Description
This is a rare nowadays desirable early Mini Cooper 'S' that has not been for sale since the 1970's. Only three owners since then including me but as I have the original green logbook I am fairly certain we have more or less the full ownership history.
The colour is white with a black roof and not just white - I could not find the way to say that in this system.
First registered 20. 3. 1964 it is an Austin variant of the much loved Cooper 'S' with, in my opinion, the best engine - the 1071cc. According to the Heritage Certificate (there are two) she was originally green but was probably changed colour in the 1990's when restored (lots of paperwork regarding this). She is in very good solid condition throughout so she is in very useable condition. She starts first time and runs very well but in fairness could do with being used more. There is a lot of paperwork with the car:
The original green logbook
The original blue V5
The current V5C
The previous V5C x 2
Various tax discs back to 1964
BMIHT Certificates dated 20. 2. 1997 and 9. 2. 2022
Practically all the MOT certificates dating back to 1997
Lots of old invoices from 1995 to 2015
The car was previously in the ownership of a Brendon Chappell who lived and worked in the Warrington area and raced a variety of cars prepared by his company Howley Racing which was mainly a Mini and Escort race preparation and engineering shop. (John, his brother went on to found and run K&N Filters). Brendon had this car in his yard for a good decade but he was killed at a crossroads in the USA. He left 351GTR in his will to a friend and local solicitor Adrian Albinson who received her in about 1993. Most of the paperwork exists since that time and especially after 1997 when a lot of restoration work was carried out.
The interior was changed and it now has full leather (or faux leather I am not sure which) interior seating.
I have recently though been informed by a previous owner that it was involved in an accident in 1974 Near Millbrook roundabout, Teborba Way, Southampton.
She was rear ended by drunk driver in a SAAB and pushed into a lamp post and the racing seats were ripped off the mounts. After the accident it was taken to Carey and Lambert (Austin main dealer) and sold unrepaired to someone who worked in the main dealer's bodyshop.
The car has been restored at least twice - once after the accident in 1974 and then again in the 1990's. I am NOT selling the vehicle with warranted mileage however it has not done much mileage at all since Brendan bought it so it would not surprise me if it indeed was correct having gone around the clock.
The registration number is the original I believe and is with the car at this price.
I have uploaded the green logbook as well so people can check the previous ownerships and I have supplied a lot of pictures but if you want anything else please just let me know.
I also have two videos that I cannot load showing the car driving easily and well and one showing the underneath from a ramp at an MOT station. If anyone wants to see them please let me know.
There car has had two offers - one was not enough and one where they believe they set the terms.
This will make someone a great car. The only reason I now have it for sale is because I have run out of room. I was going to have this fully restored but have decided against it as I have other minis anyway.
