1970 Austin Mini Cooper S Mk3 *Sold £20,500*

Description

• 1,000 miles since 2009
• Heritage Certificate
• One of 778 Home Market cars
• Meticulously restored in the mid-2000s

Everybody knows and loves the classic Mini Coopers. They are either a road legal roller-skate providing masochistic fun for four, or pure undiluted joy. We prefer the latter.

Alec Issigonis created the Mini. John Cooper, racing car driver, producer of Formula One racing cars and good friend of Issigonis, created the best ever Mini; the Mini Cooper S.

The classic Mini was already a brilliant car and a brilliant success. John Cooper in partnership with BMC worked an alchemy on the Mini Cooper that has probably never been repeated. He transformed the classic Mini into a multi award winning sports car that, critically, was still accessible to people like us, and that is what makes them such sought after items today.

The bodywork he left pretty much untouched aside from some minor tweaks.  The interior trim on the Cooper’s was specific to the Cooper models, but John Cooper’s expertise was in making cars handle well and go quickly. His attention focused on the mechanicals and the engine.

Background

The Cooper S Mk3 is a particularly rare flavour of classic Mini. Just 1,570 units are believed to have been built, with only 778 UK, RHD ‘Home Market’ cars.

The Heritage Certificate with this Cooper S Mk3 confirms it is one of the very first of those rare 778 classic Cooper S cars.

Production of the Cooper S Mk3 began in March 1970 and finished in June 1971. This Mk3’s Certificate states a build date of 9 April 1970 and a despatch to date the Main Dealer, Carey & Lambert Ltd of Southampton, on 6 May 1970

Our mature vendor tells us he has owned this marvellous Cooper S Mk3 since 2009. He further advises us “it sits in my carpeted garage with my other toys. I’ve done about 1,000 miles in it, give or take”

Prior to our vendor’s ownership, a huge file of documents show the Cooper S had been thoroughly overhauled with little regard to the cost. Many of the documents describing the “heritage parts” bought, date from around 2005.

Exterior

The biggest revision to the Mini range was the introduction of the Mk3 bodyshell.

The Mk3 Mini had been introduced in the autumn of 1969. Due to a contract dispute between BMC and John Cooper, the Mk3 Cooper S Mini production did not start until March 1970. BMC and John Cooper had an agreement for Cooper S’s to be produced for five years. BMC tried to weasel out of it and Cooper kicked-off. BMC backed down, thank goodness.

The images in the gallery tell their own story. Please do take a look.

The bright work is in very good condition and free of any weathering or corrosion. The vendor describes the paintwork as “excellent”. The condition of both are probably due in no small part our vendor’s care of the Cooper S and its lack of exposure to the UK’s weather.

The file of documents reveal the attention to detail the earlier restoration took. Examples includes items such as “interior weatherstrips, minor mouldings” and “even door striker plates”. We’re glad they did, but who goes to those lengths!

The images give tantalising glimpses of the underbody condition through the wheel arches and sill sections. You’ll note the underbody is very nearly as clean and well-finished as the exterior. Another indicator of our fastidious vendor.

The whole package together does look rather smashing.

Inside

The interior carries on where the exterior left off. It has had the same level of attention lavished on it and the result is very, very good.

Our vendor has swapped the two front seats for a couple of ‘Cobra’ styled ones. He has the original seats and the successful bidder can decide to EITHER retain the seats shown in the images here or swap for the original seats.

The view from the images are that all the original soft trim, such as door cards, carpets, headlining, even the sun visors are as good as you’re likely to see on any classic. In particular the door cards present like new. At the rear, the boot area is in terrific condition.

Referring back again to the file of documents, we can see items such as, “Mini Cooper rear window seal; headlining & heavy duty adhesive; Dashliner, Screws x 6 @21p each”. Talk about no stone left unturned!

With a degree of confidence, the vendor describes the interior as “one hundred percent”.

As you drop down into the classic Cooper S and your eye is drawn to that big central instrument binnacle you know in an instant that you’re in a Cooper S Mk3 by that 130mph speedo.

Engine

That leads us nicely, almost like the professionals we aspire to be, on to that lovely A-Series.

One thing that didn’t change on the classic Cooper S Mk3 was the level of performance. The 1275 S, considered by many to be the best Cooper S engine, produced 76bhp. Which may not sound massive by modern day standards, but the speedo gives a clue to just what a well sorted Cooper S like this is capable of.

The engine didn’t escape the focussed restoration. As a small insight into the Zen-like qualities of the restorer, we’ll share with you an example taken from the file that comes with the car.

The very knowledgeable Mini experts amongst you will know that BMC changed the EN40B crankshaft on the Cooper S Mk3 based on cost grounds.

The restorer of this Cooper S was having none of that corner cutting nonsense, which was probably the ultimate downfall of BMC.

The paperwork states, “the crankshaft & rods are from an earlier Cooper S with an EN04B crank”. He goes on to detail individual torque settings, valve clearances, ignition timing and the optimum type of spark plugs; NGK BP7ES. In case you were wondering, he really does seem to cover everything.

For the avoidance of any doubt, our vendor tells us the Cooper S “drives beautifully”. Of course it does!

Our view

Due to their small production run, of numbers and years, Cooper S Mk3 Minis are very hard to find. Finding one in this kind of condition is truly wonderful and we feel flattered to be marketing it for our very well-informed vendor.

What to make of it? Since 2009, it has covered around 1,000miles. The images speak for themselves and we all know what a scarce commodity, good condition Cooper S Mk3  Minis are.

We fully expect considerable interest.

We anticipate the final closing bid to be between £16,000- £22,000, but if a few bidders become involved, could be considerably more if recent examples are any guide.

 

Vehicle Location: Fermanagh, Northern Ireland – it’s the responsibility of the winning bidder to make collection / transportation arrangements directly with the vendor.

Have a question about this vehicle? Please contact the Evoke team at auction@evoke-classics.com and we will speak to the vendor on your behalf.

Tedious but it’s vital you read this, please.

We will always strive to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available. However, we can’t claim to be perfect. Your own analysis is very important and we are here to help and also answer any and all queries you may have prior to purchase.

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