Fresh "Bare Shell" Professional Restoration 1972 Austin MK III Mini (Cooper "S" Specifications) Frankly, this is a Mini that will be appreciated by a discriminating, knowledgeable Mini enthusiast, or car collector. Our owner has owned Mini's for over 25 years (even before the recent "craze" of Mini ownership sparked, in part, by the introduction of the new Mini Cooper to the U.S. market in 2002) and purchased this vehicle as his personal, occasional driver, as a result of its uniqueness, and exceptional overall quality. The vehicle was restored professionally in the UK and driven only 1,000 miles subsequent to undergoing a complete and thorough restoration. The car is fresh, fully sorted, U.S. legal, and not one of the many so-called "re-bodied" cars with questionable lineage, or date/year of manufacture. It is the real deal. This particular Mini was built utilizing the finest components, and to an extremely high standard. The Mini represents a combination of vintage appearance, and significantly upgraded performance and safety equipment. The car is fast, comfortable, and exceptionally well balanced. Additionally, it is a truly striking example, with many period style enhancements and absolutely magnificent paint, body and interior appointments. The Mini began life in the United Kingdom as an authentic 1972 Mini (not a car that has been illegally imported to the USA by changing the VIN #) and is properly documented as a vintage Mini. The current mileage on the odometer is 46,213 and the odometer and speedometer are fully functional. The restoration was a "bare shell" or, in U.S. terms a "sub frame off" with the entire car being disassembled, and rebuilt from the ground up. The overall performance is far superior to the original Cooper "S" yet the car is very drivable and more comfortable that the early 1960's Mini's. Personally, we also believe that it is one of the nicest looking vintage Mini's that we have seen. The car is 100% rust free and turn key in every respect. It needs absolutely nothing, and is ready to be driven or shown at local collector car/Mini events. It is sure to be a major attraction at any event in the USA, or abroad. HISTORY OF THE MINI AUTOMOBILE The Mini began its public life on the August 26, 1959. Its designer, Sir Alec Issigonis could not have even dreamed of the impact his little car would have on the world of culture, society and of course automobiles. The Mini was designed simply to be an affordable car that could seat four adults and still be small enough to travel in safety. Originally powered by 850cc 34bhp engine, this was the Mini in its purest form, simple, clean and agile. Although the Mini saw through six decades it is always the earlier cars that will be remembered and that remain most collectible. These years saw the Mini go from a "housewives shopping car" to the must have fashion accessory, via international stardom on the rally and road racing scene. It took John Cooper, twice F1 World Champion Constructor, to realize the full potential of the Minis sharp handling and maneuverability. In 1961 the first Mini Cooper hit the streets, firstly with a 997cc engine producing a massive 55bhp, there followed a range of engines for the Cooper from the rare 970cc Cooper S to the ultimate evolution the 76bhp 1275cc S, the car which would form the basis for the Works Rally car. The Cooper S achieved superstar status when the 91bhp Works spec cars won the Monte Carlo Rally outright for 4 years running from 1964-1967 (although the Minis were disqualified from the 1966 rally for having faulty headlamps!) Now that the Mini had proven itself in front of a world audience, everybody wanted a Cooper, and indeed everybody who was anybody in the 60s had a Cooper, from The Beatles and Peter Sellers to Graham Hill and Enzo Ferrari! Of course they couldn't have any old Cooper they had to be modified. Companies such as Radford and Wood & Pickett who made their name tailor making Rolls Royce's and Bentleys now were turning their hands to Minis, with everything from electric windows and leather seats, to wickerwork sides and hatch backs. Thus a trend was started which has been kept up to this day, meaning that it's near impossible to find a Mini which hasn't been modified in some way. The last Mini Cooper was produced in the early 1970's and many people believe that the "best" Mini's were produced in the 1960's and early 1970's. Many variations of the Mini were introduced in the 1970's and 1980's (including the Clubman version), but the more "modernized" car was never