1974 Innocenti Mini Cooper 1300

The Innocenti Mini Cooper Export to give it its proper title, is essentially the Leyland Cooper S, but in left hand drive guise and produced for the overseas market. In 1920 Ferdinando Innocenti established the Innocenti Italian machinery works that grew famous for producing the iconic Lambretta scooters as well as a range of automobiles, mainly those of British origin.

One such Innocenti is offered here, and what a car it is. This has been professionally and expertly restored to better than new condition over a handful of years, finally being completed in 2011 and providing since then 15,000 miles of joyful ownership. Being sold simply to fund the build of another Innocenti restoration, the vendor derives great pleasure from restoring these vehicles, despite the uneconomical cost of his hobby! For such a small car the cost to restore one properly can be eye-wateringly high.

Totally restored back to bare-metal and repainted in Beige Savia with black roof just two years ago, and with a brand new restored black & grey interior, the resulting car was worthy of a five-page feature in the October 2011 issue of "Classic and Sports Car' magazine, and rightly so. Period correct to "S' 1275cc spec with twin tanks, the output from the potent little engine is actually the same as that of the 1293cc.

Here is a lovely car that can be bought at a sensible guide price and immediately enjoyed with none of the headache and heartache that can come from undertaking your own restoration. A proven car with attractive mileage and photographic evidence of its pedigree, what's not to like?