Found 40 yrs sitting 1962 Countryman in Austin Texas

[62patinacountryman]

My name is Philip Domb and I am in the States. In late December I was fortunate to have an opportunity to get back into a Mini was both unexpected and for an old guy great! I live just outside of Austin Texas and am very much looking forward to interacting with mk-1 members. I saw a post today from Andy B which was nice as he helped me years ago with Innocenti 1300 Export bits. I've had about ten or so Mini's in various conditions starting in the early 80's in western New York state (lot's of road salt and tin worm!) and then we moved to central Texas in 1996.

A friend found a smooth top Countryman project in San Antonio Texas that's last road license was 1982. I am missing a lot of bits but it's solid with lots of surface rust but amazingly it hasn't had a cutting or welding. A couple of sellers mentioned the mk1 forum to me and I will have to post of list of wanted bits. My goal is slowly to get it road worthy and for now just leaving the "Patina" and old white paint over the original Surf Blue paint (may never restore it). I hope I can contribute to the mk1 forum as well! I apologize for the rotation of the pictures and will have to spend more time understanding what the problem is on my end. BTW check out the old 12K mile oil change sticker from the BMC Dealer in Fort Worth Texas that sold the Mini new per Heritage's records.

Have a good one, Phil

62 Mini unloading in Austin.jpg

62 Mini engine bay 1275cc.jpg

62 Mini front side angle pic (Large).jpg

62 Mini project interior front seats forward (Large).jpg

62 mini 12K mile oil change sticker in Fort Worth TX .jpg

[AndyPen]

Hi to Texas from Wales, now that does look like a worthy prospect indeed

[Old English White]

What a grand project! . We don't see anything as rust-free as that! Lovely colour Surf Blue. I had a similar Surf Blue smooth roof Countryman in the 1970s. Good luck with the project.

[Costafortune]

It appears to have Cooper S disc brakes and a 1275 engine, probably from an Austin America.

Nice find!

[Old English White]

I did spot the "S" wheel(s)? on the front so that would tie in with the above

[Se7enthHeaven]

Great looking project.

Working on a Mini and eating Texas BBQ - Now that's my idea of heaven!
Loved my BBQ pilgrimage to Texas.

[mk1coopers]

Don't paint it

[62patinacountryman]

Good Day All, Appreciate the welcome as well as all the support for my long term project. It was a lucky find and glad my friend passed the Countryman opportunity on to me. Ironically the seller also had a two door Mini that a couple of guys from the UK who were here in the States buying old English motorcycles bought for the body and they were going to ship it back to England (I didn't get to see that one).

I was guessing that the 1275 must be from an Austin America as it doesn't have the extra bolts/studs that IIRC the Cooper S had. Funny, someone put the 4.5" S wheels on but no disc brakes but beggars can't be choosers as they say (the rear has 1.125" thick spacers to push the wheels out). I had been wondering for a month why someone got rid of the rear window trim for both sides??? Last week I noticed an odd splotch pattern in the old white paint that appeared to match where the timber wood would be for a "Woodie"? After pulling some gaskets and interior trim I discovered plastic filler in all the holes for the timber! Wonder what the odds are of finding some "used" timber that I could put on my Countryman and keep the "Patina" look?

Have a good one, Phil

[AndyPen]

Now there's a challenge! Nice to have an idea as to options though

[TECH396]

And don't forget to put the fan the right way round when you put it back together.

[Tagus]

I have the sister to your '62 on my rotisserie! I wonder what the deal is with painting the white over the beautiful blue? I'm not restoring this car to original, rather transplanting '98 Sportspack bit. Saying this, anything '62 will not be used and are available. I'm located just north of you..in Canada.

1962 Woody - small.JPG

[360gts]

Good Day All, Appreciate the welcome as well as all the support for my long term project. It was a lucky find and glad my friend passed the Countryman opportunity on to me. Ironically the seller also had a two door Mini that a couple of guys from the UK who were here in the States buying old English motorcycles bought for the body and they were going to ship it back to England (I didn't get to see that one).

I was guessing that the 1275 must be from an Austin America as it doesn't have the extra bolts/studs that IIRC the Cooper S had. Funny, someone put the 4.5" S wheels on but no disc brakes but beggars can't be choosers as they say (the rear has 1.125" thick spacers to push the wheels out). I had been wondering for a month why someone got rid of the rear window trim for both sides??? Last week I noticed an odd splotch pattern in the old white paint that appeared to match where the timber wood would be for a "Woodie"? After pulling some gaskets and interior trim I discovered plastic filler in all the holes for the timber! Wonder what the odds are of finding some "used" timber that I could put on my Countryman and keep the "Patina" look?

Have a good one, Phil

You have a PM

[62patinacountryman]

@ Se7enthHeaven,

Yes I agree! Since I was born in 1959 as a "Yankee" in western New York state, I had no idea what Texas Barbecue (BBQ) was until moving to central Texas in 1996. Then I learned that while we could eat BBQ anytime anywhere though doing the "smoking" process at home with the right wood using an offset fire box smoker (available at any grocery store), with the right meat, for the right amount of time with the "right rub" (spices etc.) was and still is a skill set in itself!!! Glad you got a chance to sample Texas BBQ while you were here in the States! As you said now I can work on my Mini project and drive 1.5 miles to pickup some BBQ to enjoy at the same time!

Have a good one, Phil

[1ely]

Hi Phil, glad you found your way on to the Mk1 forum, there is a wealth of knowledge on here, which will no doubt be able to help with the patina countryman. All the best Francis

[62patinacountryman]

@ 1ely
Hello Francis, Thanks very much for guiding me to the mk1-forum and everyone has been very helpful right out of the gate! I remember my Uncle and Grandfather having two Minis in the late sixties perhaps early seventies (don't know the models though) and I have been addicted ever since!!! Mini folks are amazing!

Have a good one, Phil

[62patinacountryman]

@Tech396
Fan blade/radiator: Funny you mention the fan direction as I just cut the blades off two days ago. So a week or so ago I noticed my bonnet had one of the underneath "X" shaped strengtheners leg cut off which just so happened to be the one that crosses over the radiator. The radiator was noticeably larger than the sheet-metal aperture for the radiator and it was tall enough to stop the bonnet from closing and someone hacked off one end of the strengtheners to make some room. After asking and sharing pictures with another forum member a couple of weeks ago he determined that I got an Austin America radiator in the Mini.

Back to the fan, it was pushed into the radiator and the only way to get the radiator out was to cut fan blades off at the water pump and now became obvious that the transplanted 1275 was never run. So I have another rough bonnet coming any day and I am planning on transplanting the rough bonnet's "X" shaped strengthener assembly into the skin of the original bonnet and spot weld it in place as original (too far to go to save original sheet metal perhaps....)

Back to the fan, I will need to buy a used or new one (which will need to face the correct direction as was kindly pointed out) and I have another question. Since I don't have an original radiator does anyone have any thoughts as to should I just buy one of the new two row aluminum radiators I see on eBay? Thanks in advance, Phil

[AndyB72]

Hi Phil great to hear from you again, love the new project! Surf blue on a countryman is a killer colour, I'm very jealous!!

[Fanfaniracing]

Hi Phil!

Welcome to our forum!

You will get all information and help needed from this very nice place full of early Mini lovers!

If you have any questions (even if they seem dumb to you...) just ask!

Best regards from Switzerland

Fabian