MkII Cooper Restoration

[111Robin]

I know there are a few Mini nuts on here so thought I would post details of the retoration of my MkII Cooper. I bought the car 21 years ago, pretty much as soon as I could after starting to earn a real wage. Before (I had) the internet, the Dundee Courier was my main source of "local" classic car ad's and this was the only Cooper I had ever seen in the paper, located in Kirriemuir (was in Richard Lawsons wee place that was full of interesting classics). I knew it had some bodges in the bodywork but I had to have it. All of the details were correct confirming it as a genuine Cooper (easy to fake). So I rebuilt the engine and transmission and sorted a few other untidy bits and had a few years of fun with it, including driving to Monaco via many of the famous Monte Carlo rally stages. Since moving to Aberdeen 15 years ago it's been languishing at my dad's work (garage), only receiving the odd bit of attention. The bodywork was getting a bit shabby, the old (prior to my purchase) bodges starting to reveal themselves. I could have had it patched up and got a ticket for it, but decided to go the whole hog and fully restore it to original condition. Unfortunately I have neither the time nor skills to tackle the bodywork so this has been farmed out. When finished pretty much the roof and the pillars will be the only original metalwork left!!!, the whole floor pan and boot floor will be replaced as will the usual front end panels, rear quarter panels etc. If new (heritage) MkII shells were available I would have re-shelled it but this isn't possible so the metalwork has to be done. While the body is away for resurrection (literally) I'll be tackling the subframes/suspension components. Rear subframe is being replaced, front is ok, both will be powder coated along with the rest of the running gear. I'm leaving the engine/transmission alone apart from cleaning and painting as the previous rebuild I did is still fine with not that many miles covered since and it's been run regularly during storage anyway so I know all is well in this respect. So now the fun begins and the wallet opens for what will be a money pit for sure but I know what I'm getting into and would rather do this than buy a restored car where you never really know what you're getting.
Here are some photo's following strip down :

[campbell]

Full respect.

But is this going to be another "Post #1 updated, make a cuppa while it loads" thread?!

We need to think of a better way for you trailblazers to exhibit your personal journeys.

Perhaps the trick is, to update Post #1 with build progress, but only offer a LINK to pics, rather than embedding them as images? Or get clever with clickable thumbnails perhaps...Or write a genuine blog with Wordpress, Blogger, etc, and just post a link each time you update.

Anyways, well done. My uncle had an R reg Cooper of some description, with roll cage, fat arches and rims, 1340 engine, twin webbers (I believe?!)...it was a cracker.


Campbell

[111Robin]

Thank's Campbell, I'm not that savvy with blogs and other t'internet wizardry, I've changed the pic's to clickable thumbnails thoough and will avoid overloading the forum with huge files when I update the post,
Robin

[campbell]

Nice work. To be honest, using Google Blogger is as easy...if not easier...than using this forum, but clickable thumbs are a great invention, so keep 'em coming!

Campbell

[woody]

Full respect.

But is this going to be another "Post #1 updated, make a cuppa while it loads" thread?!

We need to think of a better way for you trailblazers to exhibit your personal journeys.

Perhaps the trick is, to update Post #1 with build progress, but only offer a LINK to pics, rather than embedding them as images? Or get clever with clickable thumbnails perhaps...Or write a genuine blog with Wordpress, Blogger, etc, and just post a link each time you update.

Anyways, well done. My uncle had an R reg Cooper of some description, with roll cage, fat arches and rims, 1340 engine, twin webbers (I believe?!)...it was a cracker.


Campbell

Rather than post the newest stuff last, post it at the start?


Looking forward to seeing the progress. Snowberry White? Looks really good in something other than the usual red, hope you keep it that way. From memory all mkII coopers were 998's?

[111Robin]

Yes, keeping the original colour Snowberry/black. It is a 998, the lowest of the low in Cooper ranking but actually quite rare as the MkII was only built from 67-69. Also keeping it on hydrolastic, again not the best for handling but prefer to maintain originality.

[Shug]

*want*

[Dominic]

*need* !!!

[j2 lot]

*want*

*need* !!!

+1

[rossybee]

Look fwd to seeing the finished article

[tonyg]

Yes, keeping the original colour Snowberry/black. It is a 998, the lowest of the low in Cooper ranking but actually quite rare as the MkII was only built from 67-69. Also keeping it on hydrolastic, again not the best for handling but prefer to maintain originality.

I seem to remember there was a 970S Cooper for a while? - guy i met had one about 30 years ago.

[111Robin]

Yes, keeping the original colour Snowberry/black. It is a 998, the lowest of the low in Cooper ranking but actually quite rare as the MkII was only built from 67-69. Also keeping it on hydrolastic, again not the best for handling but prefer to maintain originality.

I seem to remember there was a 970S Cooper for a while? - guy i met had one about 30 years ago.

The 970S is the rarest of the Coopers, it's a screamer of an engine. The first Cooper (non-S) was a 997 which became the 998 later on. The "S" was available as 970, 1071 then 1275 to meet the various engine size categories in circuit racing/rallying. The MkI 1275S is the most popular currently and prices are mental for them. The poor old MkII 998 is the least valuable, but that doesn't bother me, the restoration cost will be more than its market value, but I don't intend to sell it so not bothered really.

[Stu160]

The 970 was a short stroke 1275, as was the 1071, all run the same big valve 12g940 head, so that made the 970 a very high reving little motor. Never driven one, but my 1340 in my pickup revs to 9000 rpm, and has passed many a more modern machine around Knockhill in its day. (including elises and subaru,s)

Have fun with your build, getting very rare these days, and if you need any maching work done , get in touch.

Stu

[Scotty C]

you just dont want to have a accident in those wee cars. shudder

[111Robin]

Some pic's of the body restoration. Floor pan is new front to back. Very little of the original shell will be left (not a bad thing given the state it was in)