carpet, it’s an instant hit with the bright
yellow shell. Typically, this standard spec
interior feels large and roomy compared
to the later, more luxurious Rover Minis.
While the restorers worked on his
GT for 18 months, Rob was constantly
involved, wanting to know what progress
had been made and asking to be taken
for visits to Wallingford. “During the
restoration, I would lie awake at night,
wanting updates on how the day had
gone. Wanting to see it and dreaming
of the way it would be finished. When
I bought the car, it was my intention to
have it restored and completed for my
17th birthday. A week before my 17th
birthday, classic car insurance withdrew
for young drivers and I got quoted
£11,500 a year.” Yikes. He wasn’t about
to fit a 998cc engine to get round the
insurance problem so he just waited for
the premiums to go down a little before
he got to drive on the road. After all that
professional care during the build, it
had to go to Pete Baldwin’s rolling road
for the first dyno set-up. “It’s my pride
and joy and I absolutely love it to bits.”
In 2018, the yellow GT was Rob’s
wedding car and, since then, it lives
MiniWorld June 2019 29
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Rebuilding an interior to OE spec is
difficult and the black plastic and
vinyl can be a real let down unless
restored very carefully, like this.The boot trim kit is not
OE. Left: Sunroof was
already fitted when
Rob bought the GT.