1963 Morris Mini Cooper 997 Rally Car (ex Monte-Carlo Challenge)

• Home-market Mk1 Cooper built on 30/09/1963. Sold via John C. Beadle Ltd. of Kent
• Expertly prepared in 1995 to obtain FIVA papers and an RAC Competition Car Logbook
• Participated in several historic rallies, including the 1995/1996 Monte-Carlo Challenge
• Original engine sourced and fully rebuilt to competition spec. 126bhp on the dyno (August 2020)
• Restored in 2001 back to fast-road/trials specification
• Always well maintained and professionally stored; independently valued at ú40,000 in 2016
• Very impressive history file, full of invoices, a Heritage Certificate and dyno sheet

To many, its designer Alec Issigonis included, the notion that the Mini might have a future as anything other than basic transport was an 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 its competition potential. John Cooper appealed to BMC management, with Issigonis' concerns being disregarded and the two good friends eventually cooperated in creating what rapidly became, and still remains, a legendary little motor car - the Mini Cooper. The Austin Mini Cooper and Morris Mini Cooper debuted in 1961.

The car presented here is a home-market Morris Mk1 Cooper manufactured on the 30th September 1963 and sold via John C. Beadle Ltd. of Kent; charmingly, it still wears its original Kent-issued registration '3284 KM'.

In the early 1990s, it was expertly prepared by its then-owner, Mr Graham Carter of West Sussex, who set about creating a superb rally-car Mini, ultimately to obtain FIVA papers and a RAC MSA competition car logbook to participate in several historic rallies (Rally of the Vales 1995/96, The Henry Liddon Memorial Rally 1996 etc.), culminating in its successful participation in the prestigious and demanding 1995 & 1996 Classic Rally Association 'Monte Carlo Challenge'. In 1996, this event was in its 7th year, and was the biggest ever with 161 entries, with this Mini achieving 10th position - no mean feat and testament to its integrity. The car's impressive specification is fully documented in three photos attached to this listing.

Following its rally 'career', the same owner oversaw its full return in 2001 to a fast-road/trials spec., retaining some choice rally elements. It has subsequently been owned by a prominent car collector, and has always well been maintained and professionally stored; its quality was borne-out in 2016 when it was independently valued at ú40,000.

Our vendor bought the car only this year, (taking it to be dyno tested in August 2020, finding an impressive rating of 126bhp), knowing the previous owner well and having admired the car, to accompany some other choice classic cars; sadly, a change in circumstances means it must now be offered for sale. With an accompanying box-file of invoices, photos of it on events, spec sheets, magazine articles and a Heritage Certificate, this is a fantastic Mini and has had much love and money lavished on it. A proven car that was built and spec'd superbly, this is one not to miss.