By The Book

Only one previous on your logbook? Then researching your Mini's history should be a doddle.
Words and photography by Zoe Harrison
published in mini magazine, June 2000

These days people tend to change their cars on a regular basis, so finding a classic without a ream of names on the logbook is a pretty rare occurence. This was especially true for Trevor Vickery when he bought his Mk1 Mini Cooper S.

Despite the fact that the car was over 30 years old and had changed hands many times, the only officially recorded previous keeper was the first owner. When Trevor tried to track him down, he discovered to his amazement that the man still lived at the same address.

Trevor bought his car in a very rough state in 1998 after viewing various ready-restored examples. He had help choosing the right vehicle from a friend and fellow Mini enthusiast, Barry Long. "Barry said he knew of a genuine car in Sheffield, but it was in need of restoration," Trevor recalls. "I thought OK, sounds good, if I want it done properly, I'll do it myself."

The car in question turned out to be a 1967 Austin Mini Cooper, which had been taken off the road some time in the mid-'70s and not driven since. After contacting the first owner, Arthur Hunt, Trevor discovered more of the car's history.

It had been delivered to Mr Hunt by dealers Carey & Lambert of Southampton in March 1967, and their medallion still decorates the dashboard. Mr Hunt ran the Mini Cooper until he started having gearbox problems, then passed it onto his wife for shopping duty until it was finally laid up in the garage. Eventually, rather worse for wear by this time, the car was traded in against a replacement.

From there it passed through numerous sets of hands without being driven again. In the end, the Mini Cooper was involved in a workshop fire, allegedly part of an insurance scam. "The firemen came along and pushed the Mini outside, put the fire out, and the two guys who owned it went to prison for attempting to defraud the insurance company," Trevor explains. Fortunately, the Mini was rescued with just burn damage to the driver's side and went to the dealer, then on to Trevor.