1964 Mini Cooper 970 S

The Mini Cooper S appeared in 1963 and quickly established itself as the basis for competition-focused models. Larger disc brakes, more luxurious upholstery and discrete S badges on the bonnet and boot were subtle upgrades, with the real changes made to the adaptable A-series engine. With competition in mind, in 1964, Cooper produced two S models specifically for circuit racing in the under 1,000cc and under 1,300cc classes respectively (rated at 970cc and 1,275cc). The road-going 970 S was a real 'Homologation Special', specifically produced with the under 1-litre class of the BSCC in mind. It's specialist short-stroke engine produced 65bhp but was expensive to manufacture, so BMC made it a special-order model, and consequently, very few were sold (with even fewer remaining today). The 970 S was only produced from June 1964 until April 1965, with just 963 examples supplied, making it one of the rarest and most sought after Mini models.

This fabulous 1964 970S has lived a phenomenal life and presents in simply outstanding condition today. According to its Heritage Certificate, this Mini was a RHD home-market car, finished in the same colour scheme that it wears today, Tartan Red with a black roof and a Tartan Red/Gold Brocade Grey interior. Built on 14th August 1964, it was first delivered to the Haslemere Motor Company of Guildford, Surrey, where it was purchased by Mr John Whitton who used it from 1964 to 1971 both on the road and for racing before becoming primarily a 'Group One'/Two race car, racing on nearly every circuit during the 1960s. Mr Whitton worked for a national newspaper at the time, which ensured many connections within the racing community and he was a member of the BARC. The car was a regular at Silverstone and is known to have raced abroad on at least three occasions. In its early days, it went to the Competition Department at Abingdon for an engine rebuild and later visited Speedwell of London to be put on the rolling road where it achieved 108bhp. In-period and to this day, that is a seriously impressive specification. In 1971, when they were worth so little, the Mini was destined to be scrapped, but thankfully it was put into dry storage instead, where it stayed for 29 years before being sold and restored in 2000. It is a matching numbers car with the original engine and gearbox.

From 2000-2003 the car underwent a thorough restoration, both mechanically and cosmetically. Mechanically, the original 970cc engine has been bored to 999cc with a brand new crankshaft, in original specification but lightened and balanced, Cooper S con-rods, race pistons with valve recess and the flywheel lightened and balanced. Further upgrades include a new clutch assembly, duplex timing gears, lightened and balanced C.AEA 731 camshaft, case-hardened cam followers, race-spec lightened and polished push rods and an AEG 163 five-port hardened cylinder head, ported and polished with race valves, lightened race rockers and an early special tuning rocker box. Additional mods include new 1.5" H4 SUs, early 3-branch LCB with race exhaust system, Cooper S distributor with oil feed, large pulley dynamo, modified oil pump with an oil cooler, central oil pickup, clutch cooler and a 6-blade fan. The gearbox is a 22G190 3-synchro, straight-cut with a new gear set and bearings. The underside/suspension/handling was improved with bead blasted and powder coated subframes, reconditioned radius arms, new brake discs, reconditioned callipers, hubs and driveshafts with all cylinders/pipes renewed, new suspension with new/old stock Armstrong adjustable racing shock absorbers.

Inside the car, you’ll find a William Dulles dashboard fitted with 120mph speedo with trip, oil temperature, water temperature, an early 10,000pm rev counter, oil pressure, oil warning light, amp meter, a wood-rim Mototune steering wheel, BMC fire extinguisher, battery isolator, new carpets, ashtrays and roof lining, all in excellent condition, with as much new/old stock as was physically possible.

After a few years post-restoration in the UK, the Mini went to live in Portugal until 2018 when it was sourced and added to the Twin Sparks Collection. Since purchase and re-entry into the UK, it's benefitted from a more road-friendly final drive and the interior has been retrimmed, still in the same colours, as well as having professionally trimmed, period-correct bucket seats fitted.

Known to the Ex-Works & Competition Car Register, this is simply one of the finest looking and driving Minis we’ve encountered and is the final car to leave the Twin Sparks Collection, being held back as the owner's personal favourite, but it is now time to move this venerable little Cooper on to its next home.