Page 29 - Real Rochdale Issue 05 Summer 2019
P. 29

Rare Innocenti Mini Cooper
































































          The Mini you see gracing the cover of this          When purchased, the Mini was in ‘a sorry
          issue of Real Rochdale is an unusual one.           state’ before undergoing restoration.

          This almond green vehicle is a rare Innocenti       Jonathan said: “I had a Mini when I was
          Mini Cooper 1300 Export from 1973, which            younger, and wanted something to do, so I
          was bought and imported from Italy by local         bought the Export for £500 and decided to
          businessman Jonathan Rigg 25 years ago.             restore it to its former glory.”

          Under the ownership of the British Leyland          In the last 15 years, the Mini has been out
          Motor Corporation, rebodied versions of the         only a few times.
          Mini were built in the 1970s in Milan, giving
          rise to the Innocenti Mini.                         Jonathan added: “I think this is the first time
                                                              it has been out in about 10 years. I did drive
          Created as the equivalent of the 1275               it briefly when I was between cars, but it is
          Cooper S for the Italian market, the 1300           kept in storage now. It only comes out on
          Export was introduced in 1973.                      special occasions.”

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