This 1965 Mini Cooper S is a right-hand drive Mk 1 example that was modified to Group 1/A rally specifications by Pip Carrotte, LTD and raced in various events in England before retiring in 2008. The car then spent time at the Cayman Motor Museum in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, before being imported to the US in 2015. Subsequent refurbishment work completed in 2020 (the car has been under A/C storage since). The body shell was placed in a rotisserie and the underneath and engine bay was sand blasted and recoated, leaving the visible part of the body with its original paint with its racing scars and patina. Practically a brand new car with vintage racing look. The restoration included engine overhaul and rebuilt of transaxle, suspension, steering, headers, exhaust and braking systems. This Mk1 is finished in red with black roof over new red cloth upholstery seats and is powered by an A-type 1,275cc inline-four originally built by Osborne Automotive Preparation of Surrey, England, (in 2017 was rebuilt by Mini Coopers of Miami) that is paired with a four-speed strait-cut gears manual transaxle. Rally modifications include a 1275cc original Cooper S racing engine with twin SU H4 1.5" carburettors, roof rack, driving lights, lexan side and rear windows, a racing clutch with a lightweight flywheel and heavy-duty pressure plate, a high-flow oil cooler, a Ken Lowe electric cooling fan, a Myler’s SuperCool two-core radiator, Koni shock absorbers, dual fuel electric fuel pumps, dual fuel tanks, and straight-cut gears. This Cooper S is now offered with a book of racing records and restoration process photos as well as a clean Florida title.
This is an original 1965 right-hand drive Austin Mini Cooper S (MK 1 series).
The car is a FIA registered/ homologated historical rally race car with significant racing history.
It was transformed into Group 1/A specification by renown Pip Carrotte’s Gainsborough workshop.
The body undercarriage of the car was reinforced with double steel sheet metal strengthened and gusseted sub-frames.
Equipped with Dural sump-shield, negative camber bottom arms, Koni shock absorbers, Hi-low adjustable struts, cone spring road/rally competition Mini Cooper S, poly tie rod and subframe bush kit. Hydraulically actuated brakes, 7 1/2 inch competition rotors with brake pads Kevlar EBC (black). 1 1/2 inch wide rear drum brakes with bottom protector plates. Goodridge stainless braided brake lines, twin fuel tanks (2 x 25 lts).
It is powered by the S, A-type inline 1275 cc four-cylinder big bore, short stroke type, developing over 95 BHP at 5.800 RPM, built to race specs by Osborne Automotive Preparation - OAP Race Engines in England, with overhead valve twin carbureted (twin H4 1 1/2 " in SU carbs) racing engine, 4 speed close-ratio gearbox with baulk ring synchromesh, straight-cut gears, standard drop gears as per Group 1 and standard differential with 4.1:1 ratio.
The motor has approx 100 miles on a fresh rebuilt according to Appendix K of the FIA international sporting code; maintaining its original “A-series” block 1275 cc displacement.
Professionally assembled by Mini Coopers of Miami according to OAP’s original specs in order to maintain their original race tune set up.
Equipped with a high flow 13 row oil cooler, high output Kenlowe electric cooling fan, 2 core super-cool radiator with 13 lb shallow neck cap. Racing clutch with heavy-duty pressure plate and lightweight flywheel. Maniflow LCB heather exhaust 1.75 ID collector connected to RC40 PECO large bore single chrome upswept rear exit muffler. High output alternator, Austin Mini Aldon distributor red early type pre A+.
The exterior is finished in red maintaining its historic racing patina with the typical scars from race wars. FIA cut-out switches, plumbed-in fire system, heated laminated screen, side and rear windows in lexan.
Equipped with gold Mini-lite wheels wrapped in Dunlop S44 Weathermaster 145-10 tires. Additionaly it has a Genuine Monte Carlo style Roof Rack.
Outfitted with Lucas P-700 headlights with stone guards lexan lens covers. Above the front bumper, a removable harness with 2 Lucas 7” driving & 2 fog lights and one fixed center Lucas 5” driving light. On the roof a Lucas 7” roof mounted Spot light remotely operated in the cockpit and on the truck lid a 5” Lucas reversing light.
The interior is furnished with a full body FIA approved roll cage, with navigator and driver racing new seats rapped in period correct Corduroy fabric, twin 6 point safety harnesses, Moto-Lita steering wheel, Stack racing gauges and works-style dash with S central speedo, Halda Twin Master, Brandz Rally Timer.....
twin Heuer “Roadmaster” Stopwatches, a Galco 12hr Rally Timer dashboard mounted, Avanti cabin and map lights, remotely operated FIA spec fire extinguisher system in the rear floor pan and 2 hand-held located in the front floor pans below driver & navigator legs, emergency cut-off switch, 12 volt battery is safely located the left hand side of the back seat.
In the trunk, it has a spare tire and 2 x 25 liters interconnected fuel tanks on each side along with 2 Facet high-flow electric fuel pumps, manually controlled from the diver’s side dash.
