mk1-forum.net

Evening all,
After what seems like ages, we finally coerced the Cooper S from its resting place.
This year it is due restoration, its sat for too long and deserves some tlc after being somewhat neglected since the early 90's.

The car.

Well it's a Mk2 1275 S. Still on its original engine, and the only real changes since it was built, is the dry suspension instead of hydro. This was removed in the 80's when a unit failed. And it has factory recliners fitted instead of the standard seats it was supplied with. The seats are genuine 60's kit though, and as such need some tlc too.

History.

Is quite brief actually. The details between 1970 and 1973 aren't known, but since then Dad has owned it. That's it.

The aim.

Get it stripped down and taken too the Whight brothers in a week or so to have the body done. Time and skill level mean I'm not up to doing the car justice, so Chris seemed very keen to take it on.
Condition wise, it's not a rot box. It will definitely have sills done, some inner wing repairs, and a new drivers 'a' panel to get a better door alignment. We'll see what else it needs when Chris and Tim get it.
During body restoration, we will get everything else rebuilt where necessary with the aim being close to standard. Perhaps some period alloys or lp883 steels.

Exciting times, and hopefully it will see the road again this year.

What a lovely looking 'S' All the best getting it back on the road.

Tim

Very nice. Just like real barn find. Wasn't TOC H some kind of working mans club? I seem to remember one in putney London many years ago?

All I know is the phrase, 'as dim as a TOK H lamp'. Not sure on the spelling, but the car was always TOK H when is was a kid.

Thanks Tim, hopefully it can look ok as detailed as your car. I have really noticed via this forum and some other knowledgable guys, that the last 5% of the restoration is crucial to making the 95% before it look good.

That looks to be a very late mk2.

Is the front panel original? It looks to have the MK3 air vent cut out on the left side.

What hole size does the rear seat back have please?

Is the boot lid solid back or open cross?

Would be great to see some pictures.

It is the original front panel. And it has the double skin mk2 boot lid. I'll dig up some old pics of when it had some work in the 80's.

Very nice , look forward to the restoration .

Lovely project and great find MMC. Look forward to following this tread.

What a great starting point! There aren't many like that anymore. I had an "H" reg Mk2S in the 1970s and it didn't look as original as yours even then! It had received a (popular at the time) black respray and lots of other stuff and it had a Mk3 bootlid I remember.

Good luck with the restoration. It should make a very worthwhile car. I bet you're glad your Dad kept it!

By the way, Toc H was, I think a charity set up after the 1st World war which had meetings in many different local areas to organise various forms of help. My grandfather was a member and was quite involved many years ago. I don't know if it continues?

Great looking Mk2 hope it's an easy project for you to enjoy!

A friend of my Fathers was also involved with Toc H in the late 60's.

Often wondered what it was all about.....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toc_H

now...unlike the green Yuk !!! mini.... this is a great car, nice history and i,d buy and restore it in a heartbeat !!! foxy52

Thanks for the positive comments everyone. Still got to dig up the light restoration pics from the 80's, but I know it wasn't much.
Did find the original number on the floor pan.

Toc H still exists (fascinating history) - we use their hostel in Chapel Stile for mountain biking weekends.

http://tochbarnsley.wixsite.com/toc-h-barnsley/weirside

Brought a smile - one of my Dad's favourite expressions was "dim as a Toc H lamp". never knew what it meant, until I saw their logo

Great looking S by the way, love the wheels.

Not a major update - can't believe it's already been weeks since I started the thread.

With work and a house to build stripping the mini has only just begun, with a view to getting it to Vhris and Tim next week.
I'm sure this is going to throw up more questions than I expect as a project, but it's going to be nice anyway.

So first of many,

Brake servo and master cylinders. Is it possible to check them for correct operation and not rebuild?
Or is there somewhere that does a.good repair kits?
Unfortunately with AP not being in Leamington anymore, my source for getting them tested disappeared with my Uncles job.

Nice things I have found with the car is the original plastic door card fillets, all body, FE, chassis and engine numbers, and that it has the original front panel.
The latter was a surprise as it has the wider number plate mounts and open area at the end. Which I didn't think came in until a lot later.

Hi for your master cylinders and servo contact David Kingerley 07977 914088

BRI MK1 wrote:Hi for your master cylinders and servo contact David Kingerley 07977 914088

Ditto....
Looks a great car.....
For accurate MK2 S detail contact Nick Hunter ( MCR MK2 S Registrar )......Metronick on here.

Cheers
Dave

Thanks for the info for the hydraulics, will give a call in a couple of weeks or so.

Another small update, and some questions.

Car is nearly stripped. Just got to drop subframes and lines and it's done.
Some pictures of note for mk2 geekiness.

It has a late front panel, that was used for 70-71 which I only found out through mini machine by accident.
It has the small hole through the rear bulkhead, which I always thought to be correct, but thought I read somewhere that a larger hole was possible???? If anyone can fill me in with that info.

I would also like to identify this bulkhead carpet. It is original, but is it veltone or a later carpet BL put in them?

Dropped off at the body shop. Nerve wracking leaving it, but look forward to the end result.

Minor update.....

A lot of parts have been blasted, zinc coated and powder coated. Some other parts will get the pod-15 treatment.
Seats have gone off to the trimmer. He can get the same material as Newtons, but can't heat weld the centres. But we figured it will just add to the history, rather than creating another Newton interiored car.
Chris and Tim have mentioned getting the welding started soon after having there big move of premises. Fingers crossed.
From what I've seen of the shell, it needed more work than first thought.