Vendor supplied photos
Highlights
- Meticulously prepared for rally eligibility
- Fully rebuilt engine and gearbox
- A well thought out interior, with all the accessories you could need
The Appeal
Famously piloted to victory in the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally by Paddy Hopkirk, the Mini Cooper S is one of those cars with a universal appeal. Who wouldn’t want to own one of these incredibly capable little cars?
The Mini offered for sale here has undergone extensive rally preparation and is now presented with accompanying eligibility documentation. It has reportedly competed in events such as the Historic Acropolis Rally.
The car comes fitted with all the rallying features and accessories you could hope for, including roll bars, trip meters and auxiliary gauges, two fire extinguishers and a 1275cc engine. It certainly looks like it would go like the clappers, and we don’t doubt that it has the capability to do very well in a variety of competitive events.
The History and Paperwork
- Originally a Morris Mini 850
- Converted to full Cooper rally spec over a period of three years
- First appeared at the 11th Historic Acropolis Rally, finished 5th in class
- Numerous rally and event appearances since completion
- FIVA Identity Card
- Greek registration document
- Greek MOT equivalent
The Interior
- Roll bars fitted
- Rally-spec dashboard with switches, gauges and Retrotrip II trip meter
- Six-point seatbelts
Opening the door of this Mini Cooper reveals the kind of sight any rally driver or navigator dreams of: a fully stocked interior with every rallying accessory you could want, all carefully thought through and ergonomically designed.
The dashboard is said to be a faithful copy of an original, with period switches, gauges and warning lights. The right hand panel features a FIA approved RETROTRIP II precision trip meter, as well as three analogue stop watches, a compass, 12V power outlets and the battery kill switch.
OMP Motorsport bucket seats are fitted along with six-point harnesses and two fire extinguishers are secured in front of and behind the seats. A handle for controlling the roof-mounted search light descends from the ceiling.
There is a pair of roll bars fitted fore and aft that carry a safety belt cutter. The height of the steering wheel is said to have been set in accordance with the FIA regulations.
As you can see, this is a very thoroughly thought-out cabin, which should stand the driver and navigator in good stead during even the toughest of rallies.
The Exterior
- The bright red paintwork is in great condition but it has seen some competitive use
- Front spot lamps, mudguards and sump guard
- External battery kill switch
This Mini Cooper certainly looks the part, finished in bright red with a white roof, along with its set of front spot lamps, headlight grilles, mudflaps, sump guard, leather buckles and externally mounted kill switch. There’s no mistaking this for anything other than a seriously competitive rally car.
The car runs on Minilite alloy wheels which are in great condition and there is reportedly no historic damage to the underside. There is a small section of damage to the front left wing, under the headlamp, as can be seen in the photographs and the vendor reports a small dent on the right of the bootlid.
Having been used in competitive motorsport, there are of course some blemishes, scratches and chips in the paint. But we think these serve to add to the car’s story. And it certainly still looks very smart and presentable.
The Mechanics
- 1275cc A-series engine built to homologation specification
- Gearbox rebuilt as standard
- Fully adjustable suspension setup
Originally an 850, this Mini has since been fitted with a powerful 1275cc engine, which has reportedly been rebuilt in exacting detail to comply with the FIA homologation specifications. At the same time the crankshaft was rebalanced and a new Kent camshaft fitted. The gearbox has also been rebuilt to its original specification to ensure eligibility.
The suspension is said to be FIA compliant and fully adjustable with a front anti-roll bar, and can be set up for use on a variety of surfaces. Front disc brakes have been fitted and the rear brakes are aluminium finned drums from Minifin. The vendor tells us that new braided fuel lines have been fitted, along with a new fuel tank.
As you can tell, a huge amount of effort has gone into preparing this Mini Cooper in order to bring it up to the highest standard of performance while retaining its eligibility, so we’re sure the next owner will appreciate its meticulous preparation.
Summary
If you’ve ever dreamed of reliving the magic of Paddy Hopkirk’s Monte Carlo Rally victory, then this stunning Mini Cooper is perhaps the best way to experience the heyday of road rallying.
Clearly this car has been very well prepared and the vendor points out the effort which has been put into ensuring the car remains FIA compliant and eligible. We’re sure it’ll be great fun to drive in all sorts of events and could be highly competitive.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
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