Just thought I'd share my 1965 Morris Mini, and in future I can update this thread with progress when I get around to doing various bits and pieces.
My plan is to upgrade the car to Cooper 'S' or similar spec, in keeping with the badging, colour scheme and trim which already make it look very much like a Cooper from the outside.
Today I'm getting 7.5" disc brakes fitted, which is my first big step into upgrading the car. So far since taking ownership, all I've really done is add and change a few bits here and there such as the bullet mirrors, the roof rack, and choke + throttle cables. I'm also planning to at some point fit a larger motor - I currently have a 1275 engine from an Austin 1300 sat in my garage, but I'm not sure I will use this engine yet; I also have the option of purchasing a genuine 970S engine which has been rebuilt and bored out to 1120cc, which sounds very tempting. However I think I'm going to do a bit more looking around first, and see if I could possibly get hold of another 1275 engine in better condition (mine would likely need a full rebuild).
Anyway here are some pictures I took of the car a few days ago, after repainting the black number plate bezel on the front:
My original plan was to do it in the old BMC green, but I've had trouble getting green engine paint at a reasonable price. In the end I settled on red, as I don't mind straying away from the standard factory look, and I'll be keeping the original 850 anyway should I ever decide to return the car to original.
The extra torque of this engine as opposed to the 850 really allows the mini to trundle along without maxing out the revs all the time, and keep up with modern traffic even on the motorway. I was never after a super high-performance speed machine, because I don't feel that's what the mini is all about, but the extra power and torque offered by the bigger engine has made it a lot more enjoyable to drive on a daily basis.
