By 1966, when production of the MkIII Wolseley Hornet and Riley Elf began, the duo had evolved into increasingly luxurious Mini variants. They still had walnut dash facias and leather-faced seating, but they also came with the wind-up windows and internal door hinges that other members of the Mini stable wouldn’t receive until a few years later. For anyone after the ultimate in factory-built Mini-based opulence, they were the perfect choice.
This particular MkIII Hornet was built on June 19, 1968, and over the next 50 years went through six owners before being snapped up as a project by Jim McCallum. He has since gone on to rebuild it to a high standard, adding a few modern touches along the way.
“I’ve always been a Mini fan,” explains Jim. “When I was 14, my dad had a 1963 Countryman, without the wood, which he said was my car as long as I cleaned it. So, every Sunday, I used to clean and polish that Mini to within an
