Tolman’s mighty Mini: A big makeover for a small icon

Tolman is here to give the humble Mini Cooper S Mk II a glow-up that’s both charming and jaw-droppingly precise. The creators of the lauded Peugeot 205 GTi restomod have turned their sights to their smallest project yet, proving that sometimes, great things really do come in small packages.

The story began when a long-time Mini enthusiast handed over the keys to his trusty 56-year-old Cooper S, hoping for a transformation that would preserve the car’s vintage charm while banishing its 1960s quirks. Tolman delivered, pouring 12 months of meticulous labour into a restoration that has redefined what it means to drive a Mini daily.

Gallery: 1968 Mini Cooper S Mk II by Tolman

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Source: Tolman

The process started with a complete teardown. The car was stripped to its bones and painstakingly restored from the ground up, including a bare-shell respray. Even the shut lines and panel gaps were treated like royalty – crisp, clean, and worthy of their own Instagram page.

Under the bonnet, the Mini’s 1,275cc A-Series engine got the ultimate spa day: a full rebuild, fuel injection (a feature decades ahead of the Mk II’s time), and an upgrade to 90 bhp. That’s nearly double the original power, but Tolman wisely kept things authentic with a four-speed gearbox and eschewed a limited-slip differential to preserve the Mini’s playful cornering personality.

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Suspension? Transformed. The original hydroelastic setup made way for Bilstein dampers and KAD adjustable tie rods, designed for maximum fun on Britain’s notoriously bumpy backroads. And let’s talk tyres: period-style Dunlop Aquajets were chosen over modern rubber, ensuring the Mini feels like a classic but drives like a dream.

While the engineering wizardry is impressive, the real magic lies in the details. The Mini now boasts a stainless steel exhaust system with a sportier tone, sound deadening for a quieter cabin, and clever heat protection under the bonnet. Additions like LED lighting, Bluetooth integration, and a heated windscreen make this car a joy to use in the 21st century.

Yet Tolman didn’t forget its roots. The tartan red paintwork with a black roof remains, as do the charming quirks like the Pratt’s Oil can-turned-bulkhead reinforcement, lovingly replaced for modern safety. Leather seats replace the original vinyl, and the aftermarket Webasto sunroof gleams like new.