Note - additional photos of the car, the spare parts, etc. are now in the video below

Classic Mini Race Car

$25,900 CDN or $19,000 USD or best offer

Between 1959 and 2000 over 5 million Minis were manufactured. They were inexpensive and popular for racing due to their lightweight and excellent handling characteristics that allowed them to challenge and win against larger more powerful cars.

This Mini 1000 (Mk IV) was manufactured in January, 1978 by Austin Morris British Leyland UK Ltd at the Longbridge plant in Birmingham, England.

It was shipped to Canada where it was sold and registered as a new road vehicle and eventually made its way to the U.S.A.


2007 Initial Conversion to a Race Car

After almost 30 years on the road this Mini was then converted by a South West Motor Sports (SWMS) Formula Ford race team in Albuquerque, New Mexico from a street legal road car to a “1972 continuation” vintage race car:

The original 998cc engine (38 hp) was modified with a Cooper head, Isky race cam, Mini Spares large core radiator and a Pertronix Flame-Thrower ignition. Other modifications to the car included:
• front disc brakes
• Superfin alloy rear brake drums
• Hi-Lo adjustable suspension
• Fuel Safe fuel cell
• Safety Devices roll cage
• Sparco race seat
• 5 point race harness
• Lexan polycarbonate side and rear windows

For three years (logbooks included with car), from 2007 to 2009, the car was raced at:
• the Sandia Motor Speedway, Albuquerque, New Mexico with SWMS (South West Motor Sports) / RMVR (Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing)
• the Pueblo Raceway in Pueblo, Colorado with RMVR
• the La Junta Raceway in La Junta, Colorado with RMVR


2014 Race Engine Upgrade

In 2014 the Mini was purchased and moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada where it was fitted with a 1275cc based race engine (over-bored to 0.040” for 1310cc) prepared by Classic Motor Works of St. Andrews, Manitoba, Canada:
Modifications included:
• CMW cylinder head
• MED roller tip 1.5 rockers
• .040 Omega race cast pistons
• CMW H-beam connecting rods
• nitrided crankshaft wedged and balanced
• lightened Cooper S damper
• double row alloy timing gears
• MED FIA 15 camshaft
• Arrow flywheel and backplate
• race clutch and grey pressure plate
• CMW windage tray
• close-ratio Swift Tune rolling-start straight-cut dog gearbox
• Trannex limited slip differential
• MED 3.9 ratio crown wheel and pinion
• Aldon A+ red race distributor
• twin SU HS6 carburettors
• new oil cooler
• new race radiator
• Smith gauges (mechanical water and oil temperature gauges)

The twin SU carbs were rebuilt and modified by Retro Minis of Lancashire, U.K. to the David Vizard standards (“the Yellow Book”, pages 115 to 122, Tuning the A-Series Engine, Third Edition, by David Vizard):
• stub ram stacks
• chamfered pistons
• slimmed butterfly shafts
• counter sunk butterflies and screws
• knife-edged butterflies
• new needles
• new heat shields

This Mini weighs approximately 1,350 lbs and the horsepower of the 1310cc race engine was not known but estimated to be “somewhere north of 100”.

For five years (current logbook included with car), from 2014 to 2018, the car was raced by owner Ken Hilash and pit crewed by Hilash Brothers’ Black Hands Racing Vintage Motorsports of Winnipeg, Canada at:
• the Gimli Motorsports Park in Gimli, Manitoba, Canada with the WSCC (Winnipeg Sports Car Club) under WCMA/ASN Canada FIA sanctioning
• the Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota, U.S.A. with the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) Land O’Lakes Region / VSCR (Vintage Sports Car Racing)
• Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, U.S.A. with the VSCDA (Vintage Sports Car Drivers Association)

Results include:
• 1st Place - 2014 Vintage Road Race Championship, Winnipeg Sports Car Club
• 3rd Place - 2015 Vintage Road Race Championship, Winnipeg Sports Car Club
• 1st Place - 2016 Production Road Racer, Piston Ring’s 42nd Annual World of Wheels
• 3rd Place - 2017 Vintage Group-A, 19th Annual Classic Motor Works Vintage Race Weekend
• 2nd Place - 2017 Australian Pursuit Race, 19th Annual Classic Motor Works Vintage Race Weekend


2024 Significant Refresh

This Mini was raced regularly before the pandemic but was then un-used for five years sitting covered in a garage. In April/May 2024 it was extensively refreshed by Classic Motor Works of St. Andrews, Manitoba, Canada including the engine being over-bored to 0.060” for 1380cc:

