In the late 80's, for a few years, I owned the 4th last Mini built in Australia. Just wondering if it has ever resurfaced anywhere.

The original rego was KCO222 but while I had it the plates had to be changed to NVK142.

It had a (factory option?) sliding glass sunroof and the plaque on the dash. It was Hi Ho Silver, with the driving lights in the grille.

As you can see in the pic I replaced/resprayed the grill at one stage and moved the lights to below the bumper. I also changed the wheels (and front discs) from the 12in to 10in Contessas and how it looks in the photo is how it looked when I sold it.

Girlfriend with car is now my wife.

From memory I think I sold it to a guy from Oyster Bay in Sydney.

I remember back then when I was trying to sell it no-one, not even the Mini Car Club, was much interested in the fact it was the 4th Last. I guess it was only 10'ish years old then.

And likewise, back then, I thought nothing of replacing things like the 12in wheels. They ended up on my Dads Mini-Matic

How things have changed.

I've got more pics if anyone (esp. 1275LS fans) are interested but i need to find/scan them.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

You mean you kept the girl and sold the car ? Not a common practice these days with Mini enthusiasts. I suppose those days you would have had other important things in mind. Well done any way. Would you have a picture taken SIDE ON ? Cheers Mate.

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DID I MENTION THAT I AM THE BEST SUPPLIER FOR MINI ELECTRICAL PARTS AND REPAIRS?
"Let us remove your "SHORTS"

Thanks. I'll try and dig out some more pics an put them up.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

I would be VERY keen to see more pics of this car cause i currently own the 10th last LS ever made....mine doesnt have the sunroof tho

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Hi-Ho Silver LS1275
Charlieeeeeeeee Come to Candy Mountain!

More pics added....

Yeah the Sunroof was great, I think it was a option along with the driving lights. The original radio and speaker was missing but apart from that it was pretty original when I first got it.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

Have a look in the specific makes register in Members mini gallery, youll find the 1275LS register in there, might help

I nearly bought it in Hobart in about 93 or 94, It had an alarm system that was activated via a key operated lock that was mounted under the rhs back window. It still had the plaque on the dash and from memory had been repainted Hiho silver but the paint job was not quite right, looked a bit to thick like melted plastic.
I have not seen the car since. The Willsons (Willson Mechanical) in hobart own half the minis in Tasmania and probably know where the other half are, give them a try.
Good luck with your search.

Thanks for the info. Wonder why the respray. In 88 the roof was a little dull but aprt from that it was all good. Can't even remember there being any rust.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

Wow, I remember this car from the late-80's or early 90's!! I lived in Kareela, which is the next suburb from Oyster Bay and I used to see it around quite often.

I noticed it was a 1275LS on 10's and I think that's why it stuck in my mind. It had a Mini Car Club sticker on one of the rear side windows if I recall correctly. But I'm sure the wheels had silver centres, not black???

Cheers,

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

Yep, sold it to a young guy I think. I wasn't a club member so he must have joined.

Well.. I painted the wheel centres so I guess the guy I sold it to may have just stipped it back again. From memory I couldn't get the alloy in the centre looking nice (they were 2nd hand), it was kind of stained and I liked the black painted look anyway. I was never real keen on the LS 12's and at the time there was almost no choice of tires. I also cant remember there being the huge choice of nice 12in mags like there is today, or if there was then they were beyond what I could afford.

I had to swap the front discs to a Cooper S set to do it and I also added a booster. The LS's had no booster, I guess the bigger discs they had were enough.

Funny thing is my dad had a old roundnouse MiniMatic and he was tickled pink to have the 12 inch LS wheels on his car. He took the formula steering wheel too.

So maybe somewhere out there is a Dark Blue MiniMatic with 12 inch 1275LS wheels and leather bound steering wheel from the 4th last Mini built in Australia.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

Ha, my dad sold his Mk 2 Cooper S because my mum didn't get on with it and found it hard to drive - as their daughter I have very mixed emotions about this desicion!! LOL

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It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog!!

1976 Mini SS
1971 Mini Ute (Custom) - really hubby's but I will claim half
1976 Mini SS Shell
Oh and an 850 shell waiting for our dear son to start his resto!

this used to live in the back streets of Georgetown/Waratah Newcastle, the last pictures is the Uni Footy oval correct?

I remeber it living behind a high fence under a carport, vanished and never seen it again my brother painted the hosue and told me about it

Is this the same car??? I remeber the plaque as clear as day

The photo is in Homebush at an oval near where I worked, and I lived in southern Sydney.

Do you remember how long ago you saw it?

Perhaps you saw the car before I owned it. I got the car from a used car yard in around 86 and sold it 88/89.

So far it sounds like it was in Hobart around 93/94 so if you think it was after that then maybe we are getting closer to finding it.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

Well, it doesn't sound like good news.

I got in touch with the Tassie Mini Car Club and it sounds, from asking around, as though the car met with an unfortunate end involving a tin of petrol in the boot shorting out the battery terminals.

response quoted below..

"I have taked to a couple of people about your old mini and have found out that it was in hobart in the mid 90's and the last anyone heard of it was that it got caught on fire by a fuel can shorting out on the battery terminals and pretty much burning it to the ground!! it hasnt been seen since...a couple of people do remember it from the plaque on the dash, they didnt think it was genuine!!

Im sure thats not the news you wanted to hear!!!"

....end quote.

What a shame, but a spectacular end at least.

If anyone has any further info on this car please let me know.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

Aw geez, that sux big time ! I been following this in the hopes that you'd find your car, and its a real bummer to read this. Hope you can still find out a bit more history on it tho.

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Cheers, Kim
**purple '68 deluxe!**


***FINALLY wearing number plates----yeaaaaaah baby! ***