One of the hardest cars to sell is the one that has been taken down to bare metal – practically begging for a proper body restoration – but time and resources limit the potential of it ever being completed. When a car reaches this state, it is as far away from the finish line as it can possibly be, so deciding to sell it may be easier than the thought of completing the project. This is a listing for a genuine 1965 Mini Cooper S listed here on eBay for $9,500 or best offer. It was turned into a race not long after it was sold new, and retains many of its original details from its competition past.

To the seller’s credit, he is prioritizing time with his three daughters over time spent in the garage working on this clearly long-term project, and for that, I salute him. I have three young children as well and it is never a difficult choice to choose between messing with a car or spending time with them; I rarely have time to drive the cars anyway. This Mini is from Canada, originally, and the seller notes it has the usual rust spots and other bodywork needs a vintage British car requires. He has stripped it down to bare metal and begun the bodywork, but now wishes to sell the whole car and all parts associated with its restoration.

The “S” specification means the Mini left the factory with a 1,071 cc engine and 4-speed manual gearbox. With 78 horsepower and 80 lb-ft of torque, the S trim was significant for a few reasons: for one, it transformed the humble Mini into a razor-sharp driver’s car that assembled a quick list of successes in all manners of racing circuits. It was used by professional teams and privateers alike, and became a darling of the enthusiast circuit. The factory Works cars were legendary in their performance, taking home trophies at marquee events like the Monte Carlo Rally four consecutive times. Twin gas tanks, concealed door hinges, and other trick racing enhancements showed how serious Mini was about winning.

The seller has retained a variety of original photos showing the Mini at the peak of its racing career. Numerous spares are included, and I reckon the parts stash alone represents a good chunk of the asking price. The engine has been overhauled, with the seller listing rebuild specs including “…head is a rebuild Cooper S AEG163, new valves, springs, guides and keepers, and no cracks.” The transmission is a “… remote shift freshly rebuilt 22G1128 unit with short ratio Cooper S gear set,” and the listing goes on to detail numerous other improvements. Overall, this appears to be a worthwhile project for anyone looking to own one of the most successful competition cars of the 1960s.