Disassembly:
Remove ancillaries, carbs, exhaust manifold, exhaust system
Remove cylinder head and examine
Remove drive shafts
Remove engine and gearbox
Dismantle engine block
Take engine block and pistons for machining work

Subframe:
Remove subframe and remove all suspension and brake components
Repair front sub-frame and sheet metal where the frame is bolted to the body
Clean, freshen up sub-frame with paint
Configure and install front steel fuel line
Install subframe

Front Suspension:
Examine and clean suspension components
Disassemble and clean upper arms
Re-assemble components and grease
Install rubber cones, adjustable trumpets, bump stops and arms
Clean shocks and check adjustment (4 clicks)
Install shocks
Install new heim joint on lh lower arm
Clean, measure and assemble adjustable lower arms and tie bars
Install new tie rod ends
Dismantle and clean both hub carriers
Remove all 4 ball joints, clean all components, install new ball joints on right side and shim to fit / adjust
Rebuild existing ball joints on left side and shim to fit / adjust, install new dust caps and hardware
Torque spec = large dome nut for ball joint (70 ft lbs); tie rod (22 ft lbs), ball joint to upper and lower arms (38 ft lbs)
Grease rear suspension

Brakes:
Remove both brake calipers and clean
Install two new Brembo brake discs and new Mintex race pads
Installed new bearings in left hand control arm
Redo wheel bearings with new Timken bearings and install new MED race drive flange
Install both front hubs, clean calipers and install with new pads
Install lower arm rebound buffers, replace one with new
Replace LH brake rotor with new brake rotor
Bleed brake system and adjust rear wheel drums
Remove, dismantle and rebuild left hand brake caliper with new seals and pistons
Re-bleed brake system

Gearbox:
Remove windage tray and clean gearbox
Test gear operation on the bench, oil and re-install windage tray using Locktite on the screws
Clean copper gaskets between block and gearbox
Mount gearbox to block and secure
Clean and re-organize rear magnet assembly on back of gearbox
Remove output flange on differential, clean, replace gasket and oil seal and re-install
Replace retaining clips on both inner differential output flanges

Engine:
Assess, verify bore for "round" and in spec, hone/de-glaze, re-size connecting rods
Rinse block after machining
Magnaflux block and main caps for cracks, install custom deck plate to stabilize bore and honing process, bore and hone block to suit 0.060 pistons, resurface deck 0.004, remove and replace cam bearings
Mount block on engine stand
Final clean piston bore
Measure all piston rings
Wash and check oiling on crankshaft
Remove engine caps and install crankshaft bearings
Install crankshaft
Install set of four Omega race pistons 0.060 flat, cast, floating
Load rings on one piston, install rod and trial fit in block bore
Pop-up noted at 0.0025
Remove piston from block and from rod, remove rings
Machine 25 thou from piston crown
Clean engine parts; install new lifters, install camshaft and check float (0.006)
Install pistons on rods, install rings, install pistons in bore, install new ARP rod bolts, and check for pop-up (approx 0.000 piston to deck)
Dismantle cylinder head, clean, assess, enlarge chambers to manage compression, re-assemble
Jet wash block and all components before machining
Use copper coat on one side of gasket to help ensure good seal, install cylinder head (Ref: CMW14008), torque head 42-35-20 lbs
Add thicker rocker pedastal shims (0.032), install push rods and rocker assembly
Clean front timing cover, install cover seal, clean rocker cover
Install timing cover, line up with oil seal using pulley and torque to 12 ft lbs and 5 ft lbs
Install damper and pulley, torque to 120 ft lbs and lock tight
Install Cooper S style pressure relief spring and ball
Install 6 x new exhaust manifold studs
FIA15 + camshaft - set at 101 degrees
ACL rod bearings 0.010
Vandervell main bearings 0.010 (pre-A+)
Rod bolt stretch 0.0056 (26 ft lbs ARP lube)
Set valve lash 0.014 / 0.016
Remove grease and build up from flywheel and hand finish surface
Install flywheel housing and flywheel
Install grey diaphragm (race)
Install primary seal
Check primary gear float (0.007)
Prepare engine mounts and retap some threads for easy fit
Test fit alternator with new belt on engine
Replace thermostat housing
Replace cooling fan (11 blade) and use spacer to clear engine damper
Paint bare exhaust header welds
Install engine

