1967 Austin Mini Cooper S

1967 Austin Mini Cooper S

How we restored a genuine Cooper S, hydrolastic suspension and all.

Latest updates

Jan
07
Dec
25
Dec 25, 2020 | Austin
Project Mini Cooper S | Magazine Series Part 10: Assembling Our Freshly Painted Mini Cooper S

Fresh from the paint booth, our Tartan Red Mini awaits reassembly. Time to turn our pile of parts back into a car.

Dec
01
Dec 1, 2020 | Austin
Project Mini Cooper S | Magazine Series Part 9: Organizing and Restoring Our Mini Cooper S’s Parts

While our Mini was at the paint shop, we took the time to organize the mountain of parts we had laying around.

Nov
16
Nov
03
Nov 3, 2020 | Austin
Project Mini Cooper S | Magazine Series Part 7: Tackling the Metalwork on Our Mini Cooper S

When we bought our Mini, it looked relatively solid. As the metalwork progressed, we learned the sad truth.

Oct
05
Oct 5, 2020 | Austin
Project Mini Cooper S | Magazine Series Part 6: Addressing Our Mini Cooper's Suspension and Brakes

Minis like ours use a Hydrolastic suspension setup: Fluid-filled displacer units replace the traditional springs and dampers. While riding very nicely, the system typically fails over time.

Sep
16
Sep 16, 2020 | Austin
Project Mini Cooper S | Magazine Series Part 5: Rebuilding Our Mini Cooper's Transmission

Like the rest of our 1967 Mini Cooper S, our transmission was disassembled when we bought the car. Now to piece it back together.

Sep
03
Sep 3, 2020 | Austin
Project Mini Cooper S | Magazine Series Part 4: Some Assembly Required

Our 1967 Mini Cooper S came to us in a DIY state: The engine was not only missing from its compartment, but it was disassembled.

Aug
26
Aug 26, 2020 | Austin
Project Mini Cooper S | Magazine Series Part 3: Stripping and Priming the Shell

After we totally disassembled our Mini Cooper S, it was time for the next phase of the project: blasting away layers of paint and rust using baking soda and then …

Aug
19
Aug 19, 2020 | Austin
Project Mini Cooper S | Magazine Series Part 2: Developing a Game Plan and Getting Started

Our 1967 Mini’s trim and interior had been removed, while the engine, transmission and differential were completely disassembled. This type of project is not for the meek.

Aug
13
Aug 13, 2020 | Austin
Project Mini Cooper S | Magazine Series Part 1: Buying Our Mini and Learning Some History

We found our car—No. 1012106A, built in the spring of 1967. We had to pay the owner a visit when we learned it was a rare, originally Tartan Red Austin …

Dec
04
Dec 4, 2015 | Austin
Grabbing Gold

Our Mini Cooper S wins gold at its first concours event.

Dec
03
Dec 3, 2015 | Austin
Prepping Our Mini for the Winter Park Concours

Preparation for a concours event only takes a few materials, but requires a lot of time and effort.

Dec
01
Dec 1, 2015 | Austin
Changing the Break-In Oil

The oil used to break in an engine is important, especially for our Mini Cooper S.

Nov
24
Nov 24, 2015 | Austin
Test Driving Our Mini Cooper S

After finishing our restoration, our Mini experience is down to sorting.

Nov
17
Nov 17, 2015 | Austin
Our Car is Done

Our Mini Cooper S restoration is finally complete.

Nov
10
Nov 10, 2015 | Austin
Finishing Up the Grille

Our project Mini Cooper S gets a fresh, shiny grille.

Oct
20
Oct 20, 2015 | Austin
Check Twice, Paint Once

A small oversight meant we had to replace and repaint much of our Mini Cooper's rear bodywork.

Oct
09
Oct 9, 2015 | Austin
Shut the Front Door

Our Mini Cooper S gets some new door seals.

Oct
06
Oct 6, 2015 | Austin
Pumping Up the Suspension

Our Mini Cooper S project car gets its Hydrolastic suspension pumped full.

Sep
30
Sep 30, 2015 | Austin
Quarter Window Installation

Our Mini Cooper S gets one step closer to completion with the installation of the side windows.

Sep
23
Sep 23, 2015 | Austin
Somewhere to Sit

Our project Mini Cooper S gets seats installed.

Sep
18
Sep 18, 2015 | Austin
Good Rug, Bad Rug

We install carpet in our project Mini Cooper S.

Aug
18
Aug 18, 2015 | Austin
Raising the Roof

We fit our Project Mini Cooper S with its rather strange headliner system.