LIST OF SOME KNOWN RALLY EVENTS THE CAR PARTICIPATED IN:
- FIA Vauxhall Rally of Wales Historic. March 1995
- FIA YPRES Historic Rally Belgium. June 1995
- National Rally Britannia UK. Nov 1997
- Simonz Tour of Cornwall Hist Rally. April 1998
- Robin Hood Forest Stages Rally. March 1999
- Vauxhaull Astra Historic Stages Rally. April 1999
- Tour of Cornwall Historic Rally. April 1999
- FIA Wetherfield Stages UK. Aug 1999
- FIA Millbrook Historic Stages Rally. May 2000
- Scottish Malts Reliability Trial. Sept 2004
- Leukemia Ecurie Cymraeg Historic Rally. June 2005
- LE JOG Reliability Trial. Dec 2005.
List of new parts added to the car in the restoration process:
- Pistons: STD 9.75:1 1275 Mini Cooper S.
- Cylinder liner 1275 A Series up to 0.40,
- Lightweight flywheel inertia starter: AEG615.
- Clutch Diaphragm: AEG482 Race/Rally.
- Clutch Diaphragm Spring: GCC103.
- Clutch Plate Race/Rally: AHT596.
- Release Bearing race/rally: GRB201.
- Clutch Pressure Plate Lighten Steel: AHT-230
- Clutch Disk: GPC204
- Clutch Slave Cylinder Original: 22A233
- Engine Block re-bored to liners to STD.
- Dual SU 1.5” Carburetors.
- Oil cooler high-flow 13-row .
- Oil Cooler Hose to Block: 21A1780
- Oil Cooler Hose from Block & Filter to Cooler : MOC4
- Oil Separator, Sump Breather Large: U-12G2619
- Ken Lowe high-output electric cooling fan: C-ARA4400
- Radiator 2-core Myler’s SuperCool: C-ARA4442
- Radiator Rubber Surround: 14A7286
- Radiator Brackets: 12G1053
- Radiator Cap 13lb shallow neck: GRC111
- Radiator Kevlar Hoses: GRH240KEVLAR, GRH247KEVLAR.
- Alternator, high-output 34 Amp: GEU205.
- Alternator Bracket: 12G1053
- Alternator Conversion Kit: MMKT0705
- Ignition Coil, Gold Performance Sports: MSC105
- Distributor, Austin Mini Aldon Red early pre A+: ALDON-RACE
- Coil Cover Waterproof: 8G727
- Spark Plug Wire Set 90o : LHT753
- Water Pump Gasket: 88G215
- Water Pump : GPW134
- Starter Motor: LRS102
- Starter Selenoid: SRB335
- Subframe Bush Poly: 2A5818POLY
- Suspension Bush Poly: MMKT0124
- Subframe Rear Bolt & Bushes: MS44
- Lower Arm Bush Set of 4: WB2
- Tie Rod Bush Poly: WB3
- Engine Stabilizer Bar Bush: WB4
- Cone Spring Road/Rally Competiton: C-STR687
- Tie Rod Bush Set of 4: C-STR628
- Bearing Kit Roller Front Wheels: GHB143K
- Trailing Arm rebuilt Kit: GSV1125
- Cup Knuckle Joint: 21A423
- Boot Knuckle Joint: 21A425
- Pickle Fork Ball Joint/Tie rod Separator: 660490
- Ball Joint Swivel Pin Kit: GSJ166-MS
- Steering Tie Rod End: GSJ612
- Joint Knuckle: GSV1118
- Koni Shocks Front: C-STR1675
- Koni Shocks Rear: C-STR1794
- Strut Adjustable Hi-Low: SSS0015K
- Exhaust PECO Large Bore Single Chrome: PECO-BB1-7
- Maniflow LCB Header 1.75”: C-AEG365
- RC-40 Rear Box: C-STR809
- Fitting for RC40: RC-40FK
- Manifold Nut Brass: 51k1177
- Stud Manifold to Head: 53K487
- Manifold Nut Brass Short: GHF261
- Exhaust Manifold hardware Kit: MMKT0252
- Brake Rotors 7.5” Competition: C-21A1265
- Brake 5 Hoses Braided Kit: C-AJJ4027
- Brake Rear Spring Kit: BRAKE02
- Brake Rear Shoe Set 1.25”: GBS101MS
- Brake Line Rear Swing Arm: SPB10
- Brushes Wipers: WKB105
- Brake Pads “S” Kevlar EBC (Black): GBP103-KEVLAR
- Brake Wheel Cylinder Rear 5/8: GWC1101
- Austin Gas Cap Aston Style: MSA1145
- Rear Screen Demist Panel: WRRP002L
- Tires Dunlop Weathermaster SP44 : TYR145SR10SP44
- Washer bottle MK1: GWW918
- Motolita Polished Billet Horn Control: MLLBILHUB
- Fuel Hoses Braided: LMA340, 341, 342, 343
- Gas Cap Collar: SP228
- Petrol Tank Seal: WGG1000010
- Head Lamps Covers Perplex Black leather Straps: WRRP003BL