Introduction
Darren Rungasamy
Rare, Irish-built automatic Mk1 Mini: a solid, charming, and highly usable ongoing project.
Alec Issigonis’s affordable small car for BMC was truly innovative, using front-wheel drive and a space-saving transverse engine layout. More than that, it was incredibly entertaining to drive. The original Mini boasted cutting-edge packaging, cheeky styling, and superb road manners. Such was the inherent 'rightness' of the original concept, that it was cemented in history as the blueprint for the modern front-wheel-drive car.
While the Mini was always designed to be the ultimate city car, the introduction of an automatic option in 1965 added a brilliant new dimension to urban driving. Today, finding a functional four-speed AP automatic is incredibly rare. What makes this late Mk1 1967 example even more special is its history: it’s a rare, Irish-assembled car, built by G.A. Brittain in Dublin using locally-sourced components such as glass and tyres.
Imported into the UK in 2017, this solid Mini comes to market after almost a year with our vendor. It's finished in a timeless grey with a contrasting brown interior. It presents smartly, though does require a handful of straightforward finishing tasks to bring it up to its full potential.
Inside, the cabin offers several tasteful, period-correct fittings. The exterior is enhanced by Cooper steel rims, and while it benefits from a few fully reversible engine upgrades, the car successfully retains its quintessential, base-model Mini charm.
This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Henry the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.
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Ask Owner
Hi Henry. Have you had any overheating issues with the car as the temperature was high and having an Aluminium rad should sort this? Has the car broken down on you? If so what was the issue?
Do you have the centre cap for the steering wheel?
Apart from the headlights not working and oil gauge missing are there any other electrical issues? I understand it will need the battery replacing. Is there any rust evident that needs addressing? How old are tyres? Apart from an exhaust system does anything else need replacing to be able to use the car regularly? I’ve owned many classic cars so do understand there are pitfalls and regular maintenance is key to reliability. Many thanks. Harvey.
Hey Harvey,
The radiator is indeed aluminium. It was taken out around Feb time and this is the first time it was running on the hotter side considering that on that day during the vid it was scorching weather but typically the needle sits around the middle of the temperature gauge.
As of lately no the car has been running fine, before modifications within this year the car works always as long as you give the battery a boost.
Since she hasn’t been driven in a while I recon the battery is on the low end but very possible that the battery is also not charging well due to that circumstance.
Unfortunately no I don’t have the centre cap, when I first brought the car it was originally missing and I was intending to get a new one.
Quite recently aswell the indicator has stopped working, tends to be quite temperamental at times.. (the oil gauge is present just not plumed in).
Rust is the bare minimum in the usual welding spots otherwise compared to most other minis, mine is in good condition. The tyres are I believe new from last year…
My recommendation is the alternator and the fan blade otherwise road worthy.
Thanks Henry. Does the original 2 bar steering wheel have the centre cap included? Did the headlights operate correctly on high and low beam when you bought the car? Are there any other spare parts to come with the car other than the old steering wheel, rocker cover and oil pressure gauge? Is the carburettor an original SU 11/4” or larger? I understand the exhaust system is badly corroded so would probably look to fit an RC40 exhaust system to replace the rusty one. Are the fumes entering the cabin with the windows open during driving? Thanks again Harvey.
All good,
Unfortunately I do not have the original centre cap either.
I had that fixed when I got the new P700 headlights but I think it’s the cable that started to give up and is what causes the headlight to not work fully, dipped head beam works but not full head beam.
All over unmentioned spares I have I wouldn’t consider to be in best condition as most of them I already used and some did not work when switched out.
The carburettor is indeed original to the car, I just had the original filter taken out and replaced with the pancake filter.
No fumes entering the cabin whilst driving in motion or either fully stationary.
All the best.