SEPTEMBER: 1976 MINI 1000

The Mini scene is a world of its own and it’s great to see a new young generation of cherished car enthusiasts choosing one of these little cars as their first classic. One advantage in Nikki Medcroft’s favour was that her father had once owned a specialist Mini repair centre and what he didn’t know about these little cars wasn’t really worth knowing about. Purchased in a run down state and stored outside her father’s workshop for several years, things weren’t looking too rosy for LWS 432P. However, a full and detailed restoration included replacing many of the Mini’s corroded panels, while a similar powerplant that Nikki’s father Robert had already overhauled replaced the Mini’s seized A-Series engine. While the car was being rebuilt, uprated Cooper S spec front brakes were fitted along with a servo to improve the Mini’s stopping power. Hardest job according to Robert was fitting a new headlining to the Mini’s freshly restored interior.