UK-based restomod specialist Tolman has done it again. Following on from its globally acclaimed "Tolman Edition" Peugeot 205 GTi, the company has completed another very special customer commission: a 1968 Mini Cooper S MKII that has been "fastidiously restored and refined".
Tolman's focus is on making classic cars that can be driven day-to-day and boast improved performance and technology compared to the original, but in a "non-invasive" way: keeping as much of the heritage character as possible.
The owner of the '68 Cooper S had already been driving it for a decade, but came to Tolman with a commission for a thorough update.
Over a 12-month period the car was stripped-down to its bare shell and completely rebuilt, with the emphasis on clean materials and precise shut lines.
The Mini’s hydroelastic suspension has been swapped in favour of KAD adjustable tie rods and Bilstein dampers. It can be set up to suit its owner's requirements – which will include domestic driving and a regular commute.
In-period for the MkII Cooper S, it retains front disc brakes with rear drums, but ATEC CNC brake lines, familiar to Tolman from its motorsport work, provide a more consistent feel.
Power doubled... to 67kW!
The engine now benefits from fuel injection, a feature that wasn’t standard on Minis until 1991. The battery box in the boot now houses the fuel system with a collector fuel pot, high-pressure pump return and lift pump. With the regulator away from the engine, only one fuel line comes into the bay, maintaining the original appearance.
Rather than opting for modern, grippy rubber, the Mini wears period style 10-inch 145 Dunlop Aquajet tyres. With power almost doubled to 67kW and weighing just 685kg, the Mini is "lively" when driven hard says Tolman, but also more practical and tractable in lower gears.
The team decided not to opt for a limited-slip differential – this addition would make the car snappy through turns and detract from the original experience. The same goes for the refreshed gearbox, where the four-speed configuration was retained for authenticity.
A one-off Tolman stainless steel exhaust ensures a sportier "A-Series" sound but has been tuned to avoid being overwhelmingly noisy. Advanced heat protection under the bonnet protects the injection system whilst sound deadening throughout the cabin keeps unwanted road noise at bay. A fully electronic engine management system improves cold starts, idle control and low oil pressure detection.
Taking a classic Mini to the next level
As a track car in the 1980s, even sharing the Silverstone with Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason’s Ferrari 250 GTO, the original SU carburettors had been replaced with Webers, accommodated for in period by forming a cutout in the bulkhead using a Pratt’s Oil can. For mechanical integrity, the can was replaced with a stronger version to retain integrity... and that part of its own particular story.
Many original parts were retained, including the brightwork, headlining and Tartan Red with black roof paint scheme. Sumptuous leather replaces vinyl for the seats and the aftermarket Webasto sunroof has been refurbished.
Heated front and rear screens, LED lighting all round plus invisible Bluetooth integration add to the discreet but impactful upgrades to day-to-day use – as does the addition of a period-style rev counter. To combat the British weather, this Mini has received full stone chip protection coating and Lanoguard on the underside and in the cavities, combined with Supagard ceramic coating on painted surfaces.
“The Mini is already a famously fun and practical car to own, so our job was to take these attributes to the next level,” says Chris Tolman, founder of Tolman. “In keeping with our previous projects, our team’s decades of motorsports experience have not been used to create the fastest Mini possible – instead we’ve been tasked with the greater challenge of enhancing what made the car special in the first place.”
The Mini is now back with its owner. For 2025, Tolman says it has more one-off commissions, including two 1980s icons and four new Tolman Edition Peugeot 205 GTis in build, which is now available to general order, following its first commission last year. It will be the first of a range of Tolman Edition cars to be offered.
Tolman was founded in 2007 and specialises in the preparation and restoration of historic road and race cars, as well as competing in GT3 and GT4.
