1966 Morris Mini Cooper

Finished in the wonderfully evocative colour of Almond Green with an Old English White roof, ‘LWY 158D’ is a remarkable Morris Mini Cooper MKI 998. 

Why remarkable? Well, it had just the one owner from being bought in 1966 from Kennings Limited of Harrogate until the first owner sold it in September 2013. That numberplate is remarkably similar close to that of the famed Corgi Vanguard car, LWY 733D.

Its build specification and matching-numbers-status is confirmed via a British Motor Industry Heritage Certificate, too.

It’s fourth owner - the second and third kept it for less than a year - had it professionally restored in 2014, racking up a bill of around £15,000; not a small sum, for sure, but probably good value given how good it still looks.

The current owner, the chap who’s selling it here, bought it in mid-2022. He’s enjoyed his time with it but finds he just isn’t using it as much as he thought he would, hence its sale.

The car’s restoration in 2014 involved replacing the wings, bonnet, boot, floor pan, and the rear subframe with new items before having it resprayed it in its original colour of Almond Green with an Old English White roof. 

Still sparkling even nine years later, the quality of the work that was undertaken is evident; with straight panels, excellent shutlines, and an overall level of fit ‘n’ finish that’s almost certainly better than the factory managed back in the mid-sixties, the attention to detail is excellent.

Like the new rubber seals and the John Cooper fuel filler cap. And the matching set of Dunlop Aquajet SP Sport Tyres 165/70 SR10 that are fitted to painted steel wheels. No-one could mistake this for anything other than the rally weapon it was designed to be.

Plus, as we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Faults? Well, there is some bubbling on the lower edge of the nearside door and a tiny patch above the boot lid that could do with being sorted out but that’s about the only thing we’d worry about.

The interior restoration was just every bit as meticulous as that of the coachwork. 

The Dove Grey and Porcelain Green upholstery is finished to the original specification and still looks stunning having survived the passage of almost a decade far better than any of us have here in the office.

The grey carpets are protected by a set of Mini Sport overmats and a supplementary Smiths rev counter lets the driver know how many revs he’s got left to play with from the (tuned) engine.

A John Cooper Mota-Lita leather-rimmed steering wheel, which cost the car’s last owner almost £500 back in the day, is a lovely touch, as is the factory green-tipped indicator stalk and the Paddy Hopkirk accelerator pedal trim.

The driver and front passenger enjoy refurbished seats thanks to Newton Commercial – and these added a four-figure sum to the final bill all by themselves. 

No skimping took place here.

As you can see from the boot, which isn’t only clean and solid but plays host to a spare wheel that is, of course, fitted with a matching Dunlop tyre.

This means that the work that needs doing is minor. The headlining and C-pillar trims are possibly original, therefore a bit grubby and worn in places, the central switch panel, heater panel, and door latching mechanism cover aren’t up to the same high standards as the rest of the car, the door switches for the interior lights need sorting out, and the door trims aren't quite as good as the rest of the trim. 

NB: A Tracker is fitted along with a distributor supply lead interrupter with a transponder tag. This means there is a knack to starting the car, which will be explained to the winning bidder.

Oh, and the seller has investigated the fluctuating mileage you can see on the Mini’s online MoT record. He’s concluded that someone fitted a Cooper S speedometer at some point (along with Cooper S badges, but that’s a different story…), which explains the jump to 90-odd thousand miles. 

The last owner refitted the speedometer he found in the boot, which the seller thinks is probably the original. No conclusive evidence, of course, but it’s highly suggestive and makes sense.

The Cooper’s previous owner and the man who commissioned its restoration was an engineer, and given he derived as much pleasure from planning the Mini’s specification as he did actually driving it when it was finished, you’d expect it to have been tweaked a little, wouldn’t you? 

Which is has – but with his customary diligence and thoughtfulness because he opted to rebuild the original engine to maintain its ‘matching numbers’ status.

He did indulge himself a little with a Stage 1 cylinder head that includes the ability to use lead-free petrol plus a high-lift camshaft and a free-flowing maniflow exhaust system. 

The Good Stuff continues with a Swiftune electronic distributor and a gold sports coil, plus twin fuel tanks and a new fuel pump to provide petrol to the Mini’s new carburettors. 

The bottom line is a rolling road-certified 48.2bhp. 

The four-speed synchromesh gearbox was also rebuilt and the Hydrolastic suspension replaced by dry cone. 

He was also determined to get it to brake as well as possible, so he fitted a remote Cooper S servo along with 7.5” front disc brakes and stainless-steel brake hoses. 

The engineer in him was drawn to a Dynalite alternator, which looks like a dynamo but charges at 40 amps rather than the eighteen of the original while also shedding 2kgs in weight. 

Further extensive work was undertaken by P&L Minis in 2019 at a cost of £2,600: please see the invoices for details.

The seller has also fitted a new battery since he’s owned it.

As you can see, the 998cc engine starts promptly and settles into a good idle, albeit with a very un-Mini-like but attractively gruff note. 

It revs well too, with a lovely induction rasp and exhaust note.  Of course, it’s got good oil pressure too, but then that’s not a surprise by now, is it?

The underside is excellent, being solid and conserved with a good coat of underseal – and that protection is being used to preserve rather than obscure… 

The Mini doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

That said, the last MoT only expired in May 2023.

It’s also got a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate and a thick wad of old bills and invoices.

Given the restoration set the Mini’s last owner back £15,000, our guide price of between £15,000 and £20,000 makes this something of a bargain, not least because the job was done very, very well indeed.

This means you’re essentially getting the Mini Cooper for free – and being able to use Man Maths to justify your new classic is always nice, isn’t it?

If you’re still struggling to justify to your other half why you need this in your life, why not explain how fuel-efficient it is; in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, being able to whizz around on a teaspoon of petrol makes this a very sensible buy…

In fact, given the Mini started life as a way to beat the oil crisis, you’d actually be doing your bit for the environment AND our heritage.

Anyway, you could always just pop a cheeky bid on without saying anything; it’s being offered with no reserve so will sell no matter what and if yours ends up being the winning bid, well, that’s just fate and who among us is daft enough to try and interfere with the plans the gods have for us?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.