1961 Austin Mini 970

Description

Comprehensive restoration; genuine 970cc engine; 970S spec in a 1961 shell; stunning car ready to enjoy

Buying your dream Mini Cooper is never a straightforward operation. The nature of the beast meant that they were almost always driven very hard, were often raced, often parked in a tree or were re-shelled and modifed many years ago - many literally being run into the ground. It can be a bit of a minefield to know exactly what you're getting and with just 964 short-strokes 970s built, a near impossibility to find the right one.

Refreshing then to find a car with a known restoration history that wears its identity on its sleeve!

We sold the basis of this car about five years ago - a 1961 Mini 850 project - largely complete and with its original shell, all in need of considerable TLC.

Purchased by our vendor - our go-to person for all queries early Mini, he has restored the car into the 970S spec car that you see before you using predominently new parts plus a genuine 970S engine that he had on the shelf looking for a new home.

The V5C simply states it is a 1961 Austin Saloon with a cylinder capacity of 970cc.

The car was totally stripped and the shell restored top to bottom using new panels supplied by Mini Spares. These included new floors (including the boot), new inner and outer sills, new rear valence, new 1/4 panels, new A-panels, new front wings and door skins. The work has been well executed with good panel gaps and the whole ensemble painted in the desirable 970S colour-scheme Fiesta yellow with an OEW roof.

Running gear restoration consisted of a complete rear subframe rebuild, including new radius arms, adjustable shocks (all round), Hi/Los, new pipes and flexis, new back plates and cylinders and the correct 'small spacer' rear drums.

The front end got a similar treatment, with new bushes throughout, 1.5 degree bottom arms, two brand new hub assemblies with new discs, calipers and drive joints. It also got a new steering rack and rod ends.

All chromework was replaced along with stainless steel bumpers, the grille and badging to correct 970S spec. New wheels and tyres were also fitted.

A complete new interior set - seat covers, carpets, head lining etc was acquired from Newton Commercial in Surf Blue and Silver Brocaid and new switches were fitted along with a correct 120mph speedo.

Under the bonnet sits a genuine 970S engine - when the waterpump was removed the numbers revealed matched those on the bearing caps plus it has the tell-tale large coreplugs. It sits on a three-synchro box and comes fitted with a new LCB manifold, twin 1 1/4"SUs with a correct air cleaner box (selling for £1,000 these days we are told), a cross-drilled steel crank and lightened flywheel, all of which has been carefully balanced. The rad and oil cooler plus all pipes are new.

So there you have it, a known restoration with nothing to hide and everything to like......and priced at considerably less than the cost of the work and a fraction of the cost of a genuine full history 970S - if indeed you could find one.

Contact [email protected]