The dashboard is walnut with white dials and a fairly unique CD player that carries the Rover Mini wings. The 13 inch sports pack alloys are all in great condition with superb tyres. All the lights are standard, as are the green mini winged badges on the front and rear. The bonnet stripes, mirrors and roof are all plain white.

A nearly new MOT and plenty of tax was also part of the Mini bargain.

Okay, only Minis that are kept in centrally heated garages with carpets stand any chance of avoiding rust altogether. Alice has been used daily and whilst she is solid underneath there are rust problems. The drivers A panel is the worst and needs replacing, underneath both headlights also requires attention.

There's a tiny rust spot on the drivers side quarter light and a small blister on the same panel towards the bottom right.

There is some surface rust on the inside bottom corner of the windscreen on the passengers side. The headlight rings also have some rust spots.

A kind fellow from a supermarket car park has no doubt opened the door of their 4x4 onto Alice's drivers door, leaving a nice dent in the door. 

The passenger door also has a missing paint and a slight buckle around the window frame, it looks as if it has been levered. There's a small spot of rust on the same window frame also.

The offside front wheel arch has a scuff, both the bumpers have a small dent and the grille has some bent slats.

The only visible modification is the fitment of a K&N air filter together with an air induction kit. This obviously makes the engine sound deeper under acceleration but I'm unsure about any power gain.

The Cooper Sport badge is missing from boot.

The fuel gauge slightly understates the fuel, so it shows empty when there is still a quarter of a tank left. The sender unit has already been replaced the problem probably lies with the gauge itself. A free petrol can is included in the boot as the previous owner got caught out a couple of times.

There are no oil or water leaks and the engine does not smoke. The battery is fairly recent and a good make (Bosh). All the remaining instruments and lights work although the spotlights have condensation on the inside of the lenses. There drivers seat has a rip in the leather and does not appear to lift up as it should. The steering wheel is also off centre, this slightly obscures the speedo.

Alice awoke the next day to a blanket of snow but she still started up on the first turn of the key. Time to prioritise the list of repairs.

• Replace A-panel
• Repair rust under headlights
• Repair rust on doors & rear quarter light panel
• Repair rust inside the windscreen
• Repair rip in leather & seat movement
• Fix the faulty fuel gauge
• Centre the steering wheel
• Replace the bumpers
• Replace the headlight rings
• Dry out the spotlights
• Replace the grille
• Spray the scuff on the wheel arch

The list of repairs quite quickly led to a list of future modifications, some of which are just initial ideas. I'm sure the list will change...

• Union Jack roof, unsure whether to go for a full Union Jack, a ripped one or to try and get the oCoop Union Jack hand manufactured.
• Union Jack mirror decals
• Boot badges, unsure whether to go for a standard Cooper Sport badge or a retro script badge
• John Cooper signatures on the bonnet stripes
• Handbrake gaiter, in beige to match the gear stick gaiter
• Arm rest, in beige again
• Centre console (possibly)
• Cigarette lighter, for plugging in accessories such as the gadget to blow up the airbed (not for cigarettes)
• Chrome air vent bezels
• Monza cap or an Aston cap
• GB Badge

I took Alice into the garage to get the front wheels balanced as they seemed a little shaky. Whilst balancing the wheels they noticed that both the front tyres had a nail in each of them. Luckily they could repair them and with the tyres at full pressure the ride was better. The balancing and puncture repairs was £29 well spent, breaking down with two punctures would have been fun!

She's had a few badges added prior to going to her first Mini show at Stoneleigh. She drove like a dream there and back, the cigarette lighter was fitted to aid the lazy use of sat nav! A few oCoop website url's and union jack hands have been added to the quarter lights. The rear window now has an essential 'You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off" sticker. A Cooper sport badge and an oval GB badge have been added to the boot. Finally union jack ears (mirror decals) finished off the sticker fest.

After a weeks holiday at the local body shop, Alice returns with a new drivers side A panel and all of the rust and dents removed and re-sprayed. The bodywork bill came to a total of £250 and worth every penny. She's still driving like a dream and hasn't used a drop of oil. 

The rip in the drivers seat has also been fixed with a touch of super glue and a black fabric pen.

Window winder detailing has also been added in the form of some fantastic 15mm blown vinyl stickers featuring the oCoop logo.

                                  

The oCoop union jack hand won the debate to take pride of place on the roof of Alice. It was dead easy to fit and looks stunning.

Check out the fitting instructions HERE.

The black wiper kit has finally been removed and replaced with a lovely chrome wiper kit. There were a few choice words as the wing nut dropped into the engine bay for the third time, the blanking plate on the passenger side being the most awkward part to fit.

To Check out the before & after pictures of Alice CLICK HERE