Car & Classic Dealer

Race & Revival Motorsport Ltd (Trading as GB Mini Garage)

20 Long Henry, South Street, Sheffield,

S2 5AW

1998 John Cooper "S" Conversion Ex Gov Diplomatic Rover Mini For Sale

GB Mini Garage - The Classic Mini Specialists

What Do We Do?

We're a classic Mini specialist based in Sheffield. You are more than welcome to visit our restorations warehouse or alternatively we can deliver our Mini's anywhere in the UK.

Do We Have More Stock?

We have over twenty Mini's ready to go! Most of those Mini's are restored or in exceptional condition. Most won't be online yet as we're a very small business and a bit backlogged under the current demand but you are more than welcome to visit our warehouse :).

Get in Contact With Us

For more information please see our website, our Instagram @gbminigarage or call our team on the phone number above. Alternatively you may join our mailing list for instant updates on new Mini's before they are listed and there is a link on our website.

UK & International Deliveries

Deliveries are no problem, our UK delivery service is charged at £0. 95 pence per mile based upon a return journey and we would only require a £400 deposit in advance with the balance upon delivery. Regarding international shipping, we have many customers in the USA & Canada and we recommend using hillshipping. com who'm charge between £795 and £1195 per vehicle dependant upon the port required. You would have to contact them directly.

Customise Your Mini!
Fancy a set of spotlights, stripes or a specific interior? Speak to us and maybe we can help build your perfect Mini.


Retirement Sale of our Classic Mini Collection Update (26th of April 2022)

Firstly and most importantly, thank you so much for your interest in the sale of our collection, whilst it has been a little crazy here we’re so appreciative of all the calls, all the texts, emails and messages, from clients new and old :). Thank you guys, whilst we’re sad to sell our Mini’s, we’re looking forward to retirement and all of your messages and support have been amazing.


Ex-British Government Diplomatic Mini (Sir Stephen Hall's) 1998 Rover Mini John Cooper "COOPER "S" PACK" 90 BHP Si Conversion - Super Rare Dealer (Park Lane Mini) Fitted John Cooper Conversion From New - Owned 19 Years - 54, 000 Genuine Miles - 2 Previous Keepers - Huge Meticulous Service History From New (No Less than 25 Services) - Superb Interior

With her provenance this could be the perfect investment vehicle or one very fun little toy.

She is a genuine 1998 Rover Mini with the John Cooper "Cooper S Pack" which originally offered a "90bhp Conversion", making it one of the most powerful models. This conversion was fitted when she was brand new by the famous flagship Mini of Park Lane and accordingly her original Rover purchase invoice states "COOPER "S" PACK (DEALER FITTED)". Such Cooper S Packs were normally only fitted after the fact by John Cooper Garages, however exception may have been made in this case as she would have a very special, very British role to play.

She was supplied by the famous flagship Park Lane Mini of London on the 23rd of October 1998 personally to the then well known politician Sir Stephen Wall (Formerly John Major's Private Secretary). This Mini was a UK registerred Mini which was sent to Brussels with Sir Stephen Wall and would have represented the UK with Sir Steven Wall in Brussels within his then role as Britain's Permanent Representative to the European Union in 1998 and 1999, before returning to London with Sir Steven Wall when he took up a position in the Cabinet Office in 2000 under the then Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Fantastically, the DVLA have advised that she was classed as an official British Government Vehicle (which would make sense considering that she was supplied by Rover Wholesale to Sir Stephen Wall at a discounted rate) and if that’s correct then what a fantastic provenance, we just love the Britishness of Sir Steven Wall shooting around Brussels in this Mini, very fitting for the role.

On her retirement she was purchased by her current keeper Paul via a well known dealership and Paul has owned her for 19 years. Prior to Paul's ownership she had just two former keepers, including Sir Stephen Wall. Owning her for what feels like a lifetime, Paul, the Treasurer of his local Mini Club, has lavished her with love and care, maintaining and improving her whilst building the most meticulous history folder from new with tens of thousands of pounds worth of spending and no less than 25 services. She has covered a genuine low mileage of just 54, 000 miles. One of the loveliest things about this Mini is actually her interior, however we'll get on to all of this and expand upon everything below.


1. John Cooper "Cooper S" Conversion (Dealer Fitted From New by Park Lane)

When did you last encounter a John Cooper "Cooper S" Pack which was fitted by a dealer from new? We haven’t, as in our experience these conversions have all been carried out after the fact by John Cooper Garages. Reading her original Rover purchase invoice (see photographs) from Park Lane Mini, it’s noted that Sir Steven paid an extra £1388. 27 to have a “dealer fitted” “Cooper S Pack” from new and such amount was "tax free" (see photographs).

