This Mini Clubman 1275GT has had a very interesting history and to his credit, Geoff has added to that by undertaking the bespoke build for which he commissioned us to undertake.

This car started out its life and indeed it’s first two years as a standard Mini 1275GT. The first owner then sent it to Henleys of Kingston Upon Thames to have a bespoke sunroof fitted to it which at the time would have been a notable modification. At around four years old, the Mini was sold to its second owner who in turn sent it to the well-known coachbuilders Wood & Pickett. Here, a whole host of modifications were made to the car including the fitting of bull bars, fog lamps in the front grille, a rear wash wiper, a vinyl roof, a new interior with walnut dash and new velour covered seats.

Eventually, the car would reach the ownership of Geoff who had bought it as a present for his wife a number of years ago. Geoff who had previously had a RSP Cooper restored with us, approached us with a view to restoring the GT but this time to his wife’s and his own specifications.

Upon stripping down the Mini we found it to be in quite a reasonable state but there were some little horrors to be found not least when we removed the old vinyl roof. At this point, the rear roof gutter had been beat inwards and filled over and smoothed out as one of the modifications made by Wood & Pickett. Over the years, water ingress had rotted out this area and it was apparent that there would be the need for a new rear panel and a new roof skin to be fitted. The body shell was again stripped to bare metal and coated in a zinc-based epoxy primer and the new panels were fitted where required.

The original driving lamps set into the grille remained as did the rear wash wipe and the unique Wood & Pickett wheel arch extensions. Gone were the Sun Roof, the Vinyl roof covering, the bull bars and the original walnut dash which was replaced by a more modern bespoke walnut dash and door trims. A completely new interior was made by Adrian Fox of A F trim, Sandbach and installed here in our finishing shop. The end result has been very pleasing and there certainly can not be many Minis out there that look like this one!

Geoff and his wife have since regularly participated in several road runs and shows where we are pleased to hear that the mini has run well and been well received by all.