Other Reassembly:
Custom fit radiator to one piece housing
Adjust housing to fit coolant hoses
Weld crack in header
Modify lower radiator "U" mount
Manufacture top radiator bracket
Modify surround to fit top hose
Install upper rad hose, Cooper S
Re-assemble and adjust to clear fan
Dismantle carbs, clean, check and adjust mixture
"Heli" coil repair stripped threads on intake, re-assemble and install with intake manifold
Install new throttle cable (nylon sleeved, long, competition)
Fabricate custom shims to fit heat shield to intake manifold
Modify edge of body at bonnet opening to fit the larger radiator
Change oil cooler (13 row), scrub and clean all the oil lines
Replace the oil gauge
Replace seal at connection on flexible braided pipe and test oil gauge
Replace oil filter housing adaptor and use a new oil filter
Replace starter motor
Fit engine stabilizers, install breather components
Lock wire drain plug
Lock wire engine mount bolts
Install carbs, make new replacement fuel line hoses
Dismantle, clean RH and LH axle assemblies and repack bearings with CV grease; re-assemble with new lockwired boots
Re-install shifter assembly with linkage to the gearbox
Install water with water wetter in radiator
Set engine to top dead center and install distributor
Install ignition components
Start engine and set preliminary timing at approx. 30 degrees full advance
Install alternator, ignition coil, temperature sensor, water overflow, vapour reservoir, oil
filter adaptor and oil filter
Bleed brakes
Bleed clutch
Adjust toe-in and chamber
Preliminary break-in of engine
Basic tune of engine
Re-torque cylinder head
Re-adjust valve lash (0.014 / 0.016)
Manufacturer/machine 2 x extension sleeves for tie rod ends
Dismantle and upgrade steering linkage replacing standard tie rods with Heim joints
Adjust toe-in
Install new RaceQuip FIA harness (five years, expires after 2028, black, HANS, camlock, 6 point)
Remove clutch slave, remove clutch hose, clean and re-install with new clevis pin
Replace clutch hose
Adjust clutch push rod to standard length, bleed clutch system and test
Redesign tie rod ends using improved grade 8 nut couplers
Re-adjust toe-in

In June 2024, Old School Garage of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada repaired the stone chips on the front of the car and then applied three coats of paint.

Includes all documentation and many new and used spare parts:

• Three sets of 10-inch rims all mounted with American Racer 10-inch race tyres:
- Revolution Wheels, 4 spoke classic race rims (on the car, used tyres)
- Mercury, 10x6J rims (used tyres)
- M.A.G. Product, SM493 5Bx10GT rims (new tyres)
• an additional set of used American Racer 10-inch race tyres
• used Accusump oil accumulator
• additional used Sparco race seat
• new set of subframe braces to make the front bodywork removable
• new additional bar for Safety Devices roll cage
• new Auto Meter Digital Pro Shift System tach
• used MYLAPS X2 Racer transponder (requires a MYLAPS subscription), holder, race key, USB cable and a spare holder for old style transponders
• new RaceQuip FIA race harness (seat belts) good for five years, expires after 2028
• new Lucas distributer cap, new Champ oil filter
• new Transtec CV joint, new Classic Gold race brake shoes
• used windscreen wiper motor and blades
• fitted Cover Zone Voyager car cover
• plus many other new and used parts . . .

The following documentation and books are included with the car:
• Bill of Sale and Canadian importation paperwork
• Maintenance history with all invoices dating back to 2014
• Photos before and after conversion from a street car to a race car
• “Owners Workshop Manual Mini ’59 to ‘69”, Haynes
• “Owners Workshop Manual Mini ’69 to ‘85”, Haynes
• “How to Modify Your Mini”, David Vizard
• “Tuning the A-Series Engine, 3rd edition”, David Vizard
• “High Speed Low Cost 40th Anniversary Edition”, Allan Staniforth
• “Terrapin MK1 Plans”, Allan Staniforth
• “Mini Parts Book”, Mini City Ltd.
• “Cooper Cars, Fourth Edition”, Doug Nye
• “Grand Prix Carpet-Bagger”, John Cooper
• “Classic Mini 1950 – 2000” catalogues, Moss Motors Ltd.
• “Mini Marcos Owners Club” Magazines #139 to #147

Annual tech inspections in the logbooks including new July 2024 “WSCC Tech Inspection Passed” sticker in the current logbook:
• RMVR: 2007, 2008, 2009
• WCMA/WSCC: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2024
• SCCA/VSCR: 2015, 2016
• VSCDA: 2016

Note - there are multiple vintage and race sanctioning bodies and ensuring that the car meets the requirements to race at any specific event or racetrack is the responsibility of the buyer

This Mini is Ready to Race!