Speedshop Road car buying

One previously restored

Performance variants of any car inevitably draw the attention of the special tuners and the Mini Cooper was no exception. Speedwell Performance Conversions, for a time owned by Graham Hill, was just one of the companies that marketed an array of add-ons for the car, and it’s the aftermarket kit that makes this Mini so special — and valuable. 

The 1966 D-reg Mini Cooper S restored by The Mini Works in East Lothian was given a makeover by Speedwell in period. The comprehensive kit included a revised cylinder head and camshaft, bigger carbs and an exhaust manifold that raised power to somewhere around the 90bhp mark. 

Speedwell also fitted a twin-cannon exhaust and an oil cooler, while there’s also a rev-counter and competition bump stops. Restall seats and a Styla steering wheel completed what would have been a costly makeover by the original owner. 

“Cars with these kinds of tuning kits are what collectors go for,” says Mini Works co-founder Simon Drew. “And they want them to have been put on in period, rather than added later to create a kind of phantom car.

“The Restall seats were the best that money could buy and, with lumber support, quite trick for the time. The inside of car had just a sympathetic makeover to keep the originality.

“It is all the original parts that make this Mini so desirable. We have a lot of cars through our doors, but this is one of the best we have built.”

The Mini Works, Longniddry, East Lothian, Scotland. Tel: 07764 196530. theminiworks.com

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