1964 Austin Mini Cooper MK1
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Highlights
• 2 Owner Car
• Unmolested example
• Stored for 30 years up until 2018
• Mechanic owned
• British Motor Industry Heritage Trust paperwork
The Background
Making its debut to the press in 1959, the formerly named Morris Mini Minor was ready to be sold to the public by August as several thousand had already been manufactured by the British automakers. The almost identical Austin twin was originally named the Austin Seven which paid homage to the small older Austin 7 models of the 20’s and 30’s. It wasn’t until 1961 that Austin boldly rebranded the model to the Mini.
The Austin gained a well established following in the 60’s with purchases from film and music stars of the era, as well as british police forces using the sportier Cooper S models as both uniformed and plainclothes cars.
The History
This little Austin Mini has been hiding away for the majority of its lifetime, as it had been sitting in storage for the last 30 years up until 2018 where the current owner purchased the vehicle to use as a wedding car for his own daughter's wedding day. After purchasing the vehicle, the owner has only traveled a small sum of a few thousand miles since.
The vehicle underwent a full-body respray before it got put into storage by the previous owner, a nicely done paint job it is, too, in Old English White with a black rooftop. Thanks to the low mileage put on the car between the time of respray and now, there are very few blemishes apparent - a beautiful example of British automotive history kept just the way it should be. The bodywork shows no signs of any crash damage or the likes, all the panels look as straight as they should be with no signs of any major work apparent.
The Mini is largely original, verified by the very thorough paperwork from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust which includes a certified copy of the factory record for the vehicle as well as a detailed list of technical specifications, showcasing all you need to know!
The Paperwork
Thanks to this car being so original, there has been no need for masses of invoices for large bits of work needed, the paper trail that follows this vehicle is simple as it should be. MOT certificates that go back to the 60’s are available, both original and photocopied, as seen in the images. The V5 is present in the current owners name to ensure a smooth transition to the new buyer too.
The British Motor Industry Heritage Trust paperwork is a wonderful addition to have with a car like this, certifying its authenticity, as well as being a great conversation starter for enthusiasts alike. Paperwork like this has classic car collectors swooning. And rightly so! A massive list of technical specifications are available as mentioned as well as the factory record of the vehicle. There is also paperwork from the DVLA verifying the registration should be non-transferable to preserve the classic mini heritage for future generations. A rare vehicle like this deserves to be so wonderfully kept!
The Interior
Wonderfully simplistic while still oozing class. Upon opening the door you’re greeted with red and grey leather interior with red carpets, a sleek black steering wheel and a simplistic and uncluttered dashboard. It’s small, but it’s certainly welcoming and comfortable. The floor carpets in the front of the vehicle have been removed as you can see, showing some surface rust throughout the floor of the car however there appears to be no signs of significant damage and the metal is still solid - the owner advises us that replacement carpets for these vehicles can be had for a couple hundred pounds. An easy fix at a small expense.
The leather seats do showcase signs of stretching and colour transfer however being a car of its age, this is to be completely expected as it is all original interior and the car was used regularly before the previous owner had it put into storage for so long. There are a couple of tears on the seats which can be seen in the images, however the rear bench looks to be in better condition. There is some stretched leather back here but much tidier, less colour transfer and seemingly no tears in the original leather. Under the front seats the metal is solid, as are the seat frame rails which only show signs of some surface rust, the painted black finish is still very apparent.
There are what appear to be some holes on the dashboard just to the left of the centre console on the leather portion, as well as just behind the steering wheel. Some minor surface rust on the metal cover just underneath the centre console is also visible. Overall, the dashboard is quite tidy with no major tears or cracks, and the clocks still function as they should with the glass coverings still intact!
The roof lining looks to be in great shape with seemingly no signs of damage, the seams all look to be in good shape as do the sun visors and the rear view mirror. The only thing to note is that the small dome lamp on the headliner is missing its plastic diffuser cover, however these are relatively easy to source.
The Exterior
A wonderful sight to sit and look at. This Mini is nothing short of beautiful, all original body panels, original lights, original glass, the list goes on. The only thing to note would be that the car was repainted at some point in its life before storage, however this was a very well done job and seems to have been done in the factory colour. as there are no telltale signs of another colour hiding underneath the current coat. All glass panels are intact as are all the window trims and seals, and the sliding portion of the front windows still function perfectly well.
All 4 wheels look to be in great shape with no road rash, there is the odd stone chip here and there but there are no nasty scrapes which require refurbishment. The original steel wheels will come with the purchase of the vehicle, too! One thing we would advise is that the new owner looks to get replacement tyres as the ones currently on the vehicle do look a little perished, most likely due to a mix of age and lack of use.
The front headlight lenses are slightly hazed however the lenses themselves are still intact, as are the indicator lenses. There is a small patch of surface rust apparent on the front left where the bonnet meets the bumper, however the panel is still solid. All of the arches look great with only small bits of surface rust protruding through, overall a very tidy example of an original car. Even the chrome trim pieces still shimmer in the sunlight showing very little signs of fading or corrosion! A little bit of polish would have them looking dazzling!
The Mechanics
Upon our arrival the vehicle did not start, however this was only due to the battery being dead due to the car laying untouched for some time. The owner tells us the car runs with no problems and the little Morris 998cc engine idles with no struggle and is maintained regularly thanks to him being a mechanic himself, the little Mini is always cared for. All of the brakes still function as does the steering and suspension components with no unwelcome noises, we’re told. There is some minor oil sweat under the engine, however for old Morris engines this was common, and we don’t think it is excessive enough to raise any major concern.
As stated, the one thing we would advise is that the new owner seek replacement tyres as the current ones do look perished and show signs of cracking - we believe due to the lack of use of the vehicle. Thankfully due to the small tyre size, these can be replaced relatively cheaply!
The Appeal
A beautifully preserved little gem of British automotive history such as this is a worthy potential new vehicle for any classic car enthusiast or collector, with the helpful addition of the paperwork accompanying this Austin Mini it’s not one you’d want to miss. As the years go on, original examples like this are getting harder and harder to source, and much more appreciated and respected within all aspects of the car communities.
We all love a Mini, and this example is a time warp back to the model's humble beginnings!
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.
Vehicle specification
- Year 1964
- Make Austin
- Model Mini Cooper
- Colour White
- Odometer 67,016 Miles
- Engine size 998
Auction Details
- Seller Type Private
- Town Glasgow
- Location Scotland
- Country United Kingdom
14
bids
from 8
bidders
- ss•••• £15,000 01/09/21
- Ai•••• £13,250 31/08/21
- co•••• £13,000 31/08/21
- Wo•••• £12,250 31/08/21
- co•••• £12,000 29/08/21
- to•••• £11,000 27/08/21
- Wo•••• £10,750 27/08/21
- co•••• £10,500 27/08/21
- Wo•••• £9,500 26/08/21
- ke•••• £9,000 26/08/21
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