David Shepherd-Jones – 1970 Mini Clubman

Once a common sight on the road, early Clubmans like this one are somewhat rarer today, and the condition of this particular example is a testament to the time and effort invested by its proud owner.

“Always known as ‘Putty’ I won the car in a competition for just £12.50. I enjoyed a few months of driving it and attending shows, but when I planned on entering concours events I decided to tackle what I thought were a few minor imperfections.”

Unfortunately, closer inspection revealed the Mini to be in much worse condition with some very poor repairs carried out as part of a previous restoration in 2017. The bodywork was suffering from corrosion, bad welding, a lot of filler and plenty more problems so it was clear that many hours were going to be spent making it perfect again.

Along with a friend from Jim’s Autobodies the owner stripped everything down and began the task of returning the body shell to sound condition. It was a marathon of cutting and welding that would take the best part of four months, but we think you’ll agree that all of the hard work has paid off. This Clubman looks superb.

‘Putty’ was finally finished and after a few late nights to complete the restoration it was ready for its first show. It certainly received plenty of attention from Mini enthusiasts, and after some final mechanical work including a thorough check of the 998cc engine it was as good as new.

David says he’s immensely proud of the car’s originality, and that if any parts needed replacing it was with period-correct items. That attention to detail throughout the restoration is what makes this such a special Clubman and one that we’re thrilled to have at the show.