Mini Cooper MkI

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Alec Issigonis’ iconic Mini was launched in 1959 and was to have a profound effect on the future design of the car. Brilliant packaging of engine and gearbox allowed 80% of the vehicle’s footprint to be used for passengers and luggage.

It soon became apparent that the Mini was also huge fun to drive and its go-kart like handling was very effective in competition. John Cooper, a friend of Issigonis, persuaded him to allow development of a competition version, the Mini Cooper making its debut in 1961 with a 997cc long stroke engine. This was supplanted in 1964 with the 998cc unit. The standard car's output of 34bhp increased to 55bhp, and the twin SUs and close ratio gearbox made for a very successful formula. A shorter stroke higher power 'S' version was added, primarily for circuit racing.

The Mini Cooper dominated in the Sixties, with Monte Carlo Rally wins from 1964-1967. Having won in 1966, they were infamously disqualified because of an irregularity in the lighting system. However the ensuing rumpus produced more positive publicity than the company could have hoped for and the moral victory was theirs.

This 1964 example was purchased by the vendor as a project several years ago. It had originally been painted green and silver and had been laid up since the 1990s. Its logbook shows that it has only had two previous keepers and it was found to be in reasonably sound original condition when acquired.

The vendor has subsequently fitted a new wing and front panel and given the stripped bodyshell a thorough tidy up. The subframes and brakes (now Cooper S at the front) were refurbished and the 997cc engine given a thorough check-over, strip and paint. It was reassembled on top of a good four-synchro gearbox fitted with a Cooper S type differential.

The restoration was then topped off with new interior trim supplied by Mini Trim in Stoke on Trent having been given a fresh coat of green paint by a local friend.

It is MOTd until April 2016 and comes with its original buff logbook that shows that it has been registered 4665 NT and TTK 10 in earlier times, the car now carrying the number EFD 766B which it has worn for many years.

The more observant will have noticed the extra filler cap (in this case a dummy) on the rear of the car, a popular 70's addition to fool you into thinking you have just been overtaken by a hot 'twin-tank' Cooper S as it flew by doing 90mph on a narrow country road.