1967 Morris Mini Cooper S Works Rally Car Recreation

• Original Cooper S bodyshell
• Closely based on the works Mini 'LBL 6D'
• Bill Richards Racing 1,293cc engine
• Countless rare period-correct factory fittings
• Present ownership since 2010

Well known to the Chairman of the Works Register Robert Young, this Mini Cooper S 'Works Re-creation' was built for the previous owner by Kevin Clarke, builder of several very high specification works recreations and is well known in this field. The car's basis is an original Austin Cooper S bodyshell, built to Group 2 and Monte Carlo Appendix J regulations, with a considerable amount of detail taken and measured from the original Morris works car, 'LBL 6D', hence the 'Morris' badges. The bodyshell is strengthened around the subframe mounting points and around the handbrake; the cross-members are double skinned; and there is additional strengthening to the underside of the battery box. The correct Hydrolastic suspension is fitted.

The front wiring loom took in excess of 160 hours labour, using the correct colours, grade and terminals, while the Lucas switches are correct and mounted in the correct sized dash panels.
The heated screen is a replacement (sadly the original cracked); however, it is controlled by the rare correct Tok switch.

The car has two dip switches; Aaltonen could not reach the floor-mounted one so Stan Chalmers (BMC electrical wizard) fitted a column-mounted dip switch as fitted to this car. Correct Heuer watches and metal case Halda (cable connection not functioning ) are installed, as is the correct capillary water gauge and Monte Carlo 200km/h speedometer with trip. The auxiliary lights are correct, with the middle two having the rare Continental lens and the fog lights on the outside (Lucas covers in door bin).

The original three-point John Alley roll cage is fitted, with hand-stitched padding and knuckle pad and original Irvin seat belts. The correct driver's bucket seat is trimmed in special red and grey cloth, while the seat frame for the driver's seat was specially made with the correct jubilee clip. The rare car jack as per the works Minis is mounted behind the driver's seat.

The navigator's seat has been extended in height and has an alloy seat base, not rubber diaphragms as on road cars, and there is a special headrest holding the belts in place. There is padding to the doors, lock and 'B' post, all copied from the original car. The car rolls on Tech Del Minilite wheels shod with the correct Dunlop tyres .

On the rear seat there are the Monte Carlo over-centre clamps and 'T' piece protection for the fuel lines, with the correct fuel pump fitted under the seat. The rear seat is original, with red and gold brocade; however, the door bins are Newton. Rear shelf features helmets in the correct colours, 'T' braces, helmet pins, tool roll and leather straps to the rear seats. The boot rack is an accurate copy of the original, carrying the spare wheels.

The 1,293cc engine has been rebuilt to works rally specification by Bill Richards Racing. Running on twin 1.5" SU carburettors and displaying excellent oil pressure, the engine has fewer than 1,000 miles on its bores post-rebuild (none of them 'in anger'). Recently tuned by Tom Airey, it is said to start and run beautifully. Built by Bill Richards, the gearbox is a four-speed Quaife and at present a more usable 3.6:1 final drive is installed (see Bill Richards' accompanying booklet).

Forming part of the owner's private collection since circa 2010, and shown at events around the UK, the Mini was invited in 2011 to be centre stage with other rallying greats at The Essen Motor Fair celebrating 100 years of the Monte Carlo Rally (carrying 'LBL 6D' number plates, see photographs). Accompanying the car are three folders full of build details, invoices, photographs, MoTs, maintenance invoices, etc plus a separate folder detailing the engine specification, settings, etc.