1968 Morris Mini Police Cooper S

Having covered only 11,500 miles since its rebuild from 2002-2010, and described by the ex-Police Registrar at the Mini Cooper Register as "....the best restored police Mini Cooper S known to me", OKD 698F occupies a special place in British motoring history. Chosen by the organisers of the 2009 Goodwood Revival Meeting to lead 50 of the rarest Minis ever seen around the track before embarking on a chase to catch the infamous Mr Bean, (played by Rowan Atkinson), it has fascinated over 350,000 people at shows, public and police alike, and is celebrated on a sheet of commemorative stamps commissioned by the Royal Mail. Provenance is confirmed by the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust and the original line-up of cars is featured in the book 'Mini: The Design Icon of a Generation', by LJK Setright, on page 73. Delivered on April 1st 1968 by Roger Lindsay, (nowadays a world famous sound engineer), he confirms that he was involved in the distribution of the original 27 cars to the Liverpool & Bootle Police at Spekeland St, Bootle, in "68. All of which is documented in the history file.

A total mechanical rebuild took place in 2002, including overhauling the gearbox and 1275 S engine and in 2005 a complete bodywork restoration was undertaken. Bills and receipts for all the work are present, along with numerous photographs detailing works completed. Original features to these cars included clear front indicator lenses with orange bulbs and no vinyl covering to upper dash rail and A posts. Holes to locate a telephone cup holder to a piece of wood were even found during the restoration of the bodywork.

Some of the items unique to this car include a BMC zip in the headlining, although on this car it is in place for the practical reason of placing and removing of the roof-box, 3½" x 5" wheels, original 1960's "Alcolizer' Breath Test kits, truncheons, radio spares, and a massive set of police memorabilia unique to this sale. Police features such as roof-box, "blues and two's', and a correct Pye Westminster Radio are all functional. Finished in correct monotone BMC WT2, the documentation includes articles in the Mini Cooper Register magazines from 2003, which further tell the story of the rebuild and events the car has attended.

In the year of the Minis 50th birthday, 2009, 698 was chosen by the LSMOC to represent the model year 1968 on the World Record Breaking London to Brighton run, and for the Heritage Run to Longbridge organised by British Motor Heritage. It also chased the Silver Arrows Team at Dunsfold, a TV pilot was filmed with celebrity chef James Martin for Channel 4 Television, and in 2012 it appeared at the Brands Hatch Mini Festival. This Mini is one of only 8 road-worthy original police Cooper S cars and has been restored to exacting standards. It offers not only a sound investment but a useable classic that can be enjoyed as a road car or shown at numerous events around the world.