Mammoth restoration is no Mini project

Driving a Morris Mini is just as much fun now as it was when Ian McKinnon was a teenager, but his 1971 Mini K is a sweeter ride. He shows us his pride and joy.

Ian McKinnon with his 1971 Mini K. Picture: Dominika Lis

Driving a Morris Mini is just as much fun now as it was when Ian McKinnon was a teenager, but his 1971 Mini K is a sweeter ride.

The Eatons Hill resident spent about 18 months restoring the car himself, after completing TAFE courses in panel beating, painting and welding.

Ian bought the car 12 years ago from a young guy in Bundaberg, who had planned to restore it but hadn’t finished. It was painted yellow with pink stripes, had pink wheels and even a purple engine.

Back then, Ian was still working as a policy adviser for the Department of Transport and Main Roads and lacked the skills and tools to complete the restoration to the standard he wanted.

So, he enrolled at TAFE and gradually built up his collection of tools before making a start and working on the car in his spare time.

“The hardest part was trying to find the time to put it together … a few hours each weekend,” Ian says.

Ian McKinnon’s 1971 Mini K, before and after restoration.

Doing this on his own was also a challenge, but he gradually cut out all the rust and replaced panels, including the front end, with genuine parts.

With no hoist in his shed, he got creative, putting the car on a stand with wheels so he could move it around while working on it.

“Because the car was not that heavy, I could just wheel it around,” he says.

The result is a beautifully-restored vehicle, painted British racing green, with sparkling chrome grill, bumper and trims.

“People think it looks good. I’m pretty proud of how it looks finished. It’s a job I took on without any experience,” Ian says.

He says it’s a good car that hasn’t really let him down, with the exception of a couple of minor mechanical problems that were easily fixed.

Ian McKinnon’s 1971 Mini K. Picture: Dominika Lis

So, what’s it like to drive compared to the Mini Morris 850 he had as a 16-year-old?

“When I used to drive one I used to think `I hope they (other drivers) see me’ because they’re so small, but that doesn’t worry me now,” Ian says.

“It’s good fun. It seems really zippy because it’s so close to the ground and you feel it’s going fast. It has a few rattles and things but that’s OK. The motor’s pretty good.”

Ian’s a member of the Mini Owners Club of Queensland and his car is a regular at the RACQ Motorfest in July every year and at the car club’s Mini Muster.

“Everyone knows someone who owned a Mini,” he says.

“People smile and wave as you go past. I think it’s all good fun.”

Ian McKinnon’s 1971 Mini K. For Jump in my car section. Picture: Dominika Lis

And the Mini K is something special. They were only produced for a short period of time, with low protrusion door handles for pedestrian safety, a classic-style front and round badge on the bonnet.

“It’s fairly unique and you don’t see too many of them. Even if I’m parking in the car park, people will stop and take a look,” Ian says.

Visit miniownersclub.com.au to find out more about Minis or to join in the fun.