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1967 Austin-Cooper MkII 998 by Crafted Classics Tuning Glen Waddington

- Glen Waddington

TEARING DOWN A twisting B-road through a forest in Suffolk, I suddenly realise how broad is my grin. The engine is screaming, the gears are shrieking; the steering wheel writhes and tugs and you barely seem to think about shuffling its rim before you've executed a turn, apparently in a permanent drift yet without so much as a chirrup from the tyres.

This is a Mini, through and through, but with every single sensation heightened to the max.

This is CCT No.1 by Crafted Classics, an outfit founded by Mini enthusiast and expert tuner Christopher Hamilton after he parted company with Swiftune in 2016. 'I made the perfect Mini for me, but also as a showcase for the business,' he tells me. He made his name rebuilding, tuning and supplying engines worldwide, so that's a good place to start.

This one features a pre-A+ block with steel cap conversion, bored to 73.5mm, with a 1071 short-stroke steel Arrow crankshaft, steel Arrow con-rods and forged Omega pistons. 'It's fully forged, with ARP fasteners throughout. That's why it holds together,' Christopher smiles.