Highlights
- Comprehensively restored
- In current ownership for 22 years
- Superb inside and out
The Appeal
In the late 1950s, the expansion of the ‘bubble car’ market in the UK prompted the British Motor Corporation (BMC) to revise the concept of the compact car. The design of a smaller, four-seat fuel-efficient city car was assigned to Alec Issigonis and in 1959 the Mini, a triumph of British engineering, was born. The success of the Mini soon reached Italy, although export difficulties, due to high costs, were a problem. The solution was an agreement made with Innocenti, which handled mass production on commission. Italian production of the Mini Cooper 1300 Export began in February 1973 and ended in January 1975, by which time some 28, 153 units had been produced.
Compared to the British originals, the Italian version was better finished, with attention to interior details and more accessories. In addition, the boot lid was modified to accept the Italian licence plate, which differed in size from the British one.
This example has been owned by the vendor for more than twenty two years, and has been subject to a comprehensive restoration; it presents in excellent condition.
The History and Paperwork
- MoT- and tax-exempt
- Thick folder of paperwork
- Current V5
- Past invoices from throughout vendor’s tenure
- Previous MoTs
- Facsimile workshop manual
The V5 records that the car was first registered in the UK in August 1980. The vendor bought it in 2001, as a restoration project, from a garage in Norwich after having seen an ad in the window of the garage. They delivered it on the back of a trailer as it was not MOT'd. The car was badly rusted and was poorly painted in a shade of red/orange. It was originally brown with a white roof, as shown on a plate on the lost fuel tank.
It was taken to a Mini garage near Norwich, where it was stripped and shot-blasted. It stayed there with little further progress, before being taken to a different garage and by joint effort with the vendor it was entirely rebuilt.
Almost everything was new and high quality or ‘new old stock’ if it was available. More recently, other work has been done including a respray of the roof and bonnet lid.
The vendor advises that the (kilometre) odometer went ‘round the clock’ at about the time he embarked on the restoration, so the indicated 1057 kms reflect only the distance done since the restoration.
The Interior
- Seats restored by Newton Commercial
- Lovely six-dial dashboard
- Replica carpets with Innocenti-branded mats inlaid
- Superb roof lining
- Wood-rimmed steering wheel
- Pedal rubbers with Innocenti logo
- Innocenti gear lever
- Heated rear window
- Original steering wheel supplied
Open the doors and it’s clear that, as per its reputation, the Innocenti Mini was finished to higher standards than its UK counterpart, and this one has been sympathetically restored. During the restoration, all the interior trim was supplied by renowned specialist Newton Commercial. The company also retrimmed the seats, while the carpets were fitted by James Ewing in Haslemere.
It’s clear from the condition of the interior that the car has been used very little since restoration; everything is still in first-class order.
The six-dial dashboard is a real feature here, and looks superb.
In the boot, there’s a tool-roll with a few tools, and a spare-wheel cover but no spare wheel.
The Exterior
- Red and black colour scheme in great condition
- Excellent badges and brightwork
- Rose-petal alloy wheels
- Original wheels supplied
All panel work used in restoration was from British Motor Heritage; the vendor has invoices recording all this and other items. The Innocenti-specific doors and bonnet were still in good shape and reusable, the bootlid was ‘new old stock’ that the vendor found after a few years of searching; the car had a glass-fibre one, and a couple of other steel ones, along the way.
Buying a complete shell proved difficult, because the Innocenti shell is not identical to a UK one, although the vendor believes that he ended up spending a similar amount of money due to the welding costs involved.
The car was originally sprayed in 2K, but was then resprayed in cellulose as the vendor didn't like the end result of the 2K. It has just had the roof and bonnet redone, again in cellulose.
Today the red-and-black colour scheme presents very well, although close inspection reveals some very slight cracking of the paint around the handle on the boot lid.
The wheels are rose-petal alloys from Swiftune, with period tyres. There’s a set of Firsat steel wheels included in the sale, which the vendor says need powder-coating.
The lights are Innocenti-specific, with a mostly new wiring loom. A spare set of headlamp surrounds is also supplied with the car. All the electrics work, according to the vendor.
The Mechanics
- 1300cc Cooper engine
- Manual gearbox
- Superb engine bay
- New fuel lines, pump and tank
- New SU carburettors
- New Bilstein shock absorbers
- Brakes refurbished
- Runs best on leaded fuel
- Starts and runs well
As part of the restoration, the engine was stripped down and checked, then put back together with new seals, clutch, and a Swiftune SW5 cam. The cylinder head was soda-blasted and valves seated, using Rimflo valves, bronze valve guides, uprated springs, and full-roller Titan rockers. All the electrics were replaced. An Aldon electronic distributor was fitted but then replaced with a CSI one as the car ran better with that.
More recently, all fuel lines, fuel pump and tank have been replaced, and new SU HS4 twin carbs have been fitted, after the previous ones were damaged, the vendor believes, by the ethanol in modern petrol. He feels that it runs best on genuine leaded fuel which he buys in 25-litre drums from Anglo-American Oil Company.
It took some time for the vendor to find the correct brake servo in new condition; it is only fitted for show and isn't part of the braking system. The vendor says that it’s fine without the servo, the brakes can easily be locked! He also says the brake calipers are Cooper S 7.5 inch Lockheed/AP, finned, with aluminium rear drums, and are all new.
The car is supplied with a radiator overflow tank (pictured); it doesn't fit since the recent change of fuel system.
The suspension was restored with new British Motor Heritage subframes, Adjusta-rides, Bilstein performance road dampers and KAD aluminium radius arms. All other parts were new and standard. The Bilsteins were fitted recently, replacing the previous Konis, and the vendor reports that the Bilsteins are much better.
Summary
Renowned by Mini enthusiasts but little-known among the wider public, the Innocenti Mini is more a curiosity; it’s a landmark in the history of one of the world’s most famous and iconic cars. Owned, loved and restored by a genuine and knowledgeable enthusiast, this one is probably as good an example as you will find; while not completely original, it’s had upgrades and improvements to enhance its usability, and it’s a car that’s bound to attract attention wherever it goes.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
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