1964 Morris Mini 'Cooper S' 1275cc Sports Saloon
Registration no. GKX 958C
Chassis no. K-A2S4/553090
Engine no. 9F-5A-Y/32302

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. 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 971 'S' and 1275 'S' of 1964. The ultimate Mini of its day, the 1275 'S' pumped out 76bhp while remaining exceptionally flexible, and was good for a genuine 100mph - an astonishing performance at the time.

This Cooper 'S' had been taken off the road in 1978 and was a genuine 'barn find' when retrieved for restoration in 2016. Dating from the first few weeks of production, the car was registered in early September 1964 and has the 'dry' rubber-cone suspension like the 1,071cc 'S', preferred by many drivers for its superior stiffness and better roadholding qualities; most 1,275cc cars had the Hydrolastic suspension. The car had been painted in blue/yellow and was returned to its original red/black livery during restoration. Following the rebuild's completion, 'GKX 958C' was used as a course car at the 2019 Goodwood Revival. Offered with restoration bills, dating certificate, and a V5C document, the car is described by the vendor as in good condition throughout.