1962 Morris Cooper Downton conversion

[dougie1142]

Lovely, will be following this.

It sounds amazing too, at least you live in a country where i dont imagine they salt the roads?! So you can leave it as it is and look after it with no need to restore

[abri]

All Downton exhaust systems were made by Burgess of Hinckley in Leicestershire to Downton's own designs. These silencers were a key part of the "Downton sound".

And what a magnificent sound it is! Have you got any more info on the silencers Mark?

It would be interesting to see what's fitted to your car in terms of exhaust manifold Mario. What a stunner! Congrats again

[richardACS]

For what it is worth, to my eyes early Minis look best with chrome or otherwise polished mirrors. I have a Mk2 (see avatar) and that is what I use on it.

As there are many choices available, much comes down to what you like as well as feel best suits your car. Perhaps you can find something similar that was available in the 60's in Portugal (or Spain)?

Below is a still from the 1965 British film The Collector showing a wing mirror fitted to an early Morris Cooper.



Those type of old photos are great to see what really was used 'back in the day'.

Good luck in your research.

Excellent period shot, must look out that film - might be the one I thought was about the Great Train Robbery....

[richardACS]

Such an enjoyable post and thread, who doesn't fanticise about finding an original untouched Downton! Please form an orderly queue.

I suggets the biggest difficulty in owning such a car will be all the decisions one has to make - and that of course will be personal to each or in this case Mario!

Good luck and thank you for sharing....

[mario abreu]

Very happy to share!

No salt here.
Regarding the exhaust, sorry, but these are the best photos I can take right now.
I haven't done anything to the car yet. Can´t wait to get to it, but have been working hard to get back from the blow of bying it!

Have also decided to do as little as possible to it , regarding how it looks. A good clean, polish and wax will do it...
A good servicing it due. Some hoses are perishing and need replacing, seats need attention to stuffing...
All in due time.

But you're right! It's really hard to decide what to do and what not to do. I have decided it will be the minimum to be able to enjoy it and keep it from decaying.
The way I see it, it's only worth it if it can be driven. Perfect cars that can not be used are not my thing

[mario abreu]

I guess the sound is as much from the SU's and old style Cooper filters as it is from the exhaust!

[classiccargarage]

Great, great car. One of the best Minis i've ever seen. Time capsule back to the 60's. Everything perfect. RT

[mario abreu]

Thank you Rui!

The heritage certificate for the Cooper has just arrived and under "Destination" it reads Personal Export Delivery.
What do you guys make of that?
Only other search result that comes up on the fórum ís for PMini's French Radford where he asks the same question but unfortunatly no answer...
Anyone?

I'm guessing here, but could it mean the car way delivered directly to Downton?...

What do you guys think?

[1071 S]

Sounds more like a car owned by a friend. It was ordered by a US journalist who was relocating to the Paris Herald Tribune. He was in the US but the car was delivered to him in Paris and first registered in France.

How do we know this? When he bought the car in the late 80s it had been abandoned in a Maryland freight yard for some time. Inside was a raft of letters between the owner and BMC (mostly complaining that what was delivered was not what he ordered). Reading the letters is a dismal revelation of British customer service at its best... or not.

Eventually it seems everything as sorted and the car when found was a beautifully original survivor. After many years storage all that was needed (apart from the usual fluids etc changes) was new roof paint as the old stuff peeled off when the tarpaulin that had covered it for so long was removed....

Cheers, Ian

[mk1]

The "Personal Export Scheme" was a way for Non UK residents to buy a car & not have to pay UK taxes on it. I have seen details of one other similar car that did indeed go to Downton direct before it was exported.

I'll try & dig the paper work out, but I can't promise anything.

[mario abreu]

Wow Mark.
It would be incredible if you could find anything.

Super excited.

Loving this group of people here. Friendy people, great cars, fantastic knowledge, just great.

Anyone coming to Lisbon just let me know. Would love to meet some of you.

[mario abreu]

Finally got started on the Cooper. First thing a good clean.
I don't think it was ever given a power wash.
Note S servo mounted under the offside wing.

[mario abreu]

Original Smoke Grey perfectly visible under all the muck, but too much power and it comes off... too little and the grime won't come off... hum

[mario abreu]

end result at the rear... for now.

[mario abreu]

It was Saturday, and a couple of friends stoped by...


(Sorry about the deleted plate, but was requested).

[mk1]

Thanks for sharing!

Doesn't look like it had a wash under the arches since it was new

[rich@minispares.com]

id love a mini van that turned into a big healey!!!

[zbarbera]

id love a mini van that turned into a big healey!!!

Don't fool yourself. It's all camera angles.

[mario abreu]

id love a mini van that turned into a big healey

it only happens in certain parts of the world.

[SMOKE GREY]

i like that van!