"Considered by motor car historians to be one of the most important designs ever created, the Austin/Morris Mini was in production for 40 years and remains today as an enduring British icon. To many, including its designer Alec Issigonis, the notion that the Mini might have a future as anything other than being a means of basic transport, and the idea of a high-performance car was laughable. But one man saw its potential, racing car manufacturer John Cooper. He already had experience in tuning the BMC A-Series engine which he ran in his Formula Junior cars and a test drive in a prototype Mini convinced him of the car’s competition potential. He eventually persuaded BMC to work together with him culminating in the birth of the Austin Mini Cooper and the Morris Mini Cooper in 1961. Victories in the 1964, 1965 and 1967 Monte-Carlo Rallies set the more powerful Mini Cooper S, introduced in 1963, on the road to fame. But probably the greatest publicity was gained from the, somewhat unfair, disqualification for lighting irregularities in the 1966 event after coming in 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The first Cooper S of 1963 were fitted with 1,071cc engine then in 1964 Cooper took the engine development further and provided the basis for the 971cc ‘S’ and the ultimate Mini the 1275cc ‘S’ which provided 76bhp and was good for a genuine 100mph, an astonishing performance at the time.
This lovely 1969 Austin Mini Cooper S Mk. II has been the subject to a complete rebuild over a few years starting in the late 1990s as a recreation of the Monte Carlo winning Minis of the 1960s. This work included rebuilding the engine, boring it out to 1340cc producing 90bhp, replacing the gears in the gearbox with ‘straight cut’ gears and fitting twin SU carburettors. Externally it has been fitted with a quick release bonnet, 10-inch Minilite wheels and four Cibie spotlights. In the interior it has been fitted with a full roll cage, black bucket seats with ‘4-point’ mounted safety harnesses, a rally dashboard with rev counter and map reading lights.
Purchased by the current owner in 2012, it has covered less than ten miles since the MoT in March 2013 and has been maintained by his in-house mechanic. Finished in green with white roof this lovely Cooper S Mk. II is supplied with a V5 registration certificate and a file containing photocopies of old registration documents and invoices for the modifications. A superb example of the marque, ready to be shown or taken on classic track days.
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