Great feedback thank you!
Simon - here's another shot of the interior and the steering column:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/HkaoxZUiAGz7Q1n3AThe wiring harness was hacked pretty well to install this column. It is surprising this would be considered a period accessory, since you'd have to find an appropriate column and all the work necessary to install. I'm also getting a new harness as its too much to fix this one.
I just can't keep the column for the simple reason that the key is in the wrong place. I much prefer the key to be in the middle of the dash.
You'll notice in this photo the seat upholstery as well. I believe somewhere along the way the seats were changed as these are reclining seats and not fixed seat backs. Also I doubt any Cooper S models came with this cloth covering. Newton Commercial has confirmed with me that these seat covers were an official pattern but they have no plans to reproduce them. My plan is to go back to the fixed seatback seats with the black upholstery. While I'd like to keep the recliners, Newton doesn't make the Australian covers that fit the recliners.
Bill - it's New England. We adapt, have lots of heated indoor space and my car is at a restoration shop. Unless we get more than 10-12 inches (25+cm) of snow at a time, we just plow the roads, engage four wheel drive and keep moving. And yes the Crystal White all white is the original color though my plan is to paint the car back to the original white but paint the roof black. I need to do more digging through the forum on colors...
Funny story about the Viper. About a year after I bought it (1994), I had parked on Union Street in San Francisco. No top on and when I came back to the car, I found a woman's phone number in the ash tray. I never called it as I was engaged to be married at the time (my then fiancee now wife picked out the color of the car when I ordered it) but kept the phone number in the ash try to show people when they would ask me the inevitable question how women react to the car.
So about 5 years ago I was showing the car to someone, they asked the "woman question" and I went to go get the number out of the ash tray to discover it was gone. When I asked my wife about it she said "Oh I threw it away when I was cleaning out the car. Besides, why would you want to keep the phone number of a woman you've never called, never met and never will meet - unless there's something you want to tell me..."
Today when I show the car I answer the woman question without props...
viperrwk
PS I love my wife very much - she still puts up with my car and pinball insanities after almost 24 years!