***Vendor supplied images***
Highlights
- Superb restomod by renowned Cooper historic racing specialist
- Only 36 miles since completion
- Very detailed and finished in Cooper Tweed Grey with OEW roof
- High specification including Cobra classic seats and 60th anniversary Minilites
- 1,028cc engine with cooper block, fast road cam, ported head and Twin SUs
- Close ratio straight cut gearbox
- Swiftune set up and dyno tested at 71hp
- Voluntary MOT valid to February 20256 with no advisories
The Appeal
This is a Mini Van, but not as we know it. The hints are there - Cooper Tweed Grey paintwork with old English White roof. 60th Anniversary Minilites. Dunlop SP Sport tyres. This is a clever restomod that blends standard-looking aesthetics with thoroughly overhauled and ‘Cooperised’ running gear.
Key to this gorgeous little car’s appeal is that everything has been done over a 6 year period by a well known Mini Cooper historic racing specialist. This is someone who knows their way around Mini mods. Beneath the bonnet is a 1,028cc engine that utilises an original Cooper block with lightly ported 12g 295-cylinder head, lightened and balanced fast road cam and twin 11/4 SUs. The gearbox is a close ratio, straight cut unit and there are 71/2in Cooper front disc brakes. The suspension has also been thoroughly renewed. The car was tuned by Swiftune and dyno tested at 71hp.
Beyond the attractive exterior there is a carefully thought out interior. It features classic Cobra buckets in grey with white inserts. Indicative of the level of detail are the Mk1 sliding windows with their Cooper-correct catches, likewise the Mk1 instrument binnacle and Smiths heater.
Since completion it has covered just 36 miles. Naturally it presents at a very high level. It is about as close to a brand new Cooper van, if such a thing every existed, as you’re ever likely to get. To complete the picture there is a voluntary MOT valid to February 2026 with no advisories.
The vendor says:
“This little gem is probably the closest you could ever get to buying a brand-new original 1977 Mini Van, but it’s not all it appears to be as it is not a standard Mini Van, it is special, it is unique.
“Bought from Henlys london in February 1977 It was found in a scrapyard in 2019 by a guy who builds Mini Coopers for historic racing and having restored several minis and specialising as a builder of Mini Coopers for racing he thought it would be interesting to keep the mini looking as original as he could with a standard looking appearance whilst giving it all the best Cooper go faster goodies he could.
“The builders experience and know how came from many years of building and racing minis and has really shown up in the build of this little van. It’s a great little drive and It is special, its unique.”
History and Paperwork
- First registered 4th February 1977
- Current keeper since December 2021
- Originally purchased from Henlys London in February 1977
- Discovered in a scrapyard in 2019 by the current keeper
- Previously recorded as red which was changed in April 2019
- Current keeper is a Mini Cooper historic racing specialist
- V5C in current keeper’s name
- Registered as a Historic Vehicle
- Restored to maintain original appearance while incorporating performance upgrades
- Voluntary MOT to 19th February 2026 with no advisories
- 36 miles showing on MOT and same mileage showing in photos
- V5 states car fitted with 848cc engine which the buyer may wish to update
The vendor says:
“First of all, the body was disassembled, and all the rotten areas of bodywork were cut out replaced and treated, the body shell was prepared and made ready to be sprayed in the Cooper colours of tweed grey with an old English white roof, the signature of a Cooper Mini.
“The front and rear subframe were repaired to a very high standard then shot blasted and powder coated, they were then assembled using mostly new suspension parts together with
7 ½” Mini Cooper disk brakes to give it real stopping power.
“The interior is fantastically basic but so good looking with a MK1 centre binnacle dash and the MK1 Smiths heater along with the comfort of the grey Cobra classic race style seats its very comfortable to drive.
“The steering wheel is a lovely Moto Lita Paddy Hopkirk Mini 60th anniversary retro style wheel, even the sliding windows are the early Mk 1 sort with catches just like the Coopers, this is all set off with the black carpets, the attention to detail is fantastic.
“This lovely little van sits on 10-inch Minilite wheels that have the 60th anniversary centre caps and the tyres are racing Dunlop SP sport period style and are of course new.
Now we come to the business bit of this little gem, the engine, and as you would expect it has again been built to a very high standard. The engine is an original Cooper block enlarged to 1028cc with a 12g 295-cylinder head, it has a fast road camshaft, lightened and balanced. The head has been gently ported and is fed by twin 1 ¼” SU carburettors.
“The engine is mated to a close ratio straight cut gearbox with standard differential.
Once the engine build was completed it was handed to swiftune, and dyno tune tuned to produce 71hp. You can now understand why good stopping power is needed and is addressed with the 7 ½” Mini Cooper S disc brakes.”
The Condition
- Extensively restored van by highly experienced Cooper specialist
- Finished in Cooper Tweed Grey with Old English White roof
- Front and rear subframes repaired during restoration
- Car has covered few miles since completion and is virtually ‘as new’
- Exterior fittings appear largely standard and correct for a 1977 Mini Van
- Underside presents as virtually as new in photos with no structural MOT advisories
- Fitted with 10in Minilite ‘60th Anniversary’ alloys in very good order
- Matching brand new Dunlop SP Sport tyres
- Well-detailed car including Lucas PL lights
- Carefully detailed interior with Cobra classic bucket seats in grey and white
- Mk1 instrument binnacle and Mk1 Smiths heater
- Black carpets through cabin and load area as shown
- Moto Lita Paddy Hopkirk 60th anniversary leather-rimmed wheel
- Mk1 sliding windows with Cooper catches
- Cream classic-style Smiths dials as shown
The Mechanics
- Original Cooper block bored out to 1,028cc engine
- Specification detailed below
- Close ratio straight cut 4spd manual box
- Swiftune tuned and dyno tested at 71hp
- Twin 11/4 SU carburettors
- Refreshed suspension as shown in photos
- Engine bay is well presented as can be checked in photos
- Restoration reflects the builder's extensive experience in building and racing Minis
- Noted as a good drive by the seller
- No advisories on current MOT
Specification summary:
- 12g 295-cylinder head
- Ported head
- Fast road cam
- Cam lightened and balanced
- 71/2 in Cooper front disc brakes
- Fabric-wrapped loom
BEFORE YOU BUY
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