1981 Austin Mini

Originally supplied by Gates Engineering in Brockenhurst as a 998cc Mini 1000HL, it was fitted with a fully rebuilt A-series 1293cc ‘blue’ engine with lightened flywheel, a balanced stage 3 head and much more at a cost of £2,700 in 2016 - and less than 3,000 miles ago.

The interior wasn’t neglected either but it’s the exterior that’s especially worthy of mention because the vendor bought the Mini about a year ago and proceeded to have the front end stripped down and any rusty panels replaced with Heritage replacements. All of the car bar the very rear was then resprayed before being reassembled with new badges and seals, leaving it looking minty fresh.

This restoration and modifications have turned a good car into a great one, and one that’s even more fun to drive than it looks. In the words of the vendor, “it’s a great, great, very fast car.” Couldn’t have put it better myself.

Aside from the new Heritage panels, the Mini has had an almost complete respray in Old English White plus lots of new trim, seals, and badges – please see slides #338 to #343 for the full details. Only completed very recently, it looks terrific.

Few cars are as instantly recognizable as this but familiarity has sometimes blunted its cheeky charm over the decades, exacerbated by the only too common rust and dents that plaque the model.

Nothing could be further from the truth on this one though because the quality of the finish ensures that this is a classic Mini you notice for all the right reasons. Consistent, tight shutlines and ripple-free panels set the backdrop but it’s the quality of the paint finish and absence of anything untoward that seals the deal; this is a very attractive Mini indeed.

Four Hella spotlights dominate the front of the Mini. Wonderfully evocative, they’re supported by great chrome and badging.

A set of Minilite-style 12x6 alloy wheels support the car. Only fitted in May 2021, they are shod with a matching set of Nankang tyres, which means the whole combo isn’t only aesthetically pleasing but is all in great shape, too.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The interior has been similarly modified. The work was comprehensive and includes later part-leather Cooper seats, which are a lovely blend of style and comfort. This clever balance of the old and the new is echoed throughout every aspect of the changes.

Black and piped in red, they’re in good shape and still comfortable and supportive. New front and rear seatbelts were fitted in 2016, and a Mountney three-spoke steering wheel and drilled door furniture add more tactile delight.

The seats are lightly creased but no more, and everything else is in good order; this is a car you can buy without having to fret about having to tidy it up once you have popped in a couple of screws (slide #142). Heck, even the lettering on the switches and gearknob is bright and clear.

NB: It is worth noting that a hole has been cut out of the rear bulkhead (#262). Should this bother the new owner then reinstating a full metal bulkhead would not be an onerous task for a competent metalworker.

The engine is a fully rebuilt 1293cc A-series fitted with a lightened flywheel, a balanced stage 3 head, standard rockers, an orange diaphragm, and an anti-run-on valve on the carbs. It is mated to a recently reconditioned gearbox. A Fletcher alloy radiator and matching hoses and cap keep the tuned engine cool. The overall condition of the engine bay is an absolute delight too, something that shouldn’t matter - but absolutely does.

The brakes were upgraded to match the increased power with the installation of 8.5” front discs (#365) and new rear drums. New bushes on the subframe and a new set of rally cones refreshed the suspension, work that was supplemented by a 2.2-turn quick rack and a new steering column. The Mini exhales through a stainless-steel exhaust.

It starts, runs, and drives brilliantly, but then you’d guessed that by now, hadn’t you? It’s an absolute riot on a twisty lane, the tuned engine hurtling it along at ridiculous speeds – and the rally suspension and wider, sticky tyres give it unholy levels of grip, even by the model’s own high standards.

The Mini’s previous owner was well known in his local classic car world and this was one of a number of classic cars in his collection, all of which had their own garages.

The prohibitive cost of a genuine Mini Cooper S ruled them out, so his wife concluded that she’d prefer a recreation, something he leapt into action to source. They found this one, which had been extensively refurbished and repaired, making it the ideal base for further work. They cherry picked further modifications to suit her needs, and the result is this, a charmingly retro recreation that drives way better than the original Cooper while being more comfortable to boot.

The MOT expires on the 29th of June 2023 but it did spark something of a contretemps due to an advisory on rust. As the car had just had a considerable sum invested in new panels and paint, this irritated the owner so much he paid them to strip the area back to reveal the so-called rust - and none was evident. The area was then repainted at cost to him and the invoice is on file (#330).

It was then retested and an oil leak was identified that hadn’t been spotted a week earlier… The vendor is convinced that the garage added these advisories unnecessarily as neither of these issues exist on the car.

The Mini comes with a handful of expired MOT certificates from the 1980s and 1990s as well as its original handbook and a copy of a period sales brochure. We’ve uploaded them for you to view but be aware that it may take some time to examine them properly as there are 108 pages of them!

The V5 registration document has been amended to show the car’s new capacity and the recent Vehicle History Check shows nothing of any concern.

Everyone loves a Mini, especially a tweaked one like this that exemplifies the very best of the 1960s cars in a more modern bodyshell. The embodiment of the British underdog spirit, iconic cars such as this weather financial storms and social uncertainty better than most; when the market gets twitchy, it defaults to what it knows and loves – and few cars are as beloved as this.

It’s in a cracking condition too, which means potential bidders only have to factor in the purchase price, a sum so trivial that it makes genuine Coopers look over-priced.

How trivial? Well, we think it’ll sell for somewhere between £10,000 and £14,000 but the seller is such a nice chap he’s offering it with no reserve, so it’s going to sell after the very first bid…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.