1965 Mini Cooper 970 S Full Shell Restoration

For those of you not aware. In the 60’s there where 3 Cooper “S” models 1275cc, 1071cc and the rarest the 970cc. I believe they made 480 Austin & 480 Morris Cooper S 970’s built to get a car in the under 1000cc rally group

This customer is from the Wolverhampton area. He had owned this 970 S for many years and admitted it had been patched & plated to glory over the years but he was now in a financial position to fully re-build it BUT he do not want to do any of the welding or paint work.

He asked if we would collect the stripped shell, restore the shell to a high standard and the re-spray in original colours and return the shell so he could re-build the cooper himself.

Look at these pictures and you will see what a professional restoration is. I think most of you looking at these photos will agree we offer a very high quality restoration service without comprimise.

Click the small photos to see larger ones with captions.

1965 Cooper 970 S shell restoration
1965 Cooper 970 S shell restoration
If you look carefully you will see how many plates of metal were put in over the years around the shock tower and in the boot corner
If you look carefully you will see how many plates of metal were put in over the years around the shock tower and in the boot corner
Drivers floor showing plate on inner sill & if you look closely you can see a weld line of another plate on the backside of the seat cross member Image 3 of 19
Drivers floor showing plate on inner sill & if you look closely you can see a weld line of another plate on the backside of the seat cross member Image 3 of 19
Seat cross member with floor patch welded on.
Seat cross member with floor patch welded on.
This is the drivers side inner wing above the bulkhead note the corrosion and poor repair
This is the drivers side inner wing above the bulkhead note the corrosion and poor repair
Restoration: Boot floor and most of other floors cut away!
Restoration: Boot floor and most of other floors cut away!
This was a very good but used section of boot floor/rear seat we fitted. This was the most cost effective plus best quality of panel to fit
This was a very good but used section of boot floor/rear seat we fitted. This was the most cost effective plus best quality of panel to fit
You can see the extent to which floors and rear seat had to be removed. The originals had so many patches and corrosion they could not be saved
You can see the extent to which floors and rear seat had to be removed. The originals had so many patches and corrosion they could not be saved
The shiny bare areas are where we have sand blasted. We do our own sand blasting thus quality is fully controlled. Floors and rear seat section fitted
The shiny bare areas are where we have sand blasted. We do our own sand blasting thus quality is fully controlled. Floors and rear seat section fitted
The shiny bare areas are where we have sand blasted. We do our own sand blasting thus quality is fully controlled. Floors and rear seat section fitted
The shiny bare areas are where we have sand blasted. We do our own sand blasting thus quality is fully controlled. Floors and rear seat section fitted
New heritage scuttle fitted, note the genuine spot welds. You can also see the rear white panels fitted
New heritage scuttle fitted, note the genuine spot welds. You can also see the rear white panels fitted
Wings fitted and aligned with bonnet/front panel. Note front subframe fitted to enable correct alignment of all panels
Wings fitted and aligned with bonnet/front panel. Note front subframe fitted to enable correct alignment of all panels
Underside stone chipped prior to re-spray
Underside stone chipped prior to re-spray
The finished shell in all its glory: We did restore the doors, bonnet and boot lid but I seem to have lost the pictures, the customer wanted the shell returned without them fitted. Some of you may ask why a black roof and not white! Well as far as I am aware all road use Coopers in the 1960's had black roofs. Only the works rally cars had white roofs. So now everyone wants white roofs and the new launch of the Cooper in the 1990's had white roofs
The finished shell in all its glory: We did restore the doors, bonnet and boot lid but I seem to have lost the pictures, the customer wanted the shell returned without them fitted. Some of you may ask why a black roof and not white! Well as far as I am aware all road use Coopers in the 1960's had black roofs. Only the works rally cars had white roofs. So now everyone wants white roofs and the new launch of the Cooper in the 1990's had white roofs
The finished shell in all its glory: We did restore the doors, bonnet and boot lid but I seem to have lost the pictures, the customer wanted the shell returned without them fitted. Some of you may ask why a black roof and not white! Well as far as I am aware all road use Coopers in the 1960's had black roofs. Only the works rally cars had white roofs. So now everyone wants white roofs and the new launch of the Cooper in the 1990's had white roofs
The finished shell in all its glory: We did restore the doors, bonnet and boot lid but I seem to have lost the pictures, the customer wanted the shell returned without them fitted. Some of you may ask why a black roof and not white! Well as far as I am aware all road use Coopers in the 1960's had black roofs. Only the works rally cars had white roofs. So now everyone wants white roofs and the new launch of the Cooper in the 1990's had white roofs
The finished shell in all its glory: We did restore the doors, bonnet and boot lid but I seem to have lost the pictures, the customer wanted the shell returned without them fitted. Some of you may ask why a black roof and not white! Well as far as I am aware all road use Coopers in the 1960's had black roofs. Only the works rally cars had white roofs. So now everyone wants white roofs and the new launch of the Cooper in the 1990's had white roofs
The finished shell in all its glory: We did restore the doors, bonnet and boot lid but I seem to have lost the pictures, the customer wanted the shell returned without them fitted. Some of you may ask why a black roof and not white! Well as far as I am aware all road use Coopers in the 1960's had black roofs. Only the works rally cars had white roofs. So now everyone wants white roofs and the new launch of the Cooper in the 1990's had white roofs
The finished shell in all its glory: We did restore the doors, bonnet and boot lid but I seem to have lost the pictures, the customer wanted the shell returned without them fitted. Some of you may ask why a black roof and not white! Well as far as I am aware all road use Coopers in the 1960's had black roofs. Only the works rally cars had white roofs. So now everyone wants white roofs and the new launch of the Cooper in the 1990's had white roofs
The finished shell in all its glory: We did restore the doors, bonnet and boot lid but I seem to have lost the pictures, the customer wanted the shell returned without them fitted. Some of you may ask why a black roof and not white! Well as far as I am aware all road use Coopers in the 1960's had black roofs. Only the works rally cars had white roofs. So now everyone wants white roofs and the new launch of the Cooper in the 1990's had white roofs
The finished shell in all its glory: We did restore the doors, bonnet and boot lid but I seem to have lost the pictures, the customer wanted the shell returned without them fitted. Some of you may ask why a black roof and not white! Well as far as I am aware all road use Coopers in the 1960's had black roofs. Only the works rally cars had white roofs. So now everyone wants white roofs and the new launch of the Cooper in the 1990's had white roofs
The finished shell in all its glory: We did restore the doors, bonnet and boot lid but I seem to have lost the pictures, the customer wanted the shell returned without them fitted. Some of you may ask why a black roof and not white! Well as far as I am aware all road use Coopers in the 1960's had black roofs. Only the works rally cars had white roofs. So now everyone wants white roofs and the new launch of the Cooper in the 1990's had white roofs