"COMING TO AUCTION"
FROM
Wednesday 13th May 2015
Easters Court, Leominster HR6 0DE
1967 MINI TRAVELLER
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| Lot number | 86 |
|---|---|
| Estimate | £12,000 - £14,000 |
| Description | Mini Traveller 1275 |
| Registration | KWD 678E |
| Year | 1967 |
| Colour | Surf Blue |
| Engine size | 1,275 cc |
| Chassis No. | MAW5D1170372 |
| Engine No. | 242266 |
When the first Minis went on sale in
August 1959, it is fair to say that the public were initially slightly
baffled by this tiny little box with its small wheels and funny
front-wheel drive.
However, as word gradually leaked out about its amazing handling prowess and huge fun factor, it quickly became a cult object that came to symbolise the freedom of the Swinging Sixties. One of the greatest car designs of all time, it had a classless appeal that made it welcome everywhere and by 1966 over a million had been sold.
With go-kart handling and excellent brakes, it was a huge success in competition and literally ran rings around far larger and more expensive cars that simply could not keep up with its cheeky pace. It was to remain in production for an astonishing 41 years, still remaining recognizably the same car in 2000 as it had been at launch in 1959.
While everyone knows about the saloon, the van and the Countryman estate, few people realise that there was also a ‘woodie’ version, much like the far more familiar Morris Minor Traveller, which had decorative, non-structural wood framing around the rear bodywork. Like the Countryman, it had double ‘barn-style’ rear doors and was built on a slightly longer chassis of 84 inches compared to 80.25 inches for the saloon. Built between 1961 and 1968, only 99,000 Morris Mini Travellers were built in total and survivors are now exceedingly rare.
Dating from 1967, this particular Traveller has been owned since 2011 by a professional Mini restorer who has spent many hundreds of hours fully restoring the car for his own personal use. As you can see in the pictures, it has been treated to a total nut-and-bolt restoration over the last few years with the spectacular results you see today.
Finished in period Surf Blue, it has an all-new ash frame and has also been subtly uprated, the original 998cc engine being ditched in favour of a rebuilt 1,275cc engine and gearbox from a later car. Cooper S front discs have also been fitted along with a Maniflo sports exhaust and Minilite-style alloys shod with new Yokohama tyres.
Said to drive beautifully with an MOT until April 2016, it has covered only a few shakedown miles since the restoration was completed and is only up for sale because a MkI Mini Cooper project has now stolen the vendor’s affections. Bid vigorously enough and his loss could be your gain!
However, as word gradually leaked out about its amazing handling prowess and huge fun factor, it quickly became a cult object that came to symbolise the freedom of the Swinging Sixties. One of the greatest car designs of all time, it had a classless appeal that made it welcome everywhere and by 1966 over a million had been sold.
With go-kart handling and excellent brakes, it was a huge success in competition and literally ran rings around far larger and more expensive cars that simply could not keep up with its cheeky pace. It was to remain in production for an astonishing 41 years, still remaining recognizably the same car in 2000 as it had been at launch in 1959.
While everyone knows about the saloon, the van and the Countryman estate, few people realise that there was also a ‘woodie’ version, much like the far more familiar Morris Minor Traveller, which had decorative, non-structural wood framing around the rear bodywork. Like the Countryman, it had double ‘barn-style’ rear doors and was built on a slightly longer chassis of 84 inches compared to 80.25 inches for the saloon. Built between 1961 and 1968, only 99,000 Morris Mini Travellers were built in total and survivors are now exceedingly rare.
Dating from 1967, this particular Traveller has been owned since 2011 by a professional Mini restorer who has spent many hundreds of hours fully restoring the car for his own personal use. As you can see in the pictures, it has been treated to a total nut-and-bolt restoration over the last few years with the spectacular results you see today.
Finished in period Surf Blue, it has an all-new ash frame and has also been subtly uprated, the original 998cc engine being ditched in favour of a rebuilt 1,275cc engine and gearbox from a later car. Cooper S front discs have also been fitted along with a Maniflo sports exhaust and Minilite-style alloys shod with new Yokohama tyres.
Said to drive beautifully with an MOT until April 2016, it has covered only a few shakedown miles since the restoration was completed and is only up for sale because a MkI Mini Cooper project has now stolen the vendor’s affections. Bid vigorously enough and his loss could be your gain!
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