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A long lost Mini Cooper story
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=99949		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Alby1310 [ Sat May 02, 2020 1:35 pm ]
Post subject:  A long lost Mini Cooper story
Hi all,

I'm a relatively new member and having just bought another mini, thought it was time to introduce myself. I want to start by thanking all the people who run and contribute to this forum. As a long time car forum user, this is one of the best ones on the planet.

Now, I wanted to start by showing you this photo of a car that was advertised here in melbourne recently. it generated some discussion on the forum with the theme of what a sad end for a once nice car!

Attachment:
89710506_10222456335867047_6531008174596554752_o.jpg


Well you've probably worked out that this is the car I bought and last week brought home. To tell you why I bought it and a bit about myself I need to take us all back just over 50 years to the Mini's heyday, especially around May 1969. As a fresh faced 18 year old I'd just dropped out of first year uni because I wanted to buy another Mini (my 3rd) and go racing. Neither I nor my family had any money but in the optimism of the times, I wasn't going to let that stop me. Haha, little did I know!

I came down to Melbourne from Albury and after a few days searching found the car of my dreams - a 1964 998 Mini Cooper, British Racing Green with white roof, lovely interior with a classy looking wood dash, a tacho. Most importantly though, it had clearly had had some race preparation - a lowered stance sitting on silver reverse Cooper s rims with dry weather racing tyres. Then, on lifting the bonnet a big DCOE weber dominated the engine bay and turned out to be attached to a race prepared engine - 1170cc's, westlake pistons, knife edged crank, everything balanced, fully worked head, hot cam - faster than a Cooper S and I just had to have it. I think it was $1100, a lot of money then, but I was able to get a loan as long as my older brother would guarantee it, which he did.

To cut a long story short, the next 2 years was a bit of a disaster. A loose gudgeon pin meant one partial engine rebuild and then a valve dropping through a piston caused another one. By then I was so broke I could hardly afford to drive the car but unfortunately, I did. And put a conrod through the block! The only way I could keep mobile was to put an old 850 engine I had in the shed on top of the Cooper gearbox and keep going until someone offered me enough money for it to pay out the remainder of the loan.

I completely lost contact with the car but, having owned around 100 cars since then and done some rallying, MSCA sprints, a lot of off-road racing & a wonderful Targa Tasmania in an Alpine Renault, that Mini remained the magic car for me.

So I happened to see the car in the picture advertised and as it said it was a 1964 Cooper with an 850 motor in it and originally BRG with white roof, I got intrigued. Sure enough, after finding quite a few other direct connections to "my car" - still has the same wooden dash, 850 motor still on a cooper gearbox, disc brakes, etc, leather bonnet straps, reverse Cooper s wheels, painted white (as I did). Even the same kill switch in the glovebox.

So I'm completely sure its either my old car or such a close facsimile that it doesn't matter. The young lady who subsequently bought it in 1971 unfortunately passed away in 1974 and the family has kept the car in storage ever since. Now its in my garage being pulled apart to discover all its secrets. Good news so far, with a very straight body and possibly only one small area of rust. I plan to restore it to a slightly detuned version of its 1970 specification - so mainly original but keep the wooden dash, and 1170 motor & reverse Cooper S rims.

Will take a while, I'm estimating 3 -4 years as I'll do most of it myself. Can't wait to get back to the garage and back into it! Cheers everybody,

Alby

PS, if anyone recognises the car description from the 60's and knows anything about it, I'd love to hear from you!
Author:  JollyRgr [ Sat May 02, 2020 1:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A long lost Mini Cooper story
Cool story Alby......good luck with the resto I’m looking forward to seeing the updates
Author:  jpodge [ Sat May 02, 2020 1:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A long lost Mini Cooper story
Awesome background there Alby and I'm pretty sure that we can all relate to the damage that an interest in minis can do to someones wallet. There's been times for most of us where beans on toast is for breakfast lunch and dinner!!!

Alby1310 - is that an indication to an engine you might be planning to build in the background if you wanted to race it again? :P
Author:  gtogreen1969 [ Sat May 02, 2020 1:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A long lost Mini Cooper story
Must be great to be reunited after all these years. Congrats. Good luck with the rebuild.
Author:  Alby1310 [ Sat May 02, 2020 2:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A long lost Mini Cooper story
"Alby1310 - is that an indication to an engine you might be planning to build in the background if you wanted to race it again? :P"

Thanks Guys, although I think my racing days are behind me. After targa Tassy in 2000 I officially retired and missed it for years. Through retirement though I've got a lot more at peace with the world, no longer believe I'm invincible in a car (haha) and am pretty happy spectating at historic race meetings.,
Author:  9YaTaH [ Sat May 02, 2020 3:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A long lost Mini Cooper story
Welcome Alby...great story! Get stuck into getting back on the road :-)
Author:  Fallingbrick [ Sat May 02, 2020 9:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A long lost Mini Cooper story
Wonderful spot of auto archaeology, bravo!
Author:  Andosoft [ Sun May 03, 2020 8:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A long lost Mini Cooper story
Great story. I doubt very few people get to reunite with one of their original cars (first love ?) I still pine for my 1963, 850 which I was the 2nd owner of in 1990 and was such a mint little car with a hot 1310 and exhaust note that set car alarms off :) Where are you ULH 415

It’s amazing that your car has only really spent 10yrs on the road. (Although sounds like a rough few years in your hands :p ). Look forward to hearing about the restoration and getting it back on the road.
Author:  Alby1310 [ Sun May 03, 2020 10:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A long lost Mini Cooper story
Haha, yeah the car did have a rough time in my 2 years ownership. Or at least the engine did! The body, original paintwork & interior we’re still in great condition when I sold it. We don’t know why it was repainted or why the interior was mainly thrown out & replaced with Mini K seats & trim.

Still, it’s nice that the car will always retain some mysteries! And yeah, it was a real “barn” find after 45 years in storage during which time the family forgot it was there! Funnily enough, I was still able to get it started & have a little drive before bringing it home.

By the way, if anyone has any 997/998 Cooper trim or seats lying around that they don’t want, let me know please. Or early Delux seats which were the same for maybe 2 years.

Cheers all
Author:  Morris 1100 [ Sun May 03, 2020 12:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A long lost Mini Cooper story
I bought a Cooper S in 1980, I often wonder whatever happened to it?
Author:  9YaTaH [ Sun May 03, 2020 4:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A long lost Mini Cooper story
Morris 1100 wrote:
I bought a Cooper S in 1980, I often wonder whatever happened to it?


Have you looked up the back of your shed Mike? :lol:
Author:  Morris 1100 [ Sun May 03, 2020 7:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A long lost Mini Cooper story
9YaTaH wrote:
Morris 1100 wrote:
I bought a Cooper S in 1980, I often wonder whatever happened to it?


Have you looked up the back of your shed Mike? :lol:


You might be right.
Author:  9YaTaH [ Mon May 04, 2020 8:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A long lost Mini Cooper story
Alby1310, AlbyA110? 8) :lol:
Author:  braad [ Mon May 04, 2020 8:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A long lost Mini Cooper story
Great story, and it now makes sense why there’s an 850 in the engine bay... that really confused me when I saw it for sale. Best of luck with the resto!
Author:  Alby1310 [ Mon May 04, 2020 9:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A long lost Mini Cooper story
It was my other favorite car besides the Mini Cooper - an A310 V6, 240 hp, 1,000 kg!
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