Paul who’m has owned her since 2004 contacted John Cooper Works for confirmation of the specification in 2004 (email photographed) and they stated that she had “the 90bhp conversion” which included;

 John Coopers polished and ported three cylinder head (blue);
 Janspeed LCB exhaust manifold and full flow rear exhaust silencer;
 Roller tipped 1. 5 ratio rockers;
 A polished and ported inlet manifold;
 Uprated fuel pressure regulator;
 Modified full flow air filter box; and
 Platinum tipped spark plugs.

Paul has since switched the 1. 5 ratio rockers for standard to avoid cam wear (daily driver for 19 years), switched the spark plugs for standard and the Janspeed exhaust for an RC40 for daily driving (however these can be purchased separately if required). She has the relevant John Cooper plaque beside the drivers seat with the reference 125000/ 195/ 10 (photographed).

Driving her, she is fast and wonderful fun, terrifying really, lots of power and that iconic rally winning classic Mini handling.


3. Owned for 19 Years

Paul first purchased her from the reputable Mini Man of Solihull at Christmas in 2004 for the price of £7195. 56. Paul gave Mini Man special instructions to fit the upgraded electric “one-click” Webasto roof in premium Hollandie Deluxe Fabric which was £761. 00 at the time as well as the triple white Cooper Sportspack central gauges (Volt, Clock, Oil Temp). These are all invoiced. At the time she had covered just 28, 000 miles from new and Paul lovingly recollects spending the last 19 years and 26, 000 miles running his kids around, they weren’t born then, teenagers now. Paul is the treasurer of his local Mini Club and has maintained her to the highest standard and kept a huge folder of receipts which must total over ten thousand pounds spent if not tens of thousands, looking after her well since 2004. Circumstances have now forced Paul to sell her. Her logbook reads 2 previous keepers, one being Sir Steven Wall. Paul has kept some photographs of her back in 2004 and she is pretty much as she was.

The only other modifications made by Paul include; two extra front spotlights (originally supplied with just two), an Aston Martin DB6 chrome petrol cap cover (beautifully made), an upgraded stereo, USB port, upgraded shock absorbers and a Paul Smith Gearknob.


4. The Biggest Paper History File - Incredible

Most Mini’s come with no significant history, this Mini comes with the most meticulous file, it has been loved and cherished, looked after to the highest standard. We can’t incorporate all of such into this description, however we have outlined her service history (25 stamps and/ or invoices), her mileage history (54, 000 validated miles) and the key maintenance below. In reality her history folder spans her lifetime and has thousands if not tens of thousands of pounds worth of receipts and MOT’s so we can’t incorporate all of them and have only discussed the most important ones. We have taken pictures of the very most important documents (blurring out any addresses and codes) for legal reasons and we have taken photographs and videos of the file itself which you can speculate as to what’s inside, or pop over and view it in person.


5. Service History

Book One (Factory Supplied & Complete)

Nov 1998 - 1, 080 Miles - Garage Theo of Brussels
April 1999 - 2, 096 Miles - Garage Theo of Brussels
Oct 1999 - 4, 693 Miles - Garage Theo of Brussels
June 2000 - 7, 038 Miles - John Cooper Garages of Sussex
June 2001 - 10, 545 Miles - Miniman (Specialist) of Knowle
Oct 2001 - Not stated - Rover Approved Evans Halshaw Stamp in the back of the book coded A097 (implied recall regarding front brake hose / bracket).
May 2002 - 14, 724 Miles - Miniman (Specialist) of Knowle
March 2003 - 20, 490 Miles - Owner Note in Service History Stating Service Carried Out
Feb 2004 - 25, 240 Miles - Owner Note in Service History Stating Service Carried Out
** Paul Purchases Her **
Dec 2004 - 28, 819 Miles - Miniman (Specialist) of Knowle
June 2005 - 30, 490 Miles - Nick’s Garage of Cardiff
Nov 2006 - 32, 799 Miles - Monico Garage (Unipart) of Cardiff (Stamped in Both Books)
*** Book Complete ***

Book Two (Supplied by Unipart)