Aug
11
Aug 11, 2015 | Austin
Finishing the Mini Dash

Our project Mini Cooper S

Aug
04
Aug 4, 2015 | Austin
Installing Glass

Our project Mini Cooper S gets a windshield.

May
15
May 15, 2015 | Austin
Installing the Gas Tanks

Our Mini Cooper S gets twin fuel tanks.

May
05
May 5, 2015 | Austin
Assembling the Decklid and Doors

Our Mini Cooper S needs doors.

Apr
29
Apr 29, 2015 | Austin
Fitting the Exhaust System

Our Mini Cooper S gets a new exhaust system.

Apr
09
Apr 9, 2015 | Austin
Installing the Glass

It's time to install our Mini's front and rear windshields.

Mar
19
Mar 19, 2015 | Austin
We Take Another Trip to DJ Minis

Once we got started reassembling our Mini, it wasn’t long before we needed a few little parts and some advice.

Mar
16
Mar 16, 2015 | Austin
Continuing the Assembly

With the subframes installed, we start reassembling the interior.

Feb
25
Feb 25, 2015 | Austin
Installing the Subframes

We have a Mini with four corners, engine and drivetrain all installed almost instantly.

Jan
06
Jan 6, 2015 | Austin
Starting The Reassembly

With our Mini's shell all painted we can start our reassembly process.

Dec
23
Dec 23, 2014 | Austin
A Look at the Final Paint Job

Take a look at our Mini Cooper's new paint.

Sep
24
Sep 24, 2014 | Austin
We Paint Our Cooper S

When it finally came time to paint our car, master painter, Ramon Quiles, of The Body Werks laid the color on.

Sep
19
Sep 19, 2014 | Austin
Picking a Color

Choosing the right color is sometimes more complicated than it seems.

Sep
16
Sep 16, 2014 | Austin
Bodywork Continues to Move Quickly

Bodywork starts to take off on our Project Mini Cooper S.

Sep
05
Sep 5, 2014 | Austin
Getting Started on the Bodywork

Bodywork on our Mini is finally underway.

Jul
16
Jul 16, 2014 | Austin
We Learn a Bunch at the Mini Mania Party

We were asked to attend the 40th anniversary party for Mini Mania as the master of ceremonies.

Jul
09
Jul 9, 2014 | Austin
Nisonger Does a Fantastic Job Rebuilding Our Gauges

We get our gauge cluster back from Nisonger.

Jun
27
Jun 27, 2014 | Austin
Searching for Parts at Carlisle

We sourced a few parts we needed from Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals.

Jun
16
Jun 16, 2014 | Austin
Restoring More Parts: Lots of Cleaning and Polishing.

The headlights and window glass were next on our to-do list.

May
27
May 27, 2014 | Austin
Working on the Wiring Harness

We had to start from scratch to restore the Mini Cooper S wiring harness.

May
21
May 21, 2014 | Austin
We Build the Bumpers

We got some fresh chrome for the front and rear of the Mini.

May
15
May 15, 2014 | Austin
Organizing Parts

It's critical to find every part that needs to be painted body color.

May
05
May 5, 2014 | Austin
Finishing Touches On Our Metal Work

These last bits let us finally get the Mini to the body shop for paint.

Apr
23
Apr 23, 2014 | Austin
Repairing the Trunk Floor

This was the final major metalworking task left on the Cooper.

Apr
14
Apr 14, 2014 | Austin
Get Your Rust Out of the [Rain] Gutters

Fixing the rusty rain gutters on our Mini Cooper S was a more challenging task than we’d thought.

Apr
04
Apr 4, 2014 | Austin
Welding The Front End

Putting a car back together requires a lot of careful shimming and careful measuring.

Mar
28
Mar 28, 2014 | Austin
Finishing the Floors

We finished repairing the floor pans on our Mini.

Mar
24
Mar 24, 2014 | Austin
Flooring It

Moving rearward to replace and repair our floor pans.

Feb
05
Feb 5, 2014 | Austin
Rusty Fenders

We take on welding and patchwork on our Mini Cooper S.

Jan
30
Jan 30, 2014 | Austin
The Right Break-In Oil

Choosing the oil for our Mini Cooper S was a no-brainer.

Jan
20
Jan 20, 2014 | Austin
Aligning the Front End

We aligned and welded our Mini Cooper S body.

Jan
15
Jan 15, 2014 | Austin
Making Our Mini Vroom

We started our car outside our car.

