once the pride and joy of Chris Evans; broadcaster, petrolhead, and former Top Gear host, and a copy of the original V5 along with supporting literature connecting him to the car is included with the sale.
I've owned Shorty for 12 years, and in that time she has been driven, enjoyed, and fussed over. I'm a Mini obsessive and the noise, the smell, the driving experience, the attention she attracts... Shorty ticked every single box.
I was even inspired to create a dedicated Instagram channel for her (Short. 64), which gives you a real flavour of the car and how she's been kept.
Reluctantly, having moved abroad, the time has come to find her next custodian — this is not a quick clear out!
A comprehensive history file spanning approximately 25 years accompanies the car, documenting the significant sums spent over that time — including around £3, 500 invested during my ownership alone. In 2003, the car was professionally restored by a specialist working at one of Kent's leading classic car restoration houses. The engine was bored out from 850cc to 998cc, and a suite of significant performance and handling upgrades were carried out at the same time:
- New exhaust system
- Disc brakes
- Dry suspension
- Original British Leyland straight-cut gearbox
During my 12 years of ownership, I have added further refinements:
- New headlamps
- New crackle headlining and visors
- New Smiths rev counter
- New gear knob
- New tyres
- Straight bar grille (replacing the original wavy version)
- New spats
The car has been previously serviced at Cambridge Mini Works, with receipts on hand. A large history file accompanies the car, containing bills and receipts spanning approximately 25 year, far more than I can summarise here.
Condition note: there is one area of surface rust on the passenger-side A-panel, see photos. The rest of the bodywork and restoration presents very well.