quite the same as the early Mini's. HISTORY OF THIS PARTIUCLAR MINI * Authentic 1972 Mini - UK Registration AUX205L * Previous MOT certificates included * Significant Repair receipts and records included * Correct Austin BMC ID plates, Commission Number, & engine number plate in place * Professional Restoration Completed in the UK Within the Previous 1,000 Miles ABOUT CLASSIC CARS LTD. Classic Cars Ltd. has been in the same, small, California town for over 10 years. We operate a small, indoor showroom, and specialize in the sale, consignment, and purchase of sports, high performance and specialty vehicles of all types. We have a particular interest in any Sports type and unique cars. The majority of our vehicles are sourced from local, private owners and collectors, and many were sold new in California. We appreciate that rust free cars, with excellent documentation and history are especially attractive. As a result, we do not purchase our collectible cars from "distressed" sales, such as wholesale auctions, salvage sales, or lien sales. We do not sell vehicles with salvage titles or those that have a history of significant accident damage or repair. We are fully insured, bonded, and licensed for collector car sales all over the United States/World. Classic Cars Ltd. regularly transports vehicles out of state, and are familiar with quality transporters that offer a variety of services (enclosed, open transport, door to door vs. terminal shipping, etc) to our customers. Please call us at 925-846-1451 if we can provide a specific shipping quotation to your location, and discuss the appropriate alternatives for your needs. We frequently sell vehicles to out of state buyers / out of country buyers, and are proud of our 100% positive eBay feedback ratings of over 170 transactions. Please review our eBay feedback for specific comments on our service to our customers (our eBay user name is never22many). While the following information will provide the prospective buyer with some of the details of the car, we strongly suggest that interested individuals call us to discuss the many features of this unique and desirable Mini. EXTERIOR RESTORATION * Complete high quality bare shell (body off) restoration completed in England by skilled craftsmen * Body de-seamed and restored to a very high standard * Finished in old English white with Black roof * Fender arches (flares) added * Lotus "7" side view exterior mirrors * 12" Mistral restored 8 spoke alloy wheels with Falken 165/60 tires * All stainless steel bumpers & fasteners * New MK 1 style grill and chrome surround * Large front spotlights (2) on custom made brackets * Rear spotlight mounted on rear boot (trunk) deck lid * Original historical black & silver license plates (front/rear) * Absolutely pristine body and paint-work * Chrome rear trunk hinges * No scratches, dents, dings, rock chips or damage * Underside of car has been full undercoated in black * Complete Waxol treatment throughout, to prevent any rust(not to hide anything as the car was totally prepared prior to paint/restoration * NO RUST.......ANYWHERE MECHANICAL COMPONENTS * Freshly rebuilt (1,000 miles ago) 1275 (now 1310cc) * New bearings, seals, gaskets, internal components * Omega oversized pistons * Ultralite steel flywheel * Balanced, ported and polished head * DCOE 40 Weber carburetor * Janspeed manifold with 1.65" RC 40 center exit exhaust system * Ultimate engine steady * New 50% uprated engine mounts * Twin switchable fuel tanks with gas cap locks * Fully welded front and rear sub frames * Spax gas adjustable suspension all around * Negative camber set-up with rose joint bottom arms * Fuse box mounted inside car with new wiring harness * Uprated fuel pump mounted under rear seat * Front MG Metro 4 piston Brakes * Paget full race brake pads * All new brakes, lines, cylinders, and master cylinder * Brake lines run inside of car along with battery cable INTERIOR * Very nicely updated, custom full dash including: * Six Smiths gauges (lighted) including; Temperature, Oil pressure, volts. Amps, and Tachometer * Smiths clock mounted in center console * Rear seats and door panels finished in leather * Rear seat belts * Front seats are Recaro style and full adjustable fore and aft, and reclining * New black carpet throughout * Front and rear seatbelts * Original seat belts included with mountings * Functional roll cage finished in matt black (no rear brace to allow for passenger access if desired) * Stainless steel window and door handles * Billet stainless gearshift lever and