1969 | Morris Mini Cooper S 1275

1969 Morris Mini Cooper S
by Wood & Pickett
Original & very Special

The second time that we have had the pleasure of this Mega Mini and what a Golden Nugget is she!!

We launched this very special Mini Cooper S MKII at the Goodwood Members meeting and hey presto, who should come by to have a look, but Philip Wood, son of the legendary Bill Wood - the other half of Wood & Pickett

He remembered working on this particular car with his Dad, for another legend, Denny Laine of The Moody Blues and then Wings - hence the Wings Tour stickers on the inside of the glove box lid

He was amazed at how this car had stood the test of time - completely original

Denny had kept the car for many years and then she was owned by some very famous people during the course of her life - from "go to" hairstylists in Mayfair, guitar specialists and personal assistants to rock legends this series II Cooper S is the only one converted by Wood in Pickett in period

Still with matching number chassis to engine and confirmed by the British Motoring Industry Heritage Trust Certificate, which also states that this Cooper S was built on 19th August 1969 and dispatched to Stewart and Arden Ltd of Acton, London distributors of Morris Cars and Commercials, on 9th December 1969 from where it went into Wood and Picket for conversion into the Margrave

The car was subsequently first registered, YYU 292H, on 11th September 1970 when the comprehensive works were completed

There is a complete ownership trail since new, with various copies of log books and the 3rd owner subsequently bought her back twice (ie owner her 3 times overall) last selling her in 2012

This Wood and Pickett Margrave Cooper S differs from the usual Wood and Pickett conversions in that it does not carry the usual quad headlamps at the front or the rather ugly American style fake soft top to the rear; instead, this Wood and Pickett Mini is much more subtle and looks more attractive for it

In period, these Mini conversions by W&P, were extremely expensive and the works met up to the cost

Aston Martin DB6 leather seats, Piper electric windows, Aston Martin electric window switches, Rolls-Royce chrome handles, Lucas 608 interior mirror, replacement dark blue leather-trimmed carpets, a Paddy Hopkirk throttle pedal, a leather hand brake gaiter, Britax seat belts, MGB rev counter and odometer, Jaguar auxiliary instruments, Moto-Lita wood rim steering wheel and a Rolls-Royce cigarette lighter

The specification continues to impress with the original 1969 MkII Cooper S bodyshell as modified by Wood & Picket fitted with twin 5-gallon fuel tanks, a Benelite grille, twin Lucas LR9 spotlights, a modified Mk3 boot lid, Blackout Window Tinting (very 'PopStar'), Princess 1100 door handles and a Webasto full length sunroof

All original equipment is still featured and working, with the interior in completely original conditon

Recently the engine has been completely rebuilt, as has the gearbox and carburettors - a photo record of the engine build resides within the history file

The Pacific blue (purple in my eyes) coachwork is finished to a high standard and complimented by a set of Mini-Lite alloy wheels shod with Dunlop 165/ 70/ 10 SP Aqua Jet radial tyres

She ticks all of the boxes from our perspective and it would be harder to find a better version, or one with a better history, let alone both

Happy to say that we can offer her complete with a jack, tools, Hydrolastic suspension pump, John Hammel's (the regular owner of her) feature in the Mini World article and more importantly in magnificent condition