1968 Morris Mini Cooper MkII – Classified of the Week
Something dawned on us recently as we were in the midst of one of our regular Car & Classic browsing sessions. Yep, we’re always scouring the pages of this fine site, not just for potential mag features but also because we are honest to goodness fans of classics and Car & Classic has the best selection. Whether we work here or not is besides the point, that’s just the fact of the matter folks. But anyway, back to our moment of realisation: we haven’t featured a Mini for bloomin’ ages. Not since November 2023 to be exact, which is strange because we love the things, especially the Mini Cooper MKII.
And what better way to break that particular duck than with this stunning, concours-winning MkII Morris Mini Cooper from the good folk at Ranmore Fine Motor Cars Ltd, one of our premium dealers. Based in Surrey, Julien Sumner and the team at Ranmore supply, restore, maintain and store precious vehicles for discerning owners and one look at this pristine Mini shows they mean what they say. Beginning a storied career in Mayfair selling high end Bentley and Rolls-Royce models, Julien knows a thing or two when it comes to prestige classics and although the Mini Cooper may not be as distinguished as those aforementioned marques, it’s equally as collectible and eminently more fun as anyone who’s driven one will tell you, us included.
Before the Cooper arrived in ’61, the humble Mini was just that, humble, but after John Cooper got involved and leant his engineering prowess to proceedings, as well as his namesake to the car, people stood up and took notice of just how capable the little Mini was on track. The sight of Minis going toe to toe on circuit with cars way more powerful is an image for the ages and the eminently chuckable Cooper, with its hopped-up 1-litre A-Series, was a hit and the MkII arrived six years later with additional refinements.
And that’s the car we have available via Julien and co. at Ranmore Fine Motor Cars, and the clue really is in the name here folks because this Mini is a little bit special. If you had to make a decision based solely on the photographs you’d probably snap it up immediately but even then they really don’t do it justice because the restoration work that’s been carried out on this car is beyond reproach.
From the moment you clap eyes on the thing it’s clear to most people – even those with less than stellar vision – that it’s a bit of a beauty. Leaving the factory on the 26th of April 1968 and confirmed by the accompanying heritage certificate, the car, finished in Snowberry White with contrasting black roof, was shipped off to City Motor Company Ltd in Cardiff to begin its life in Wales.
That first owner, who bought the car less than a month later, clearly fell in love (as anyone would) because they kept hold of it for almost 40 years. After this impressive period of single custodianship, the Mini was sold to an enthusiast looking for an unspoilt, unmolested car with which to use as a base for a full nut and bolt restoration. Suffice to say he found exactly what he was looking for and hence a four year rebuild began.
With no stone left unturned the work would touch upon every facet of the car, including the engine, gearbox, Hydrolastic suspension, brakes and wiring. Parts were reconditioned wherever possible and new old stock was utilised elsewhere rather than settling for cheap copies. Everything was either overhauled or rebuilt and the results are simply stunning. This really is a case getting out what you put in and believe it ladies and gentlemen, a heck of a lot was put in.
And to perfectly and efficaciously prove our point, since the restoration the car has been crowned overall winner on not one, not two, but five separate occasions at various national concours events. A fitting tribute to the effort expended on making this particular Mini Cooper MKII one of the nicest available. Complete with an impressive history file, including photographic records of the restoration alongside an eight-page Mini World magazine feature, we can’t fault it.
And neither can Julien at Ranmore. He tells us: “It never ceases to amaze me after nearly 40 years of peering into garages, that I’m still rendered speechless at the sight of something rather special. In the flesh it’s an outstanding and superbly accurately restored car and certainly one of the best I’ve seen of any marque. I doubt there is a better example available today”. Quite the endorsement from someone who really has seen it all, so what are you waiting for? Get this beautiful little Mini bought before someone else beats you to it.