Jan
13
Jan 13, 2014 | Austin
Competition Bump Stops for the Mini

You can't modify a wet suspension much, but you can add bump stops.

Jan
08
Jan 8, 2014 | Austin
On to the Rear Suspension

We kept the aftermarket alloy drums on our Mini restoration project.

Jan
02
Jan 2, 2014 | Austin
Front Suspension Assembly

Assembling our front subframe was an involved process.

Dec
10
Dec 10, 2013 | Austin
Turning Up the Heat

We sent our Mini’s heater to Ron Jernigan from Sussex Screen Printing.

Nov
22
Nov 22, 2013 | Austin
Carb Rebuild

We rebuilt our carbs and made them colorful.

Nov
22
Nov 22, 2013 | Austin
Rebuilding Our Ancillaries

Rebuilding a generator is pretty straight forward.

Nov
14
Nov 14, 2013 | Austin
Preparing Our Mini Cooper S for Its Unveiling at the Mitty

We now have the driveline completely finished and running. Now, on to welding.

Aug
13
Aug 13, 2013 | Austin
Fixing the Mini's Cowl and Inner Fender Well

A new machine in the shop helps us with the sheet metal work.

Jul
16
Jul 16, 2013 | Austin
Metalwork Resumes in Earnest

Our next step was to get back to the metalwork.

Jun
26
Jun 26, 2013 | Austin
A Trip to DJ’s Mini

We sourced an air cleaner and some original hose clamps.

Jun
21
Jun 21, 2013 | Austin
Finding Good Mini Books

We couldn’t imagine restoring one of these cars without these resources.

Jun
03
Jun 3, 2013 | Austin
Visiting Heritage Garage

Stopping by this established Mini shop taught us a lot about the car we're restoring.

May
29
May 29, 2013 | Austin
Body Welding

The next step in our Mini's restoration is to attack it with new sheet metal.

May
27
May 27, 2013 | Austin
Powder Coating the Suspension

The Cooper's suspension linkages needed rehabbing. We opted for durable powder coat.

May
23
May 23, 2013 | Austin
Rebuilding Hydrolastic Displacers

This Mini Cooper S came with "wet" suspension, but it wasn't working. We set about fixing that.

May
21
May 21, 2013 | Austin
Priming the Whole Car

After fully stripping the Mini's chassis, we can start restoring.

May
08
May 8, 2013 | Austin
Assessing the Remains

We figure out what's left after media blasting the Cooper.

Apr
24
Apr 24, 2013 | Austin
Blasted Media!

We prep the Mini's chassis for paint.

Apr
17
Apr 17, 2013 | Austin
Disassembling the Mini's Subframes

The chassis is away, so with the undercarriage we play.

Apr
03
Apr 3, 2013 | Austin
Rehabbing Subframes and Suspension

We strip down the bits underneath our Mini.

Mar
08
Mar 8, 2013 | Austin
Pressure-washing the tub

We prep the shell for a trip to the sandblaster.

Feb
22
Feb 22, 2013 | Austin
Stripping down the tiny body

After finishing the drivetrain, we took the chassis apart.

Feb
13
Feb 13, 2013 | Austin
Rebuilding the Shifter Mechanism

We take apart our alloy-housing shifter.

Jan
16
Jan 16, 2013 | Austin
Tiny Wheels and Tires

We choose from the myriad options and find the right rolling stock for our Mini.

Dec
26
Dec 26, 2012 | Austin
Changing Our Mini’s Ring and Pinion Gears

We find out how to compromise and optimize our final drive ratio for our Mini.

Dec
19
Dec 19, 2012 | Austin
Putting Our Mini’s Transmission Back Together

Putting the transmission back together was easier than we thought with Mini Mania’s help.

Dec
05
Dec 5, 2012 | Austin
Time for a Clutch

We find a clutch and pressure plate for our Mini Cooper S.

Nov
28
Nov 28, 2012 | Austin
Head Work

We get our Mini Cooper S's head checked.

Nov
06
Nov 6, 2012 | Austin
Building The Lower End

A trip to the machine shop made sure our Mini's engine was A-OK.

Oct
01
Oct 1, 2012 | Austin
Starting Our Mini's Engine Rebuild

Developing an engine rebuild plan for our Mini Cooper S.

Sep
24
Sep 24, 2012 | Austin
Picking Through the Parts

We sift our way through boxes and boxes of parts that came with our 1967 Mini Cooper S.

Sep
14
Sep 14, 2012 | Austin
Project Introduction: 1967 Mini Cooper S

We introduce our newest project, a Tartan Red 1967 Mini Cooper S

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