5 minute read
BLAST FROM THE PAST
1966 AUSTIN MINI DE LUXE
■ OWNER AT THE TIME: Paul Eeles ■ ISSUE: Summer 2017
Paul Eeles was keen to have a Mk1 Mini in his life. He found a suitable candidate in the form of a 1966 Surf Blue De Luxe but he had to change it to red to create a tribute to the Monte rally Minis of the 1960s. It was fate that directed him to build an homage to Rauno Aaltonen and Henry Liddon’s all-conquering 1967 Monte Carlo 1275 Cooper S, LBL 6D. “I ordered a replica rally plate and I didn’t know which one was coming, but then 177 came, so I thought I’d better do that car.”
Stripping the Mini revealed issues with the rear quarters and much more:
“It needed a complete floor, inner and outer sills, A-panels, wings, inner wing, rear valance, round by the back lights and boot floor repair.” Paul entrusted Tony Ennion, in Cheshire, to do the bodywork and paint which took six months. This was back in 2009.
Once the painted shell was home Paul started building it up, which was not that straightforward as he wanted it to look authentic. “Robert Young, from the Mini Cooper Register, said the thing about Works cars is the loom. That would make or break the car. He came and helped me out with that and I can’t thank him enough for that.” Autosparks in Nottingham supplied all the wires.
He sourced parts from the late Works Mini expert John Kelly, including the push-start extension, route card holders, knee protectors and lock covers, which John made.” Catmint supplied the lamp bracket but modified it slightly for Paul’s requirements. “He’s really good.” They also made the Works winter grille muff specifically for this Mini.
Thankfully Paul could learn more about the original car as it is displayed in the British Motor Museum. "We took photos of the real car. We measured the door square, and the number on the door, where the relays were, everything really. We went over it with a fine-toothed comb.”
Attention to detail included buying a roof rack from Bryan Purves to carry Dunlop SP44 Weathermaster forest tyres bought from Vintage Tyres.
The Mini performed as well as it looked, with its 1330cc engine achieving 110bhp at the wheels on Southam Mini & Metro Centre’s rolling road.
BACK ISSUES
£5.50 PER ISSUE INCLUDING UK P&P! £7.99 INCLUDING OVERSEAS POSTAGE
• Restored 1974 1275 GT • Australian Moke ambulance • Superb retro-styled 1380cc Mini • Maintain and upgrade Mini brakes • Downton-tuned Mk1 Mini Cooper • Modified 1979 Mini Pick-up • Incredible VTEC-engined Estate • Mini suspension know-how
• Australian Works Cooper S racer • Restored Italian Innocenti Cooper • Cooper-converted Flame Red LE • VIN and engine plate identification • Restored 1275cc ’66 Mini Cooper S • Stunning Mk3 Wolseley Hornet • Fantastic 1961 Morris Minivan • Mk1 heater refurbishment guide • 30 years of MiniWorld special issue • 30 amazing MiniWorld feature Minis • Superb restored 1960 Austin Seven • Beginners’ Mini buying guide
JUNE 2021 JULY 2021 AUGUST 2021 SUMMER 2021 SEPTEMBER 2021
• Woody-styled Clubman Estate • Mk3 Riley Elf rat-rod • 1964 970cc Cooper S • Mini brake and fuel plumbing
• Retro-styled 1979 saloon • Superb modified Mini City • Lovingly-restored Mini Moke • Mini cooling system plumbing • Pro-restored 1960 Mini Van • Tesla battery-powered Estate • Rover Mini with Mk1 vibes • Modified 1966 Riley Elf • Low-mileage Cooper Sport 500 • Restored 997cc Mk1 Cooper • Mk3 Cooper S Buying Guide • 1969 Mk2 Mini Cooper S • Cleverly-modified Mini Van • Japanese fastback • 1310cc SPi Rover Mini • Wales road trip
OCTOBER 2021 NOVEMBER 2021 DECEMBER 2021 JANUARY 2022 FEBRUARY 2022
• Restored 1962 Mini Pick-up • Modified Mini Mayfair • Buying Guide: Elf and Hornet • Australian Mini Coopers • Superb S-inspired 1965 Mk1 • Supercharged Mini saloon • Rover Mini 40 limited edition • West Country road trip • Abingdon-prepared Monte Cooper • Stunning custom Clubman Estate • Buying Guide: Clubman Estate • Rare 850 Mini City • Superb Mk2 Mini Cooper • Suzuki Hayabusa Z Car • Supercharged Mini Mayfair • Vita Mini racing team • Restored Radford Mini Cooper • Restored RSP Mini Cooper S • Technical: front disc brake hubs • The legend of Bogus
