1965 Morris Mini Cooper 970 'S' Sports Saloon

Registration no. CBK 99C Chassis no. K-A2S4/550919

Footnotes

Considered by automobile historians to be one of the most important and influential designs ever, the Austin/Morris Mini was in production for 40 years and today remains the most enduring icon of the British motor industry.

To many though - its designer Alec Issigonis included - the notion that the Mini might have a future as anything other than basic transport was anathema, and the idea of a high-performance version was laughable. One man though, saw it quite differently. Racing car manufacturer John Cooper already knew quite a bit about tuning BMC's A-Series engine - he was running the company's Formula Junior effort at the time - and a test drive in a prototype Mini convinced him of the car's competition potential. The result, launched in September 1961, was the Mini Cooper, a car that offered a size/price/performance package that was nothing short of miraculous. To achieve this miracle the 848cc A-Series engine had been given a considerably longer stroke which, coupled with a slightly smaller bore, resulted in a capacity of 997cc. Boasting bigger valves, raised compression ratio, a higher-lift camshaft, and twin SU carburettors, it produced 55bhp at 6,000rpm.

The Mini Cooper soon established its credentials as a rally and race winner, and the stage was set for even faster versions. The first of these - the 1,071cc Mini Cooper 'S' of 1963 - took engine development a stage further and provided the basis for the 970cc 'S' and 1,275cc 'S' of 1964. Built to order, the short-stroke 970cc 'S' was effectively a 'homologation special' that enabled BMC to enter the Mini Cooper in the 1,000cc class. Only 963 were manufactured, and original examples are extremely rare, as many have been converted to take different A-Series engines.

This 970 'S' was completed on 6th January 1965 and delivered to Wadham Holdings Limited, Southsea, Hampshire. The car was finished in Tweed Grey with white roof, and left the factory equipped with a fresh-air heater and 4.5" wide wheels. Registration records on file go back as far as 1974 when 'CBK 99C' was owned by one Mr Johnson of Kent. Details of all subsequent owners are available.

The car is presented today in fully restored condition, the rebuild having been undertaken in the 2000s while it was owned by Mr Nicholson of Hampshire. Works carried out included extensive bodywork renovation and rebuilds of the engine, gearbox, suspension, steering, and brakes. Relevant bills are on file and the car also comes with a quantity of expired MoTs and tax discs, a selection of restoration photographs, BMIHT Certificate, MoT to January 2020, and a current V5C document. A wonderful opportunity to own one of the rarest of all Mini Cooper variants.