HIGHLIGHTS

Desirable 1275GT
Presents well
Usable project

THE APPEAL

Launched in 1969 and with a restyled look, the Mini 1275 GT Clubman was the latest offering by British Leyland to replace the tiring Riley and Wolseley versions of the Mini. The new look brought a modern look square front end to the much-loved Mini. The main change would come in the engine department; gone was the ageing 998cc engine, and in came the impressive 1275cc, designed to compete against Triumph and Ford. With the extra power and superb agile handling, the Mini was highly praised, which is why it's such a desirable classic all these years on.

This 1978 Leyland Mini 1275 GT is a usable classic, perfect for anyone wanting to take the GT to the next level. It appears to be a solid car which has received a light restoration in the past. It was recently purchased by the vendor, who has since had a change of plans when it came to taking the Mini one step further.

THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK

Registered 31st March 1978
Unfortunately, there is no paperwork with the car other than the new keeper slip
Thought to have been previously restored around 1992
There is no MOT history for the car on the government website, suggesting it has been in storage for several years
For the above reason, there is no history to represent the mileage

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THE INTERIOR

The seats have been retrimmed with a blue cheque pattern. These are in good condition with just a small amount of creasing to the driver’s seat
The door cards are in good condition. One of the handles is broken, but this is an easy item to replace
The dashboard is in good condition with no cracking to the wooden veneer
The vendor reports the instruments to be working correctly, and the odometer shows a reading of 54,328 miles
There is a small amount of wear to the lettering on the switches, but they are said to work correctly
An aftermarket steering wheel is fitted and has a small amount of wear to the rim
The carpets have been replaced and look to be in good condition throughout
There is no rubber boot seal, and the spare wheel is missing; both easy items to replace

THE EXTERIOR

Finished in Blue Metallic with 1275GT stripes
The car is believed to have been repainted from the original Bronze Yellow colour in approximately 1992
The paintwork does have some chips and scratches, which have been picked up over the years
The doors, boot and bonnet align well with equal shut lines
There are some light dings to the doors, wings and bonnet, and a few small blisters along the bottom of the doors
The windows look to be the originals, and there are some scratches to them, especially noticeable on the passenger door
The chrome finish on the bumpers is bright with no real tarnishing
Four-bar grille is in good condition, but the Mini and GT badge are missing
Headlights and rear lights are free from damage
The 12” eight-spoke Minilite style wheels do have some kerb marks and scratches but could be refurbished
The tyres have a good amount of tread remaining

THE MECHANICS

1275cc A-Series engine
Four-speed gearbox
Stainless steel exhaust
New HT leads
The vendor reports the car to start and run with no issues
The gear change is said to be smooth
The car sits level, and no knocks or bangs have been reported to come from the suspension
The underside has been coated in stone guard to help keep corrosion at bay
Upgraded AP Racing brake calipers
Vendor has reported no issues with the brakes, and the Mini comes to a stop as you would expect

SUMMARY

Being the 1275 GT, this Mini will surely bring in much interest. Yes, it would benefit from some cosmetic work, but on the plus side, it appears to be in relatively good condition and is running as it should.

This makes it an ideal candidate for anyone wanting a winter project which, when finished, will be a very desirable classic Mini 1275 GT.

Notice to bidders

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