Dec 2007 - 33, 680 Miles - Monico Garage (Unipart) of Cardiff (Plus New Shocks)
Nov 2009 - 38, 215 Miles - Monico Garage (Unipart) of Cardiff
Nov 2010 - 39, 359 Miles - Monico Garage (Unipart) of Cardiff
Nov 2011 - 41, 157 Miles - Monico Garage (Unipart) of Cardiff (Plus Wheel Cylinder)
Nov 2012 - 42, 456 Miles - Monico Garage (Unipart) of Cardiff (Plus New Exhaust & Heater Valve)
Dec 2013 - 44, 376 Miles - Monico Garage (Unipart) of Cardiff (Plus New Shocks, Brake Service, SB Mounts, Mounts, Bushes etc.)
Nov 2014 - 45, 610 Miles - R. T Motorsport of Newport
Nov 2015 - 45, 761 Miles - Thomas Modern & Classic of Cardiff (Plus Brake Service & Fuel Pump)
*** Book Complete***

Paper Service History

Nov 2016 - 47, 664 Miles - Thomas Modern & Classic of Cardiff (Plus Huge Suspension & Brakes Restoration)
** Not MOT’d 2017**
May 2019 - 51, 513 Miles - Thomas Modern & Classic of Cardiff (New Fuel Pump Fitted at Time)
June 2020- 53, 194 Miles - Thomas Modern & Classic of Cardiff
May 2021 - 53, 792 Miles - Thomas Modern & Classic of Cardiff (inc. Rear Brake Service).
April 2023 - 54, 770 - GB Mini Garage of Sheffield (Engine & Brake Service).


6. Unique Super Quality Interior

What a wonderful interior she has, finished to a very high standard in red x grey x gold details, we believe this is one of Newton Commercial’s masterpieces, their seats ranging from £1-2k these days. These were already fitted when Paul purchased her in 2004. She is finished with the iconic Cooper Sportspack triple centre gauges and a Paul Smith gear-knob. Paul retains a booklet of photographs from 2004 and she is exactly as she is now with few changes.


7. The Boring Administrative Stuff

For reference her original dateless number plate assigned by Park Lane Mini was S127 KXP, however Paul was advised by the DVLA that due to certain rules surrounding ex-government vehicles she can’t be returned to that dateless number plate. Instead she has always been assigned a private plate which the DVLA advise that Sir Stephen Wall chose when in his ownership. Paul spent some time questioning the DVLA regarding this and their correspondence is within the history folder.

She was exported when new in 1998 to Brussels for Sir Steven Wall’s political use. We have all of the export documents. She was then reimported in 2000 when Sir Steven Wall returned to the Cabinet Office in London. When Paul purchased her such export was noted on the logbook by way of her being re-registered as a 2000 plate (return date, standard with imports). However Paul successfully petitioned the DVLA to return her to her original 1998 registration date (all correspondence retained) back when the DVLA had more common sense (scans of the original V5 document retained in the history folder).


8. Condition

She’s in beautiful condition. During Paul’s ownership she’s had a new rear subframe, proper sills and her underside is in very good condition. On top and inside she is very nice with just minor marks commensurate with age, you will love her. It's hard to describe a classic vehicle as they are not brand new, they will all have imperfections. I would note a small scratch on her roof, a small scratch hidden behind her boot lock and a small chip in her seat maybe and there will be other small marks as she's a classic, undoubtedly. She's just not brand new, she's been very much loved and used daily throughout her life. Please see the video on the link below which shows more.

She has last week passed a new MOT. The only advisories were that she has a thin layer of underseal underneath to protect her from damp (standard) and an oil leak described as "not excessive". Regarding the oil leak, I put her on the ramp and cleaned the entire bottom of the engine after the MOT and then left her for several days to identify the location of the leak. After several days no leak had appeared or was evident and she has not leaked since. I can only assume that such was remnants from when we cleaned the engine bay, carb cleaner mixed with historic oil residue dripping down to the lowest point where we didn't clean. That being said she is a Mini and if she doesn't have an oil leak now, she could have one tomorrow due to the design of these engines (most leak oil, don't be concerned unless it's major)... always assume a Mini leaks oil.


Walkaround Video & 60+ Photographs of Her & Her Documents

If you would like to see more photographs, please see our website.


The Final Evolution of Classic Mini (1996-2000) - The Ultimate Base Specification

Several well reputed authors describe the final Mini model (manufactured between 1996 and 2000) as “The Ultimate Mini”. They were the “Ultimate Mini” because with the 21st century fast approaching and with the modern Mini preparing for launch and these being the final models to leave the production line, Rover embarked upon what they described as “the most radical package of improvements for 36 years [since the Mini’s launch in 1959]”. Those improvements made this final model the most; powerful, reliable, safe, useable and green factory production Mini model ever created. The benefits of this final model are often asked of us and aren’t immediately obvious, so we have done our best to collate various factory records on our website for you to explain the standard basic factory specification of these final models (on which the John Cooper S expands).

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