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Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001



Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001 Photos and Stories.

1960 Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001

1960 Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001 1994

1960 Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001 from 1982-1994
by Frank Cunningham

MY first Mini

I guess the story of our Mini begins back in the 70's when someone in a bar started talking about Mini's. I said, "I had always wanted one". I don't know why, I said this because I really had never paid any attention to this particular marque or model. But hey, it was, after all, a British car, so I must have after all "always wanted one". Right!

Well, as any card-carrying car fanatic would do, I did not forget this profound conversation that I had bestowed upon the world. And I kept my eyes open.

Then in 1982, it happened. In among several older examples of discarded Detroit iron adorning all the open space around a disheveled ex-petrol station-cum-service shop called "HARRY'S GARAGE" was a MINI. This was no ordinary find, after all this was in Salt Lake City, Utah; not exactly the British car center of the world. But never mind that, this was the car that my wife needed. I just had to convince her of it.

1960 Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001

1960 Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001 1982 UTAH

I failed......

Undaunted, I made an inquiry, but with no contact. Then some days later the phone rang. It was about the Mini. The caller informed me that that his father had died, and he was looking after the estate and would I like to buy the Austin. The deal was made over the phone. I had not yet really seen the Mini, but how bad could it be, after all it was British.

My new car; my wife would not have anything to do with it, sat there at "HARRY'S" with a bashed-in backend, no floorboards, no brakes, no tail or head lights, spray-can-painted maroon over light blue. But it was now mine.

1960 Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001

1960 Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001 in UTAH 1982

Oh, did the motor run? Who knows, no battery.

We towed it home on a chain. I can still remember the look on the seller's face when we reached the first stop sign. No brakes, remember. The Mini went .flying by me and stopped only when it ran out of slack on the chain.. I thought the seller was the expert at this kind of thing. After all, he runs "HARRY'S".

By the way, It also had no title. It seems that this car had been rescued from a wrecking yard, and the permit had been lost. Now what? Some research led me to the last (pre-wrecking-yard) owner. His story was that he won the car in a local V.F.W. raffle.

The car was full of groceries (there had to be some value here if this was to be a genuine prize). This fine fellow did what any normal person would do - he ate the food and threw- out the packaging, i.e. the car. Later his grandson came along and asked to use the Mini. Next stop, wrecking yard (Breakers to the Brits).

"Harry" later come along seeing the Mini being used as a lot car, hauling drive shafts and the like, and thinking it to be a Cooper, purchased it on the spot (it was only a 1960 850 Mk. 1). It was towed to "HARRY'S" and parked.

Then Harry died.

1960 Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001

I now had a Mini. Well sort of. The engine had no oil pressure, brakes, lights, floorboards, bumpers, grill, and the seats were useless. But it was a Mini and "I had always wanted one".

Every photo on the story page is the same mini. I kicked it around for about 10 years and it was a great fun project. Had racing seats, wink mirror, big lights on the front, built twin gas tanks with quick-release caps, large Mini-Finn aluminum drums and twin leading edge front brakes, 1300 AA engine, twin SU's, and hot red paint.

The Mini and I just missed death in Seattle on a wet freeway at about 60 mph when the tires locked-up and I was hydroplaning into the back of a line of cars. I was just able to power around them to the left side, blowing past them at about 70 mph instead into them. It all happened in seconds, thanks to the wink mirror and front wheel drive.

The thing I liked about the Mini! --- It always made people smile.

1960 Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001

1960 Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001 in 1992 California

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CLICK HERE 1960 Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001

1960 Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001
1992 California

Then it went off with a guy to Wala Wala Washington in 1994.

In May of 2018 AllCarCentral.com received inquires about the 1960 Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001 previously posted on this page. As this editor was the previous owner of the car in Utah and then California and then on to Washington State, where I sold it to a guy in Wala Wala Washington , I followed up with the inquirer who provided me with the following image and information as he was the recent seller of AA2S7L18001.

Some Cars Never Die. Nor should they.


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1960 Austin/Moris Mini 1275 sn-AA2S7L18001 2018

1960 Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001

1960 Austin/Moris Mini 1275 sn-AA2S7L18001 2018
MiniGuy.com Photo Courtesy of Tom DuBois

Heritage Certificate For This Car - JPG file


As Noticed to AllCarCentral.com May 2018

1960 Austin/Morris Mini 1275 sn-AA2S7L18001

The inspiration for this replica rally-style classic 1960 Mk1 Mini is the 1965 Monte Carlo Rallye winner AJB 44B (as driven by Timo Makinen and Paul Easter). Along with the extensive rally-style features added inside and out, the engine has been upgraded to a 1275cc, the brakes have been upgraded to Cooper S discs in front, and original Cooper S steel wheels have been fitted.

It's a genuine Mk1 model, so it has the unique doors with the quirky sliding windows and external door hinges, and small oval taillights.

Has a Heritage Certificate showing the build details and dates. (copy on request)

Exterior Features:
Morris Cooper S badging (to match AJB 44B) A total of seven front-mounted rally lights (Lucas NOS) Twin fuel tanks Monza-style fuel-filler caps Cooper S steel wheels (powder-coated; sans wheel covers, a la rally Minis of the day) Wheel arches (flares) Rally headlamp covers Lightweight rally grille and grille buttons Rally-style air horn Leather bonnet strap Rubber bootlid strap Rally-style license plate Rally-style door graphics (#52, same as the rally-winning car) Replica rally plates (reproductions by Brian Purves)

Interior Features:
The odometer reads 2,242 miles. True mileage unknown.

The charging output/cigarette and all the rally lighting on the front and the rear are hooked up and working on the dash. The rear light indicator also works.

Rally dashboard Replica rally clocks Lucas switches Lucas tachometer Lucas original pea lights (installed, but not wired) Leather-wrapped alloy sport steering wheel Sport bucket seats 4-point seatbelt harnesses New red carpets Rally door pads (2 installed, two rare replicas not yet installed) Fire extinguisher Period shift knob Door kick plates Floor-mounted starter button Chrome steering-column drop bracket Gearshift modified for extra clearance and comfort Rear demister panel Tommy bars (tools) mounted on rear parcel shelf Replica racing helmets The custom gray interior includes sport buckets in front, with matching door cards, side panels and rear seat.

Mechanicals and Braking:
1275cc engine upgrade (original was 850cc) 4-speed, 4-synchro manual transmission Cooper S (7.5”-diameter) disc brake upgrade Single SU carb on alloy intake manifold Header and center-exit performance exhaust with chrome tip Alloy rocker cover Generator (as original) The original “magic wand” shifter on the 4-speed, three-synchro tranny has been upgraded to floor shifter on a four-synchro model.

Notes and FYI:
California car through 2016 (AllCarCentral.com Notes: 1960 Austin Mini 850 sn-AA2S7L18001 Was found in Utah in 1982 as a survivor car from a wreking yard.) Zero rust, reports the seller Original Austin badging swapped for Morris Cooper S badges (to replicate AJB 44B) Title correctly reads: 1960 Austin Mini Paint is shiny and shows well (repainted three years ago) Vinyl on the headliner cards on sides of the rear window are peeling, need gluing Reportedly runs well, drives well
Source: MiniGuy.com 2018


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