"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 excellent, matching number, Austin Mini Cooper S with the 1275cc engine was supplied new in October 1968 by H.A. Saunders Ltd. London. One of the previous owners was ‘Stormin’ Norman Grimshaw who was a regular racer at the Goodwood Revival, who used it as his road car. Purchased by the current owner in 1999, it was used regularly until 2017 when he decided to completely restore the car and build it as a tribute to the works rally cars. The engine was fully rebuilt, and gearbox was fitted with straight cut gears by marque specialists ONJ ‘Oliver Jeynes’. In 2020 it was taken to Airey Tuning Company for a tune up and was checked giving 80bhp at 5,300rpm. The attention to detail during the rebuild is second to none with the correct switches and switch panel, including the TOK switch for the heated windscreen, the co-drivers map light and individual horn button and a replica roll cage finished the inside. On the exterior the details continue with the correct Lucas fog and driving lights mounted on a recreation of the original light bar, rear spotlight, boot and bonnet straps and clear headlight protectors. Under the bonnet it has been fitted with a new wiring loom modified for the ‘works’ extras, electronic ignition and a Kenlow fan. Finished in Tartan Red with white roof and black interior, this Mini Cooper S is supplied with a V5 registration document and a file containing old registration certificates, old MoT’s, invoices for the restoration totaling over £28,500 and photographs of the rebuild. A superb example of the marque, ready to be shown or taken on classic track days.
"