1968 Morris Mini Cooper Mk2

Description

• UNSOLD at auction April 2022
• Multi Award Winning Cooper
• Magazine featured
• Matching numbers
• Heritage Certificate
• One owner for many years
• Full list of every owner
• Buff log book

Everybody knows and loves the classic Mini Coopers. They are pure undiluted joy.

Alex Issigonis created the Mini. John Cooper, racing car driver, producer of Formula One racing cars and good friend of Issigonis, created the best ever Mini; the Mini Cooper.  We all know just how brilliant the marvellous Mini Coopers are. They need little introduction from us.

 

Background

Our vendor, Dave, has known and owned this classic 1968 Mini Cooper Mk2 for many years. He first owned it in 1978. He bought it from the first owner who he worked under as an apprentice! In 1982, with some considerable regret he sold it. In a remarkable turn of events, Dave came across the Cooper again in 2005. He had to have it. He admits it was a bit tired, but so overjoyed was he at being re-acquainted with the classic Cooper, he set about bringing it back to the condition it was in when he first fell for it.

Dave’s work has resulted in this being an multi award winning Mini Cooper Mk2, with no less than 17 First Place trophies!

Overview

This Mini Cooper Mk2 is a stand-out classic. There is so much information about it we will only be able to convey the tip of the iceberg. If you’d like more information, please do not hesitate to let us know, we’d be delighted to help you.

First things first. Dave is an experienced, fully trained Jaguar Motor Vehicle Technician who runs his own successful garage business. He set out to make this Mini Cooper special.

You do not win this amount of Concourse Awards without getting that right.

Once he’d been reunited with the classic Cooper, it was stripped completely to a bare shell.

New body panels included; new front wings, sills, door skins, boot skin and bonnet. Once all the panel work was completed to Dave’s exacting standards, it was time for the paint work. It was shipped off to be professionally prepped and prepared. Once that was good enough, the classic Mini colour was applied. The consequence of all that hard work is the stunning result you see now.

Before the classic Mini was fitted back up around “five gallons of wax was purchased and liberally poured into and onto every single crevice and panel”. That should literally seal-the-deal.

Rather inexplicably, an odd small crack appeared, about 18 months ago, in the paint work on one door, just below the door swage line. Dave is at a loss to explain it. There is no filler compound on that new door skin. He tells us it hasn’t got any worse since it first made an appearance.

Continuing with the outside, stainless steel bumpers have been fitted. There is also an ultra-rare original tool kit with the car, which Dave says, he spent literally “years” looking for. It’s there!

Dave fitted proper Group Two Arches, exactingly fitted too, not just ‘nailed-on’ in around 2000.

Completing the outside is a bit of detail which is a lovely touch. There is a chrome aerial fitted. Dave’s mum bought him that aerial for his 15^th birthday!

As you can see from the images, the underside is as good as the top side.

 

The engine.. The classic Mini Cooper Mk2 is all about the engine, isn’t it?

The original engine was completely stripped and rebuilt. It was in good overall condition; nevertheless, standard pistons, rings and shells were renewed. A new 731 camshaft was fitted. The original cylinder head was stripped, inspected and uprated to bigger valves.

The ancillaries were upgraded or renewed. New Burlen carbs were fitted, along with a new inlet manifold and LCB. An electric fuel pump running 4.5psi keeps those lovely carbs topped up. A new alternator and radiator have also been fitted..

An Evolution, non LSD, diff, was fitted around 2008 with a four speed synchro box. The original is available by separate negotiation if the new owner would like it.

Cooper S brakes are fitted with cross drilled discs and AP Calipers. Falcon tyres are fitted all round.

In addition, the suspension has been fully overhauled and rebuilt. Dave has uprated it to make an even more pleasurable ride with springs all round instead of original hydrolastic units.

The inside hasn’t escaped his meticulous restoration either. Dave started with a new wiring loom. Not just engine or interior loom, a full four corner, engine and interior loom. Quality was consistent throughout the build, accordingly, Newton carpets were fitted, local trimmers were given the original spec sheets for the seats and were commissioned to pop off and sort that out. They’ve made a lovely job. New headlining, door cards and parcel shelf have been fitted.

The original radio is in place.

To complete the ensemble of excellence, Dave has the Buff log book and has researched and acquired a copy of all the owners of this classic Cooper. Provenance? How often do you see that! Brilliant, just brilliant. Is it any wonder this car is a multi-award winner!

There is so much more about this classic Mini that we could say. We’d be delighted to answer any query. Moreover, Dave is happy to put the Mini on a ramp for any genuine prospective owner to see it for themselves.

Our view

A classic car that has won 17 First Prize Trophies awarded by independent judges, says more than we ever can.

This is a rare opportunity. We all know where Cooper prices have been and where they are going again. This one is priced to sell and at an incredibly sensible reserve by a very practical owner.

Don’t miss it. There is unlikely to be another one along like this, anytime soon.