I've had this one for a year or two but now I have the logbook its time to start the restoration. As far as I know its a two owners car and was originally bought from Appleyards Leeds in '63 where it was fitted with a Webasto sunroof. The original owner used it in the Leeds area and transported it on the train to Scotland each year for a fishing/touring holiday. As you can see the body is in a bit of a state but the sunroof is in great condition. The plan is to restore it, much the same as I did with the MK1 Innocenti and add a 1100 engine, 998 Cooper brakes and some Speedwell bits.
I'll be keeping the original powder blue interior and surf blue paint, not sure if I should paint the roof black too to match the sunroof.
Original Webasto document and some sketches presumably from the Scottish tour...
Some of the bits I'll be fitting, but not all as I don't want to go too mad...
Looks like a great project. There may be all the usual rot but you are way ahead as everything is there and not to find. I look forward to seeing it progress.
I'm sure this will be a great looking car when finished. Not so sure about the black roof, what about having the roof recovered in cream vinyl and painting the rest of roof OEW?
Last week I sent a letter to the address in the service book for the first owner, I’ve just received this reply by email...
Hi Andrew, I think your car has had a few adventures on its way. We never met the Cobb sisters but neighbours knew them and from what i can gather there was some eccentricity and also a lot of charm in the 2 sisters.
They did used to go to Scotland on a road trip each year and one year they drove the mini into a loch and were drowning ( they may have swerved for a deer apparently. My neighbour told me that they held hands and as the water rose to their chests they knew they were going to drown. However a young man who had just completed his life saving qualification saw them and pulled them out of the car. The story was in the local scottish papers but I dont know the date.
My neighbour has a phone number for a woman who was close to them and who she thinks may have the cutting from the paper. If she finds anything more out I will let you know.
I've been thinking about this and I'm wondering if the story is about another car/Mini, I'll have a closer look tonight but I can't remember seeing any water damage on the car or interior panels. Maybe this is the reason she had a webasto roof fitted so they could climb out of the car if it happened again.
AndyB72 wrote:I've been thinking about this and I'm wondering if the story is about another car/Mini, I'll have a closer look tonight but I can't remember seeing any water damage on the car or interior panels. Maybe this is the reason she had a webasto roof fitted so they could climb out of the car if it happened again.
Perhaps yours is the replacement one for the one at the bottom of Loch Ness?
Having had experience of a drowned car (don't ask ) I'd be very surprised if the said car was later recovered, and able to complete its journey back to England......
As Andy suggests, maybe that was the fate of an earlier car and the large sunroof was fitted to the next one to aid any future escape........
It looks a great car. I would certainly try to retain as much of the original as possible. Terrific colour
Great looking wee motor and love the idea of the period modifications and upgrades. I'd be a supporter of the black roof too. Looking forward to watching this wee project progress.
Had a nosey at the door cards yesterday and there's no water damage so I can only assume the car they drove into the loch was an earlier Mini she owned. Maybe its still there...
) I'd be very surprised if the said car was later recovered, and able to complete its journey back to England......
