1965 MORRIS MINI COOPER S MK1

1293cc, manual. This superb Morris Mini Cooper S was bought by the vendor in 2007 and received a bare-shell restoration in 2020-22. Work included a wide range of upgrades, benefitting from the owner's motorsport experience, but the accompanying Heritage Certificate confirms that a high degree of originality has been retained. It was built for the UK market in March 1965, finished in Tartan Red with a black roof, red and gold interior. The original registration number 141 NMD was issued in Middlesex, and one of its early keepers was the Earl of Strafford.

The Mini has been MoT tested without advisories every year since 2023, and its current certificate is valid to 1st July 2027. It is suppled with a spare ignition key, a few photos showing its bare-shell restoration, a copy of the original logbook, and its current V5C. The spare wheel and jack are in the boot.

The Restoration & Specification

The bodyshell was shot-blasted and primed, receiving a new floor and boot floor, sills, A-panels, wings and front panel, using panels from British Motor Heritage where possible. A complete interior and exterior respray was carried out by Hylton Gott in Downham Market. All interior trim, including factory reclining front seats, were supplied by Newton Commercial.

The engine is equipped with an oil cooler and produces around 95bhp. It was rebuilt by Southam Mini and Metro Centre, bored from 1275cc to 1293cc, and fitted with balanced rods and an EN40B crankshaft. The 12G940 cylinder head is polished and ported, and fitted with bigger valves and a Swiftune SW5 camshaft. The carbs were changed to 1.5in SUs on the correct 12P 661 inlet manifold, and the exhaust is an RC40 system from Minispares.

The gearbox is a 22G1128 unit with 4 synchromesh close-ratio gears (Cooper S spec) and a cross-pin differential. The driveshafts use Hardy Spicer joints, and new hub bearings and CV joints are fitted.

The car received a new wiring loom, retaining the original starter and dynamo. The windscreen washers were fitted with an electric pump, and the dash received a Smiths 8000rpm rev counter and capillary temperature gauge.

As for the suspension, the hydrolastic units were refurbished by Minimail and installed using all-new pipework. Additional front shock absorbers were fitted along with competition bump stops, and the brake servo and master cylinders were refurbished by Past Parts of Bury St Edmunds. The original AP calipers have new seals, and operate using new discs and pads. The subframes were shot blasted and painted, and the radius arms were refurbished with new internals. Uprated adjustable tie rods were fitted, along with negative camber bottom arms.

The car sits on Dunlop LP 883 “S” 4.5-inch steel wheels with Dunlop Aquajet tyres.

The MoT history suggests that only a few hundred miles have been driven since restoration, and the odometer is showing 41,931 miles.

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