1966 Mk1 Austin Mini Cooper 998

[Hipwell]

Here is my restoration project, a very solid and original '66 Cooper.

A 7hr round trip to collect it was most worth while.

Body only needs minimal repair; rear valance and the front wings.

Big thanks to a few members on this forum for helping me source the smaller parts it was missing.










More to follow...

[STG95F]

Looks a nice project

[InimiaD]

Nice find.
Very rare to see such good condition shells.

[Andrew1967]

Fantastic project Matt

Much better to start off with a shell like that than the sort of shite I start off with

Glad to be of help in the past and maybe the future

[Matt_Tupman]

That has weathered well hasn't it, it looks to be unrestored?

[Pete]

Wow, what an original shell, agree with matt doesn't look like it's had a panel on it! Must have lead a very sheltered life.

[billycooper]

that looks a cracker !, any history to tell us about ?

[rich@minispares.com]

cor, you just wouldn't find a mini like that over here anymore

[Matt_Tupman]

But it is over here Or have I missed something?

[mk1]

But it is over here Or have I missed something?

I guess Rich must have moved OVER THERE this weekend.

[mk1]

What a BRILLIANT little unmolested Cooper!

A very rare find anywhere.

I hope the name of the game is going to be "Sympathetic restoration".

A car as good as that deserves "preserving" not just restoring to look like all the other identikit trailer tarts.

[Hipwell]

Wow, what an original shell, agree with matt doesn't look like it's had a panel on it! Must have lead a very sheltered life.

Yes it is all original, panels, paint, engine etc. Pretty untouched over its 50 years, although the wings have been touched over and engine painted white.

that looks a cracker !, any history to tell us about ?

One owner from new, used up until 1975 when it was taken off the road and stored, thankfully somewhere dry.

But it is over here Or have I missed something?

It sure is over here.

What a BRILLIANT little unmolested Cooper!

A very rare find anywhere.

I hope the name of the game is going to be "Sympathetic restoration".

A car as good as that deserves "preserving" not just restoring to look like all the other identikit trailer tarts.

Although it is good, (I doubt I could have found better, let alone a Cooper), its probably not as good as it photographs. There are a fair few areas that need attention on the body, especially around the window apertures and body seams. Then the engine/box needs rebuilding, suspension and brakes need overhauling etc. But I don't think I could justify only patching it up.

I know it is probably a shame to touch it but the whole reason I bought it was as a project. But it will get used, believe me, hopefully daily when its on the road -reliability pending!

[Daz1968]

Good luck with it, pictures can be deceiving, it's best to get it right while it's stripped down,

[JC T ONE]

Nice one

Rare to see them so good

[Hipwell]

Some detail and reference pictures below for anyone who may be interested in the originality.

Amazingly all numbers still on it, which seems a rarity. Chassis/body/front end/engine numbers and uncovered the floor number on drivers side floor pan (RHD).







‘Cooper r’ (red?) pencilled on the back of the headlining.


Painted area behind the front grille, very rushed.



Remote cutout.


Painted battery box.


Piano hinge holes.

[Hipwell]

...and heres how it might look again*








*one day.

[mk1coopers]

That black paint behind where the grill is is exactly as it should be and was done at the factory, it needs to go back on when the car is restored

[Nick W]

that shell looks in great shape
I have a mk1 mini in similar condition ..its sometimes hard to know what to do to them when their like that.
as the small rust repairs are difficult to blend in perfect where as if it was the usuall total rot box ,you can just get stuck in and replace everything!
great detail images as well
thanks for posting

Nick

[Pete]

Some detail and reference pictures below for anyone who may be interested in the originality.

‘Cooper r’ (red?) pencilled on the back of the headlining.

I've seen similar writing on the back of trim panels.

[Hipwell]

So firstly the images already in this thread are on the old photobucket, I'll try to change them out if that works, if not they may go down.

Anyway, slow progress on my Cooper.

Wings had gone, aswell as inner A panels. Although I bought it a new set of wheels of a sort.


Beneath the underseal was as good as new, could have given the red oxide a polish.


Bye bye factory paint.


At blasting, then for etching.



Nothing major although back of the rear pockets have gone (****) as well as the corners beneath the seat back. Then just a few pin holes here and there along with the rear valance to sort.