"Originally designed as a small affordable family car, the Mini quickly proved itself in many forms of motor sport. The most notable success was undoubtably the overall victory in the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally, the works Mini Cooper S ably piloted by Paddy Hopkirk with his navigator Henry Liddon. This victory, against considerably more powerful machinery, cemented the Mini’s competition status.
This stunning Mini Cooper S is presented in Almond Green with a Snowbury White roof. It was previously owned by two self-proclaimed Mini fanatics and restoring this car had become something of a passion, a read of the 1988 Restoring Classic Cars magazine charters their journey. Starting with a standard 1969 Cooper S the couple undertook a nut and bolt restoration with a twist. Although largely original, originality was never the goal in this project, the key was to fully future proof the car so much of the work was possibly unnecessary but an insistence on quality applied, something that can be seen some 35 years later!
This car has certainly had plenty of expense lavished on it, now with a rebuilt ‘A+’ 1275cc inline-four engine driving the front wheels via a four-speed manual gearbox fitted in February 2018, at 27,400 miles after a rebuild to return the car to being a more relaxed road companion. The engine is currently running twin 1.5” SU carburettors, CSI adjustable electronic ignition, and an open-road cam. Details can be found in the extensive history file stretching back over 35 years that begs to be read. Now running AVO adjustable shock absorbers and a rear anti-roll bar, while a free-flowing LCB manifold is complemented by a big-bore Maniflow exhaust. The braking system has been uprated to include vented discs, four-piston callipers and a remote servo.
The headlamps have been converted to contemporary halogen units with LED side lights. The interior features black leather seats piped in green and Wood & Pickett period trim including tread-plates and chrome ‘fly-off’ handbrake. A modern stereo sits in the wooden dashboard. Recent expenditure includes new front discs and pads, Timken wheel bearings, new CV joints and front hubs. Although exempt, on the basis of age, the vehicle was MoT tested on 16 March 2022 at 31,301 miles when it received an advisory-free pass.
Our vendor still tells us it is very fast for a mini, and would refer to it as a fast road spec but admitted it was an itch he had to scratch upon retirement to remember his own mini fondly. The car is in excellent condition and much can be accredited to the build by the Cotton’s in the 80’s though new sills and a rear subframe were fitted in the early 1990s. Having just 31,400 on the odometer and with such a detailed history, including a Heritage Certificate this is a fantastic ‘fast road’ Cooper S, offered ready to use and enjoy. Consignor Mathew Priddy.
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