Registration No: RYT 200E
Chassis No: AA2S75980670M
MOT: May 2024

• Comprehensively mechanically recommissioned in 2022/23
• 2 previous keepers
• Less than 52,000 recorded miles

With the reverberations of the 1956-1957 Suez Crisis being felt worldwide, Leonard Lord commissioned Alec Issigonis to work on a radical small car project. His response was the now legendary Mini. Featuring an ingenious transverse-mounted powertrain (with engine sat atop the gearbox), all-round independent 'rubber cone' suspension, front-wheel drive and compact rack and pinion steering, the newcomer was a packaging masterpiece; not to mention one of the most influential automotive designs ever conceived. Available with saloon, pick-up, estate and traveller body styles, the ubiquitous mini proved to be an extremely successful and long-lived motoring icon.

This 1967 Mini 850 Super DeLuxe, with a manual gearbox, was originally finished in White with a Red interior. Other than thorough cleaning and mechanical restoration, the car still wears its original paint and ‘battle scars’. With only 2 former keepers and displaying just 51,732 miles, this Austin Mini 850 Super Deluxe 1967 had previously been carefully stored in a dry woodwork shop since 1977. It presents as a Mini in remarkably original and unrestored condition.

The former owner's mother owned the car and when she passed away the family could not bear to part with it and the plan was to prepare it for her grandchild to use when old enough to drive. For whatever reason this never happened, and the owner lost interest in completing the project and it sat carefully wrapped in blankets and its components safely and neatly stored. In October of 2022, the owner and his wife (he having been diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer’s) decided to downsize their property. The car was offered to the current owner via a friend who is a lifelong neighbour of the couple. When discovered, the vehicle had been partially stripped down, the engine gearbox having been removed and it is believed to have been overhauled, some 45 years ago, by a person unknown, according to the wife of the owner. The unit was inspected, cylinder head, removed and the diff housing removed and all found to be very clean.

This vehicle was comprehensively mechanically recommissioned in 2022/23 by its current owner, a retired automotive engineer. Amongst the parts with the car are BMC Parts boxes of synchro hubs and bearings etc. Much work was carried out to overhaul the car. Both the engine and gearbox were cleaned, new filters added, plugs, thermostat, valve seals etc and finally re-filled with quality 20/50 oil, being re-installed with new mounts. The hydrolastic system benefitted from new pipes, rear displacers were overhauled, ball joints replaced and the system flushed and recharged. The braking system had new hydraulic cylinders and flexible pipes all round, each wheel fully stripped and rebuilt and the master cylinder overhauled. The clutch was removed and checked and provided with new /overhauled hydraulic cylinders. An exchange steering rack and track rod ends fitted. The starter, dynamo, distributor, voltage regulator, wiper motor and drive system, heater, switch gear and fuel pump were all removed, stripped, cleaned, lubricated reassembled with new parts as required. Fuel flexible pipes were replaced, the tank removed and flushed, the carb’ stripped, cleaned with service kit used and a line filter added. The cooling system had its original radiator flushed, and pressure checked, new water pump, and all new Kevlar reinforced hoses. The Mini benefitted from replacement flasher lamp inserts and had the bullet connectors replaced. All electrics were functioning at the time of consignment including period Radiomobile car radio. The wheels were cleaned (original paint) and new tyres fitted. Additionally, there is a new battery and new steady bar bushings.

The car is presented in an ‘as found’ condition, it has been washed and polished but that is all except the lower body chrome trims which are new and were missing. The rest of the brightwork would appear to be original. The structure appears to be original. The interior is extremely standard in all aspects and is ‘as found’ and ‘in good order’ but has been cleaned. The vendor reports that the only non-standard feature of this car is that it once had an ‘SPQR’ aftermarket remote gear change. The floor has a few small holes and one larger one cut in which has been sealed with a rubber bung. The original ‘magic wand’ gear lever was present, and this has been installed along with its knob. The ‘SPQR’, and its trim, are in the boot of the car for possible future fitment if so desired.

The vendor describes the car as ‘driving well’, maintaining good oil pressure, the correct temperature and ‘a good gear change’. There is an old green logbook, original handbook and other documents present, as well as a genuine BMC workshop manual. The Mini is also registered with the DVLA as an Historic vehicle for the purposes of the Road Fund Licence and the MOT. Bodywork, paintwork are described by the vendor as 'Good' and the interior trim as 'Very Good'. Engine, electrical equipment and the transmission are described as 'Excellent'.

For more information, please contact:
John Markey
john.markey@handh.co.uk
07943 584767