handbrake cover * Three spoke, leather wrapped steering wheel * Stereo system consisting of AM/FM & CD player. Speakers include; rear mounted 6" x 9" speakers, two 5' x 7" dash mounted speakers and tweeters. Removable faceplate & case. There is also a rear mounted (hidden) Caliber amplifier in the trunk area. The restoration of this Mini is absolutely first class. The paint is absolutely brilliant, showing virtually no imperfections. It is laid exceptionally flat, and, at the time of restoration; the trunk, engine bay, inside of the vehicles, etc. were painted correctly during the "sub frame off" process. This particular Mini offers performance and handling are far superior to a Cooper "S", and the car is as solid as any Mini that we have owned. Unlike many higher performance examples, the car is extremely drivable, and does not exhibit any negative drivability traits. It idles smoothly, yet pulls very strongly to redline in each gear. The full syncromesh 4-speed transmission is excellent and is geared for highway use, so the Mini can easily be driven at speeds far in excess of the legally posted limit. In fact, the cars gearing allows for triple digit speeds along with very brisk low-end performance. This is a wonderful Mini to drive! This is truly an exceptional Mini. We recently drove this car from Los Angles to San Francisco, and also took the car to a recent event at Laguna Seca (as a spectator, not a participant). It performed flawlessly, received an amazing amount of attention. We couldn't wait to get back in the car for the next drive! While we purchased this Mini for our personal collection, we are now proud to make the car available to someone an enthusiast that will enjoy the car as much as we have. The cost to re-create a Mini of this quality is substantial. However, we are offering the car at a fraction of the amount that is invested in the build of the car. Please call Paul at 925-846-1451 to discuss the purchase of the Mini, transport to your location and even the possibility of an interesting trade. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS * The car carries a clear California title and has been cleared through US customs. All duties and fees have been paid and the car is ready to be registered to a new owner in the USA or, another country. * The original British "number plates" will remain with the car. * The medallion on the rear left of the car (shown in many of the photos) will be removed (held on by a magnet) as it is the property of the owner. * The car comes with an engine skid plate that has not been installed but is designed to protect the lower portion of the engine from damage. * The spare/original style seat belts and harnesses are included with the car. Specifications: Body Type / Style: Coupe Exterior Color: Old English White Interior Color: Black Engine: 4 Cylinder Transmission:    4 Speed Manual Mileage: 1000 Drive: Rear Doors: 2 Equipment: AM/FM/Casette Radio Alloy Valve Cover CD Player DCOE 40 Weber Carburetor Fog / Driving Lights Front Disc Brakes Front Sway Bar Full Instrumentation Full Roll Cage Large Front Driving Lights Lotus "7" Side View Mirrors MG Metro 4 Piston Brakes Matching Numbers Engine    Mistral 12" Alloy Wheels Original Jack & Tools Original Owners Manual Premium Sound RC 40 Exhaust Race Brake Pads Rear Mounted Spotlight Recaro Style Seating Smiths Gauges Spax Gas Shocks (Adjustable) Sway Bars (Front & Rear) Tachometer Twin Fuel Tanks Authentic Vintage Mini Exceptionally High Quality Build Documented Historic Vehicle LARGE Front Lights & Custom Brackets Vintage "Wavy" Grill Professional Deseamed Body Amazing Paintwork Old English White / Black Roof Orignal Number Plates - Front & Rear Licensed & Registered in California Functional Rear Spotlight 100% Straight / Rust Free Body Twin Fuel Tanks No Expense Spared Restoration Fantastic Example! 4 Piston Metro Disc Brakes 12" Mistral Alloy Wheels Stainless Steel Bumpers Wider Black Wheel "Arches" Pop Out Rear Windows Immaculate Bodywork Halogen Lights 100% Functional Electrical System Custom Dash Complete Instrumentation AM/FM & CD Player Stainless Window & Door Handles 4 Point Sabelt Belts Original Belts Included Fully Adjustable Seats Roll Cage & Usable Rear Seat Leather Wheel Tach / Speedo / Oil / Volt /Amp System Includes Amplifier & 6 Speakers Switches-Close Very Tidy 1310 cc & DCOE 40 Weber All of the Best Components Rear Underside Right Underside Trunk Right Rocker Panel Undercarriage Underside / Exhaust VIN Plates - Engine Bay The Best That We've Seen! Beautifully Done!