1968 Morris Mini Cooper MkII

We normally take great care to present our vehicles to their best advantage, commissioning our valeter to weave his magic.

On this occasion we told him to stay in the canteen and pour himself another coffee because to wash and detail this would have been nothing short of a crime.

Because ‘NSS 564F’ is a one-family-from-new Morris Mini Cooper, which would be remarkable in its own right.

But there’s more, because we understand it was laid up in 1979 with only a little over 31,000 miles on the odometer: The seller thinks it may have had a few issues and was set aside to be repaired one day.

A day that didn’t come and it remained undisturbed for the next four decades – and given how much we know you all love a barn find, we thought we’d offer it in ‘as found’ condition with the photos to prove it.

And, dirty or not, it is a bit of a peach: Finished in Sandy Beige with a Snowberry White roof, it is remarkably original and has even managed to hang on to the original sales invoice.

Oh, and fear not; we checked it for wildlife and didn’t find a thing. In fact, you could say that not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

As a MKII it features the later Mini’s redesigned grille, slightly larger rear window and a few other minor revisions. It also boasts the Morris badge, something the range lost in 1969, thereafter being known simply as the Mini.

Of course, being a barn find it needs work. Quite a lot of work actually; the driver’s door might look solid but only one of its hinges is still attached.

Every other panel has rust on it and has faded, although we suspect some could be saved; you’ll have your own opinion on what you’re prepared to tackle but you may be able to restore the bonnet, roof, boot lid, rear panel, and nearside rear wing and door.

And here’s a thought: How about repainting only the new metalwork and simply cutting back and polishing everything else? Preserving its patina and celebrating its history – and if that’s a step too far, you could always refit the patinated Morris Cooper badges to the freshly painted panels as a nod to its illustrious past?

The chromework is rusty too but it looks straight and undamaged, so we suspect that could be saved too – and wouldn’t it give you a warmer glow to preserve the original fittings where you can rather than taking the easy route and simply buying brand-new replacements?

We’d be amazed if the Dunlop D1 alloy wheels couldn’t be saved; at ten inches in diameter and five inches wide, while reproductions are available, we bet they aren’t as well made as the originals.

The light lenses all look to be in good shape too, as does the glazing; heck, the windscreen even still has the tax disc from 1979 stuck on it.

The numberplates could also be reused, their patina adding yet another layer of interest to a car that is already sure to draw crowds.

The interior is in much the same condition as the exterior and you’re definitely going to need to buy bits like front seat covers and their internals, door and window seals, and a switch panel.

The dashboard and instrumentation, which look like they might be from a Riley Elf, could probably be saved, as could the steering wheel and maybe even the nearside door card, rear seat, rear trim, and headlining.

You will need to replace the footwells before you even think about what colour carpet to choose though.

The boot is in a surprisingly good condition. You’ll want to double-check, but it looks like the metalwork is still largely solid.

The short-stroke 998cc engine delivers 55bhp and 54lb.ft of torque, enough to send the Mini to a top speed of 85mph after passing 60mph in 17 seconds. It also features disc brakes at the front, not that you’ll need to trouble them very often.

In theory, because there’s a lot of work ahead of you before you’ll be able to enjoy that eager engine and pin-sharp chassis – but then that also means you’ll be able to choose the state of tune and how you want to balance the competing demands of comfort and handling.

As for the condition of the mechanical components, it would be sensible to budget to replace everything and if anything is restorable then you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise.

Apart from the engine and gearbox, of course; they’re infinitely rebuildable and will probably be the most enjoyable part of the whole enterprise.

Given it hasn’t been driven since 1979, the fact the Mini does not have an MoT certificate will come as little surprise.

The V5C Registration Certificate shows just the one former keeper, a Donald Beaton Williamson, who gave his address as the Muirfield Golf Club when he bought the car; try that now and see what happens…

The second keeper, who added their name on the 15th of March 2026, is our seller.

The history file also contains an old-style V5 Vehicle Registration Document plus the original sales invoice from Hall Brothers of Musselburgh. Dated the 17th of June 1968, it shows a purchase price of £470, which includes factory-fitted seatbelts and underbody protection.

The Mini also comes with its original Instruction Manual and book pack, which are inside the original brown paper envelope. Donald’s driving licence is also included, although we suspect it’ll be too old to be used to change your identity.

The file also contains some old invoices, including one from Asda for £2-worth of petrol in 1977. We also uncovered a Certificate of Motor Insurance from April 1976, an envelope containing unredeemed Embassy vouchers, and even a bill from the South of Scotland Electricity Board from October 1976; didn’t we tell you that this is an untouched, genuine barn find?

Finally, there’s a Retention of Vehicle Registration Book, which might date the point at which it was given the registration number ‘NSS 564F’ rather than its original.

If your only objective is to get your hands on a MKII Morris Mini Cooper as cheaply as possible then you should look elsewhere because it is always cheaper to let someone else do the heavy lifting.

But if, like so many of us, you’ve been daydreaming of the moment when you’ve got the time and space to restore a car, this would be a great way to make that dream come true.

With a low mileage, just one long-term owner, and in a largely original condition, the lucky winning bidder will have many, many happy hours ahead.

And getting started isn’t going to break the bank either as our guide price is between £4,000 and £8,000 – but as it is being offered with no reserve, it may sell for even less than that.

Remember what we said about money? Well, the big advantage of restoring a car yourself is that it’s done in stages, the timing of which you determine: Buy it, spend a year dismantling it, and when you’ve finished you’ll have saved up enough to be able to move onto the next stage without being in hock to the bank.

And if you can squeeze in evening classes in welding, you could save a bundle by not having to pay anyone to sort the bodywork.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.