1964 Morris Mini Cooper

The Mini Cooper was modelled as a special version of the first generation Mini, with John Cooper of the Cooper Car Company recognising the potential to create a motorsports version of the same car. This was launched as the 'Mini Cooper' and the Mini Cooper 'S' in 1961 and 1963. These cars featured 848cc engines for the Cooper, and 1071cc for the S type. The Cooper S's iconic appeal as a sportier version of the Mini was underlined by its success at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965 and 1967, as well as its appearance in the 1967 British film The Italian Job, in which Minis and Mini Coopers play a key role in a bank heist.

We are informed by the vendor that this particular Mini Cooper was manufactured on the 22nd April 1964, originally finished in tweed grey with old English white roof and supplied to CGS Buist Ltd of Newcastle Upon Tyne. The original owner ( a 1960s Welsh rally driver by the name of Gareth Prytherch) bought the car to compete in the '' Motoring News Rally Championship'' and other rallies within the mid Wales area up until retiring it in the early seventies. It remained off the road for the next fifteen years of its life until 1988, when it was sold on to a Mr Hindmarsh who decided to painstakingly rebuild the car over an extended period of time. The shell was stripped and sent to a paint shop where the colour was changed to Tartan red with contrasting Old English white roof (our vendor has photographic proof).

The powertrain was upgraded in 1999 to a 1275 A + block (we have a copy of a letter from the MSA approving this block for historic rallying), kent 276 road-rally cam, duplex lightened timing gears, MG metro head, twin HS 1 1/2'' carbs on a new manifold to suit K & N cone air filters, maniflow competition LCB exhaust manifold into new two-can skidded competition upswept system, modified Aldon distributor, facet competition electric fuel pump and regulator valve, 2 core 'Super Cool' radiator and water pump, 13 row oil cooler with braided hoses. The gearbox is the MG metro rod-type with a 3.44 diff with a competition diff pin, central oil pick up pipe, and the clutch consists of an orange diaphragm, with C-AHT596 rally plate.

Additional specification is as follows:

INTERIOR

FIA six point safety devices roll cage fitted with fitted safety devices padding, FIA cobra Monaco seats, Sabelt 4 point clip-in harness, 'works' style dash panels incorporating a cut out switch and a large period smiths rev counter, chrome fly-off hand brake and all lines run inside the car.

REAR SUSPENSION

Fully seam welded rear sub frame with stainless steel fittings and competition grade rubber, 'Mini Sport' adjustable ride height cones, Spax adjustable shock absorbers, 'S' hubs, supermini -fin drums.

FRONT SUSPENSION

Subframe welded/strengthened for competition, competition/uprated cones, HI-LO adjustable trumpets, spax adjustable shock absorbers, 1.5 degree negative camber bottom arms, adjustable heavy duty tie bars, quickrack steering with new longer track-rod ends, 's' hubs and swivel pin kits, ST competition grade rubber bushes all round, braided houses, 7 ½'' 'S' discs and callipers, alloy sump guard.

WHEELS AND TYRES

FIA Minilite Cooper S 4 ½' X 10'' wheels with 165/70/10 Yokohamas including spare.

To conclude, a superbly presented Mini Cooper that has been the subject of a very lengthy restoration over the years, built to compete in Historic road rallying and ready to enjoy and be driven.