1965 Austin Mini Cooper S Mk 1
- Engine
- 1,275cc
A 1275cc Cooper S, built in February 1965 and finished in Tartan Red with a black roof, delivered new to Mylchreests Motors on the Isle of Man. At some point it was prepared for tarmac rallying, receiving a Stage 4 engine built by Manx Racing Developments, close-ratio gearbox, limited-slip differential, and full roll cage. A subsequent owner carried out a thorough nut-and-bolt restoration, returning it to original colour while retaining the competition specification. The odometer shows just 3,469 miles, consistent with a lifetime on the island.
Ownership
- 2023-02-24Auction saleSold £20,000 (≈ $25K)
- 1965-03-30 →Factory deliveryMylchreests Motorsfull documentation
Original receiving dealer on the Isle of Man; car was despatched from the factory to this dealership in Douglas.
- Date unknownIsle of Man owner who prepared car for rallyingnone documentation
At some stage the car was fitted with full tarmac rally equipment including a Manx Racing Developments Stage 4 engine, competition gearbox, and roll cage; this work is attributed to this unidentified owner's tenure.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownPrevious owner prior to current vendornone documentation
The car is believed to have been in storage for approximately ten years before the current vendor acquired it.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Purchased roughly fifteen years before the sale date; undertook a full restoration upon acquisition while retaining the existing competition mechanical specification.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —ModificationManx Racing Developments
Car was equipped for tarmac rallying with a Manx Racing Developments 1,275cc Stage 4 engine fed by a 45 DCOE Weber carburettor, straight-cut drop gears and gearbox, limited-slip differential, adjustable suspension all round, Bilstein dampers, Minlite wheels, fire suppression system, and a ten- or six-point roll cage.
Bill Quine of Manx Racing Developments built the engine. Precise date of this preparation is unknown.
- —Restoration
Complete nut-and-bolt strip-down carried out by the current vendor covering the entire car; bodywork refinished in the original Tartan Red. Dashboard was reconfigured by removing the navigator's box to achieve a period-correct appearance; seats, harnesses, and carpets renewed.
The existing competition mechanical specification was retained unchanged. Work undertaken shortly after the current vendor's acquisition, approximately fifteen years before the auction.
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