It started life as a December '65 Austin Cooper S 1275 in Tweed grey as many Radfords were (it's a neutral colour that tends not clash with the external repaint) and was delivered to Car Mart of Colchester in January '66 which is a little unusual as cars were usually drawn from London dealers if they were off to Harold Radford. Maybe it was the nearest dealer with a Tweed Grey S or where the original owner sourced it from?
Anyways the car went off to Radfords for the Mini de Ville GT treatment with an added Countryman hatch back conversion. The colour scheme as far as I can tell (not took enough paint off it yet!) was Sand (gold!) over black with cream leather trim which is an unusual combo (you weren't the first Rich, sorry!
). It left Radford and was registered KGU 3D in March '66 so may have rubbed shoulders with the odd Beatles Mini (well that's my story and I'm sticking to it! ) while it was there. It was converted at the same time as 'AA1000' by all accounts so Radfords were at full stretch I suspect in early 1966!The hatch is a steel one which incorporates the original bootlid and of course the rear seat folds flat (though not split). The car didn't have a right hand tank fitted I don't think when finished but does now.
When I first saw pictures of it in L.A I could see that the majority of the trim was pretty tired but original (though some of the headling panels weren't fitted) but the dash had been revamped with new wood sections and rearranged a little. Luckily the previous owner (Chris Pegues from Oregon) had kept all the original dash bits, which came with the car.
All the floor's original in Tweed Grey as are the sills but it's had a new front end. The hydro's still good and it'll get through an MOT when I've done a few jobs. It'll need restoring at some point but not just yet. I've had it stashed away since I got it and need to look exactly what I've got engine wise. It's certainly been in bits but still has it's 163 and 333, haven't looked for any Downton markings on it yet.
The main thing I want to do, apart from getting it roadworthy, is have a crack at finding some of the early owners, especially the first! The car came with it's VE60 continuation book on which are four owners, of which I've tracked down one so far, Charles Pinion who was the last UK owner and exprted it to the U.S in 1976. Pinion was from Staines and involved with a business buying and exporting lots of cars to the U.S at the time (J Dunkley Ltd) and also the same man responsible for the Pinion cross flow head for the Mini, he now builds big lumps for Yank Tanks at 'Real Steel'. Another previous owner was a Peter Lilley from Epping and a Maria Oratis from Potters Bar who I think is still in the property game. The first one the book was Maureen Ella Spring (ne Maher) from Heston Middlesex who owned it from '71 - '75.
I know with some cars like this you just never find the original owner but I'm gonna try! Pinion doesn't remember much about it sadly.
One of the first U.S owners was a guy who works for Seven Mini Parts, Auburn, California if anyone is familar with the company? I have exchanged emails but need to get back onto that.
Very Very 
will give you a call about the rad.
