1968 Morris Mini Cooper, 998cc – Show Winner! :

Designed as project ADO15 (Austin Drawing Office project number 15), the Mini came about because of the fuel shortage caused by the 1956 Suez Crisis. Petrol was once again rationed in the UK, sales of large cars slumped, but the market for German ‘bubble’ cars boomed. Leonard Lord, the somewhat autocratic head of BMC, reportedly detested these cars so much that he vowed to rid the streets of them and design a ‘proper miniature car’.

Alec Issigonis, had been working for Alvis, but had now been recruited back to BMC in 1955. So with his skills in designing small cars, he was a natural for the task. The team that designed the Mini was remarkably small: along with Alec Issigonis, there was Jack Daniels (who had worked with him on the Morris Minor), Chris Kingham (who had been with him at Alvis), two engineering students and four draughtsmen. Together, by October 1957, they had designed and built the original prototype, which was affectionately named “The Orange Box” because of its colour.

Issigonis’ friend John Cooper, owner of the Cooper Car Company and designer and builder of various Formula One and rally cars, quickly saw the potential of the Mini for competition use. However Issigonis was initially reluctant to see the Mini in the role of a performance car, but after John Cooper appealed to BMC management, the two men collaborated to create the Mini Cooper. It was a nimble, economical and inexpensive car. The Austin Mini Cooper and Morris Mini Cooper debuted in 1961

Built on the 18th of April 1968, finished in Snowberry White with Black roof, STG 95F was supplied by City Motor Company Ltd, Cardiff and was issued with a Glamorgan registration mark. Amazingly the car stayed in the same family ownership until 2005. Prior to restoration the car was last issued with a valid MOT certificate on the 13th of September 1986 at which point it had a recorded mileage of 43,466. It was then used periodically before being taken off the road 12 months later. Then the car was kept in storage right up until 2005.

This particular car has had over £6500 of brand new parts fitted with invoices available to support this and many hundreds of hours of dedicated time were devoted to recreating the original magnetic appeal that this car represented when new.

The vendor, who purchased the car in the same year, began a photographically documented removal of all parts which was painstakingly done over a period of three years. In 2008, the rebuild began in earnest- the attention to detail in the rebuild of this car is truly staggering. The restoration was to original factory specification, a full description of this restoration is available in an album that has been put together by the vendor (available to view at the auction and included with the Lot). Also included in the restoration was a complete body shell rebuild with all new panels. The bodywork was completely re worked to very highest standard including the trial fitting of all the panels prior to painting. The underside of this Mini Cooper is every bit as good as on the top being fully painted and detailed throughout.

The engine has been fully rebuilt to standard specification. During the restoration new piston rings and oil pump were fitted along with a complete new cooling system. The cylinder head has been converted to run on unleaded fuel and the engine bay is detailed to ‘show standard’.
Many new parts have gone into this restoration including a new rear sub-frame, the front sub-frame has been stripped rebuilt and painted, there are new brake calipers, master cylinder, brake lines, steering rack, tie rods etc, the list goes on and on.

Our car offered here is a national show winning, totally concours car that is as immaculate underneath as it is on top!
We are informed by the vendor that STG 95F won the following events, just in 2011:

National Mini Show 2011-Class winner.

National Mini Show 2011-Car of the year.

National NEC Classic Car Show selected for display on Meguiars concours stand

National Mini Cooper Day 2011-Beaulieu master class winner

Mini Fest 2011- First class winner

From our past experience show winning Mini Coopers do not remain unsold for very  long, so if you are looking for a stunning example with great investment prospects – then this is the one for you. She really is a turn-key completed project. So there is nothing to do other than enjoy this ‘Mini Adventure’ and admire the attention to detail that has been put into this beautiful restoration.

For full photos see :

http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/best-of-breed-concours-1968-mini-cooper