3 fotos

1968' Austin Mini

£30,000

Publicado 22 octubre 2026ID: vKxGxN

H&H
Cheshire
+44Mostrar teléfono

Information from the owner

Edad: 58 años

Combustible: Gasolina

Transmisión: Manual

Color exterior: Rojo

Comentarios del vendedor sobre 1968' Austin Mini

Sandown Park | Esher, Surrey Viewing: Wed 9th December from 12pm Auction Thursday, December 10th: From 12:00pm (Noon) Location: Portsmouth Road, Esher, Surrey KT10 9AJ UK Registration No: Un-Registered (formerly RJB 326F) Chassis No: C-A2SB1120435A MOT: Exempt Prepared by BMC Special Tuning for the 1968 RAC Rally where it finished first in class and fourth overall with Phil Cooper behind the wheel Thereafter contested the 1968 TAP Rally of Portugal and 1969 RAC Rally Comprehensively restored by rally car specialists Bob Brain Developments of Monmouth, completed in 2002 Part of the Ronald White Collection since 2004 Accompanied by a large history file The Mini was actually detuned before launch in 1959. The prototype’s 948cc engine made it embarrassingly rapid compared with other more expensive cars in the BMC group, and it was downgraded to 848cc and 34bhp. A collaboration between racing car builder John Cooper and the Mini’s creator Alec Issigonis, the Mini Cooper debuted in September 1961 with the ultimate 1275cc S variant arriving three years later. Famously winning the Monte Carlo Rally for the third time in 1967, that same year saw the Mini updated to Mk. II specification complete with redesigned radiator grille, revamped interior, larger rear windscreen and a host of other minor changes. Total Mk. II Cooper S production across both Austin and Morris brands amounted to just 6, 300 cars. Resplendent in the BMC competition livery of Red with a White roof, this Mini Cooper has superb provenance. ‘RJB 326F’ was originally prepared by the BMC MG (Special Tuning) Division at Abingdon for the 1968 RAC Rally, but ultimately the Works did not enter, so it was sold to privateer Phil Cooper. Cooper had a very successful rallying career during the 1960s and ’70s, driving not only his namesake Minis but also 1275 GTs, hot Austin 1800s and Allegros, Triumph Dolomite Sprints and TR7 V8s. He had access to some of the best cars through Frank Cooper & Sons Ltd. of the Regency Garage, the BMC/ British Leyland dealership in Oulton, near Leeds. It is reckoned he owned around 10 ex-works cars at different stages, including the 1967 racing Cooper also in this sale. With co-driver Mike Bennett, Cooper drove the Mini to fourth overall in the RAC, winning its class despite experiencing failure of the hydrolastic suspension. Cooper and Bennett got the car out again for the 1968 TAP Rally in Portugal. It had another crack at the RAC Rally in 1969, but crashed into some trees and subsequently had to be thoroughly renovated. The following 10 years were not kind to the car. The third owner, after BMC and the Regency Garage, was Chris Cornell of the Warner Green Hotel in Wakefield. The next owners were Ian Parsons of Windermere, Jerome Wright of North Willingham, and Graham Lancaster of Market Rasen. Lancaster had rallied the car, but rolled it during a special stage on an airfield. It was on its third or fourth shell when it was bought in 1979 by Martin Dawson, who recalled: “The car was in a very sad state although just about running. Had I not bought it, the vendor was going to break it up for bits, which seemed too sad a fate for such an old warrior… The registration document bore the name of Lancaster, but it was bought from two lads in Sheffield from a Motor Sport advert.” He embarked on a restoration which took until 2002, with the work entrusted to rally preparation specialist Bob Brain Developments of Monmouth. Dawson had been a rally driver in the ’60s and hoped to campaign the Mini in historic events, but he lost his enthusiasm when his old co-driver passed away. There was no point repairing the poor Mk. III body shell, so Dawson found a donor Mk. II body, which was then fully restored and equipped with as much original equipment as would be compatible with modern regulations. The only significant item he could not reuse was the alloy roll cage, instead fitting a sturdier steel one. He also elected to fit competition seats and a full fire extinguisher system. The engine received a comprehensive overhaul, with new rods and pistons, plus a correct crankshaft to replace a non-standard item which had been fitted in the past. The gearbox was refurbished with new bearings but has retained straight-cut gears. The subframes were renovated, the carburettors were refreshed, and the brakes, wiring loom and suspension were renewed. Instead of being rallied, the Mini was bought in 2004 by Ronald White for his collection of well-provenanced competition Minis, and it has been on static display ever since, but certainly it could be rallied again, subject to recommissioning, if a new owner was so inclined. ‘RJB 326F’ comes with a raft of history including Motor Sport and Autosport magazines covering the ’68 RAC Rally, ownership history, correspondence, restoration invoices totalling £24, 000, restoration photographs, old MOTs, and tax discs and a 2002 MSA competition logbook. PLEASE NOTE: This lot was marked as permanently exported from...

Otros