British registration

Vehicle cleared in Belgium

Driven by Timo Makinen and Elizabeth Jones
A factory car with an impressive track record
Participation in the 1963 Monte Carlo Rally
High performance and great to drive

From Delahaye racing cars to Alpine prototypes and rally cars, you could almost say that Hervé Charbonneaux has had it all! But he had to wait several years before he could afford a real "factory" Austin Mini Cooper. We all know the story of this car, but John Cooper's gamble with BMC is one of the most beautiful pages in the history of motoring and competition. With its preparation, the four-cylinder of 997 cc grows wings then will be transformed into very effective 1071 cc, 1001cc, 1100cc before the ultimate block in 1275cc. The whole engine is revised to produce a 70 horsepower phenomenon adapted to the very limited weight of the body. Immediately, its new sporting capacities are recognized and adapted in competition. Success came quickly, with one of its most striking victories, 1st place in the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally with Paddy Hopkirk at the wheel. Amongst the multitude of Cooper cars that have achieved success here and there, an even rarer species stands out: the "Works" cars, that is to say the cars adapted to racing by the factory with the latest evolutions, preparations and of course the best drivers. "572 BCR" is one of them!

Still bearing its original registration, 572 BCR has a track record that would make any racing car shudder. It began its racing career at the 14th International Meeting at Silverstone on 12 May 1962 and continued to race on behalf of the factory or the famous Haddenham-based tuner Alexander until June 1964. The list of honours includes Goodwood, Brands Hatch, Crystal Palace, Oulton Park, Silverstone of course, but above all the Monte Carlo Rally in 1963 driven by Elizabeth Jones and V. Lincoln. Entered on behalf of the BMC, she was part of the Cooper brigade entered to win the event, which Paddy Hopkirk managed to do the following year! She would go on to win several races, including Crystal Palace in 1963 and Snetterton in the SMRC Championship in August of the same year. One of her best performances, even if not a victory, was her participation in the Motor International 6 Hours Saloon Car Race in 1963 where, in the hands of Finn Timo Makinen and Elizabeth Jones, she achieved a very good 2nd place in her class. Her racing career came to an end at Brands Hatch on 6 June 1964 in the same 6 hour race. Entered with British driver Denis McLuggage, she was forced to retire.

Today, its history has been completely retraced and without any grey areas, it can pride itself on having been in the hands of "factory" drivers such as Timo Makinen, talented private drivers (Hervé remembers the fighting spirit of Elizabeth Jones driving another factory Mini - 277 EBL - on the Reims circuit with Pauline Mayman during the Tour de France in 1963), and on having contested more than twenty top-ranking races, including the Monte Carlo Rally.

History would have it that 50 years later, 572 BCR would arrive by road from England at Hervé Charbonneaux's. Today the car is in a very nice cosmetic condition. Its cream paintwork with black roof is well tended and shows only a few minor defects. The interior is also original, with a nice patina that immediately transports the driver to the 60's. Note that the original driver's seat and steering wheel, used by Timo Makinen among others, will be delivered with the car. The mechanics have just been overhauled and just before the sale the starter motor was changed. The wheels currently on the car are original magnesium minilites, but will be sold with a set of sheet metal wheels. We had the chance to drive it on the Ecuyers circuit... those who are not used to drive a Mini will have to get used to it... but it pushes hard, the handling is very good, the gearbox is precise, the brakes are good and in the end... you go faster than many cars and we love it! To drive a Cooper S 1100cc with its fantastic super-square engine (the one used as a basis for the Junior formula single-seaters), which is very different from the others and has permanent power, is something to be experienced once in a lifetime!

This car will be sold by auction by AGUTTES Auction House, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, on June the 20th, 2021.
The digital catalog is available by the following link
https://www.aguttes.com/en/catalog/113642?

Please contact us for any further details.
[email protected]
+33 147 459 301
+ 33 668 362 622