Three generations revive classic 1972 Mini in Tauranga

Paige Sutton with her 1972 Mini Morris. Photo / Debbie Griffiths

• A 1972 Morris Mini, named Smurfette, was restored by three generations of Tauranga Mini enthusiasts during lockdown.
• Paige Sutton, her father Greg, and grandfather Murray worked together to bring the car back to life.
• The Mini, now with an 1100cc engine, is used by Paige for weekend drives and events.

Her name is Smurfette and she always attracts nostalgic smiles and compliments.

She’s a 1972 Morris Mini that was lovingly restored during the Covid lockdown by three generations of Tauranga Mini enthusiasts.

“Dad bought this car before I turned 2,” said 21-year-old Matua resident Paige Sutton.

“He used it as a daily driver and then it got parked up a couple of years later when he got a Mini pickup.”

Paige aged 2 in the Mini that she, her dad and grandpa restored together. Photo / Supplied

“It had some parts taken off it, so it was a donor car for a while,” said Paige’s dad, Greg Sutton, who owns an auto electric business.

“We always knew one day we’d do something with it.”

Family project

“A few days before lockdown in 2020, Dad asked what colour I wanted to paint my Mini,” Paige said. “It became our family project.”

With Paige’s grandpa, Murray Sutton, who’s a self-taught panelbeater, they were the dream team to restore the retro car to its former glory.

The car parts spread out in the shed as the Suttons worked on the Mini Morris during lockdown in 2020. Photo / Supplied

“I guess I was always watching and trying to learn where everything went,” Paige said.

“At one point, we had the entire car spread on the ground. Then it was a matter of wiring the electrics in, installing the carpet and polishing the vinyl seats before we put them back in.”

Essentially, Paige had touched every nut, bolt and spark plug of her car before eagerly learning to drive the manual transmission in carparks from the age of 15.

“The original 1000cc motor had never been touched,” said Greg. “We cleaned it up and painted it, but then two years ago we put an 1100 [cc] engine in it.”

Paige Sutton with her 1972 Mini Morris. Photo / Debbie Griffiths

“Now it can get up to 100km/h rather than just 80km/h,” Paige said with a laugh.

Mini tales

Greg’s obsession began about age 9, when his parents bought a Mini. He’s now president of Tauranga Mini Owners Club and has scaled down his Mini collection to “only six”. “Everyone has a Mini story,” he said. “Through the 1970s and 1980s, it seems like every family had a Mini

“Everywhere I go, I get comments like: ‘Oh, I used to have a Mini’ or ‘When I was young, it was the first car I learned to drive’,” Paige said.

“Now that I work in Waihī Beach, she’s my weekend car and I drive her to the Mini nationals every year. She’s a very bumpy ride, but a lot of fun.”

*Have you or your family restored a classic car in recent years? Is there a story behind your beautiful old vehicle? Tell us! Email details to: merle.cave@nzme.co.nz.