1969 Austin Mini Cooper 1275S 'Works' Replica

This excellent and original 1275cc Mini Cooper ‘S’ was supplied new in October 1968 by H A Saunders of London as confirmed by its Heritage Certificate which remains in the car’s comprehensive history file. It’s first owner was Jerry Pyrke who went on to become the Service Manager at Oliver-Rix Ltd who were BMC/BLMC/Austin-Rover dealers in Leagrave Road, Luton. He kept it until 1983 when he sold it to Peter Valentine.

In Peter’s own words “I acquired Mini-Cooper ‘S’ UXD725G in mid-1983. It was in rather poor condition with a lot of rust in all the usual places and a small amount of damage to the LH front wing. After taking the car home and stripping it fully, the shell was taken to Bourne Brothers body repair business in Arlesley near Hitchin. It took around a year for the body to be completely rebuilt and it was returned in August 1984 by which time the engine had been rebuilt and bored to 1330cc. At that time, it was fairly standard apart from 5” Minilite-replica wheels, Group 2 narrow wheel-arch extensions and bucket seats. I converted it to ‘dry’ suspension and fitted adjustable SPAX dampers.

I used it as an occasional road car until early 1989 when I thought that I would like to get into the new ‘historic’ rallying and it seemed that the Pirelli Classic Marathon would be a good event to do. In my years of rallying, mainly as a navigator/co-driver on International and National events and as a driver on local rallies, the Marathon seemed ideal for my Cooper ‘S’. However, I decided to co-drive and invited my long-term friend and former national-level driver Cec Offley to drive. Cec is great company in and out of the car so I thought it a good choice. Part of the deal was that if he bent it, he mended it (a sensible decision as it turned out).”

Correspondence in the file from Peter tells the story of the Marathon and their early exit (an unfortunate encounter with a FIAT pick-up truck) and also details the full build specification at the time. Peter continues “UXD was brought back to England on my trailer and taken to Bourne Brothers for a top-class rebuild. It went into a full vehicle alignment jig and a complete new front end was fitted which included both wings, front panel, inner wings, one A-panel and the screen scuttle panel. A new sub-frame was seam-welded and strengthened and brakes and drive shafts transferred from the original.” (There are some images of the car during its rallying days attached).

UXD did several more rallies including the Mike Spence Longleat Stages Rally in 1990 and the 1990 Targa Rusticana before featuring, during early 1991 in Marshalls showroom as part of the launch of the new Mini Cooper. One day in March it was spotted there by Norman Grimshaw who was put in touch with Peter and shortly became the car’s third owner. ‘Stormin’ Norman was a well known historic racer and Bon Vivant, whose many escapades in various Minis and Morris Minors had to be seen to be believed. His frequent co-pilot was Barry “Whizzo” Williams and they were a regular and formidable winning pair at the Goodwood Revival St. Mary’s Trophy.

The owner prior to our vendor, Graham Spratt, acquired the car in May 1999 and it was in regular road use until 2017 when the time came for a bit of a refresh. He was obviously an enthusiast of those legendary mid-sixties factory rally cars and, after some consideration, the decision was taken to completely strip and rebuild the car in to the stunning “Works replica" that it is today.

No stone was left unturned, with the original engine fully rebuilt to competition spec with an output of 80bhp at 5,300rpm (documented in the history file), a competition straight-cut ONJ (Oliver Jeynes) gearbox, all-correct ‘Works’ spec switchgear and dashboard (including the TOK switch for the heated rear screen) the co-driver’s map light and the individual co-driver’s horn button. A ‘Works’ replica roll-cage has also been fitted along with period-correct Lucas fog and driving lamps, reversing light, boot and bonnet straps and clear headlight protectors. A complete new wiring loom was also fitted and adapted for electronic ignition and a correct Kenlowe fan.

When the rebuild was complete, the car was correctly finished in Competition Department Tartan Red with a white roof and black interior) and has only covered a nominal mileage since. It is, today, a delightful and accurate period Works rally replica, matching numbers and original engine, but importantly based on an original 1968 Cooper 1275S, highly collectable in its own right.

Complete with a comprehensive history file, old registration documents and a modern V5C, this fabulous little Cooper is ready to go historic rallying or just to enjoy on the road - sensibly priced and beautifully built.