"To many, its designer Alec Issigonis included, the notion that the Mini might have a future as anything other than basic transport was anathema and the idea of a high-performance version was laughable. One man though, saw it quite differently. Racing car manufacturer John Cooper already knew quite a bit about tuning BMC's A-Series engine - he was running the company's Formula Junior effort at the time - and a test drive in a prototype Mini convinced him of the car's competition potential. The result, launched in September 1961, was the Mini Cooper, a car that offered a size/price/performance package that was nothing short of miraculous. The Mini Cooper soon established its credentials as a rally and race winner, and the stage was set for even faster versions. The first of these - the 1,071cc Mini Cooper 'S' of 1963 - took engine development a stage further and provided the basis for the 971 'S' and 1275 'S' of 1964.
This is an original example of the short-lived and rare 1,071cc Cooper S, built between April 1963 and the end of August 1964, often referred to as the ‘Holy Grail’ of Minis. 'YEE 522' was first built on 16th January 1964 and dispatched on the 27th January to Roland C. Bellamy Ltd of Grimsby. Still wearing its original registration numbers and ordered in Surf Blue and Old English White with Powder Blue and Gold interior which is all detailed by the accompanying Heritage Certificate and copies of all old logbooks detailing owners and details back to purchase in 1964. The condition of this particular 1071 is exemplary having been fully restored between 2003 and 2006 (under 1,000 miles ago) a process that is detailed by both photos and invoices found in the history file. One important feature that remained un-restored is the completely original interior, which is extremely rare. Supplied with an MoT test certificate which is valid until October 2019, it comes with it’s Morris Mini Cooper driver’s handbook in the detailed history file. Mk. I Cooper S' of this quality are an increasingly rare find, especially as values continue to soar."