Cooper's Garage Ltd of Mildenhall

20/06/2026

Can you build a Mini in five Friday evenings?

That’s the challenge I’ve accidentally set myself.

While the Baldwin tribute is away having its exhaust and other items fabricated, I’ve got just over a month of Friday nights to fill, so rather than sit still I’ve started another Mini project.

My early-’70s Mini was originally destined for a full restoration, but rather than wait months for bodywork repairs and paint, I managed to source a professionally restored shell. It means I can skip straight to the enjoyable part: putting it all back together.

And it’s a good starting point too. The shell comes with new subframes, adjustable suspension, Cooper S brakes, a 100mph speedometer, a new headlining and plenty of other desirable upgrades already fitted. It’s painted a very 70’s Teal Blue. I know it looks like Island Blue in the photos, but in the flesh it’s very different.

I’ve also done what every Mini owner eventually does and seemingly ordered one (or two) of everything from Minispares. By the time this project is finished, virtually every nut, bolt, bracket, seal and component will be either new or refurbished. I already had the BB Classics seats, but to do this lil’ Mini justice, I’ve ordered a complete interior kit from those talented folks at Newton Commercial - also in Suffolk.

There are a few small items to paint, and I may yet decide to change the roof colour, but my good friend Tony from Barnett’s Bodyshop here in Mildenhall has offered to help.

The goal is simple: turn a bare shell into what is effectively a brand-new early-’70s Mini before the Baldwin Special comes home.

Five Friday evenings.

One Mini.

Let’s see how far we get.

classicminirestoratio

06/06/2026

Saturday update.

While the Mini is away at GP Systems having some wiring modifications carried out, I’ve been able to crack on with a few other jobs and start ticking items off the list.

One of those was sorting the wheels. I collected them from Skidmore’s Garage last week before dropping them off at WheelCare in Bury St Edmunds, who completely transformed them in just a few days—and at a very reasonable cost too.

The Minilite-style alloys looked good in black, but Peter Baldwin’s Special Saloon ran silver-centred wheels, so that’s what we did. WheelCare blasted them, repainted the centres, polished the outer rims and mounted the Toyo R888Rs supplied by Demon Tweeks.

It’s only a small detail in the grand scheme of the build, but it’s one of those changes that really helps capture the look of the original car.

Looking forward to getting the Mini back so I can bolt them on and see how it all comes together…

Have a great weekend. Cheers!

30/05/2026

It’s Saturday again!

That’s the thing with short weeks—you try to cram everything into four days and before you know it, it’s the weekend again.

I’ve now ticked off the last items on the to-do list for the Baldwin Special Saloon tribute.

A handful of small but important jobs: painting the bulkhead, refitting the VIN plate and front-end support, shortening the engine steady turnbuckles, making a bracket for the fuel pressure regulator, mounting the breather tank on the OS, and generally tidying up pipe and cable routing.

The biggest change was relocating the Davies Craig electric water pump to the void behind the engine. I fabricated a solid aluminium bracket and mounted it directly to the block, below and in line with the thermostat housing. It’s now completely out of the way, clear of the exhaust routing, although it will probably need a heat shield before everything is finished.

With that done, the Mini is loaded up and ready for a trip to GP Systems for wiring harness modifications, a dedicated loom for the water pump and controller, and a few other jobs. One of those is a new speedometer. I hadn’t considered that the modified casing on the Jack Knight gearbox eliminates the speedo drive completely, so I’ve decided on a Racetech GPS speedo from Demon Tweeks to match the rest of the gauges.

On the way to the sunny Cotswolds, I’ll be making a detour to Skidmore’s Garage in Dudley to collect some 8x13 alloy wheels. These have been on the car before—Matt fitted them to roll the bare chassis around—and luckily for me he no longer needs them.

They’re a perfect match for the Compomotive ML wheels that Peter Baldwin ran during the 1979 season. The rear wheels—7x13 Mamba Solar split rims—are currently being recreated using original centres by RKE Engineering in Thetford.

One final thought…

The Mini was first registered on 1st June 1976.

That means it turns 50 years old on Monday.

Half a century later, it’s still evolving.

Thanks for all the messages and comments. We’re getting ever closer to that first start.

Have a great weekend. Cheers!

23/05/2026

We’re gonna need a bigger bulge!

23/05/2026

This weeks update - made a little more progress before we’re off to GP Systems next week for wiring changes.

Made up mounts for the radiator and oil cooler. Without being able to fit the front end, I had to measure the location of the oil cooler relative to the lower front ‘bonnet pins’. This allowed me to align the oil cooler with the aperture in the front end and make sure that nothing will conflict. Quick trip to Damico Racing Engines to collect the oil cooler take off and some GP1 racing oil. Fitted the Mocal oil cooler take off plate, made up the oil cooler lines and started mocking up the radiator hose routes. Made some upper engine steady brackets and ordered some shorter turnbuckles for my rose-jointed steady bars from McGill Motorsport. Welded tabs for brake pipes, refitted the cylinder reservoirs, ECU and fuse panel.
Nearly there but still lots to do and little time left!

I’ve ordered a wider fibreglass ‘bulge’ to fit over the BD. This is from Formex Composites, and should be here in a few weeks.

I’ve also been playing with the location for the Davies Craig electric coolant pump from Demon Tweeks. I’m using an electric pump to more easily regulate the engine temperature - especially after shut down. I wanted to hide the pump between the engine and the bulkhead, but the coolant hose run would be tortuous. I’ve settled on a spot right next to the lower radiator stub. Not the most elegant but it’s direct and doesn’t foul anything.
What do you think?

Anyway, hope you have a great weekend. Why are you reading this? Go enjoy the sun!

Miniracing

21/05/2026

Been a while since we did a comparison shot.

16/05/2026

16/05/2026

It’s Saturday, and this week’s update is a good one. The freshly-run in BD engine is now bolted back in to the Baldwin tribute Mini - hopefully for the final time.

The engine is solid mounted - as it was originally. At least I know there will be no engine movement. I’m hoping the exacting engine balance work carried out by Damico Racing Engines will mean minimal vibrations are felt through the car. I’ve fitted the Hardy Spicer shafts and the gear-change extension. I’ll need to fabricate a solid rear mount for this - as well as an extended lever as I sit so far back.

The car will shortly go to GP Systems in Chipping Norton for wiring harness mods, including a new sub-harness for the Davies Craig electric water pump.

After that, it’s off to see Daps at Price Engineering in Nottingham for the exhaust manifold and system, as well as mods to the cooling system. This will be tricky as the space between the engine and the spaceframe bulkhead is minimal. Sorry Daps! 🫣

Before all that, I need to finalise the oil lines, fuel lines, mount the radiator and oil cooler, make some brackets for the engine steadies and reassemble the brake and clutch cylinders. Will I need steady bars on a solid mounted engine?
I guess we’ll see!

Wish me luck!

‘Til next time 👍

Have a great weekend! 😎

09/05/2026

The combination of the spaceframe bulkhead, the cast extension-type diff housing and the wide BDH head means the engine will not fit cleanly without a struggle. I made the decision to cut the front beam and make a removable section. The replacement piece is way stronger than the section removed, and the geometry and integrity of the frame has been maintained. Now the engine can be installed easily - without having to repaint the subframe and bulkhead every time!

Next step; engine steady brackets and radiator / oil cooler mounts.

09/05/2026

It’s ALIVE! 😎

No crazy RPM on this video - this is during the hour long running in procedure at Damico Engines in East Harling, Norfolk.

But it does sound sweet 👍

A huge thanks to Darren, Andrew, Paul and everyone at Damico Racing Engines for a first rate service.