Mini Cooper 997

Overview
Produced: 1961-1964, 24800 produced.
Types: Saloon

When Alec Issigonis designed the Mini he certainly never envisaged its competition or fast road performance as being an important selling point, he intended the Mini to be nothing more than a shopping car for the masses. Luckily for motoring enthusiasts racing car builder John Cooper spotted the Mini's competition potential early on, the Mini Cooper was born in 1961.

Cooper Mini's came in the usual Austin/Morris guises and with the "Super" trim levels, the famous contrasting roof colours also appeared for the first time, something still found on current production Mini Coopers. Cooper's came with twin SU carb engines, servo disc brakes, remote gear changes and close ratio gearboxes. The Mini Cooper (Mk I) was powered by the 997cc A-series and received the more torquey 998cc engine from 1964. As with the Cooper S, the Mini Cooper received the Mk II modifications in 1967.

Engines
CapacityConfigModelBore/StrokeCR
997ccS4 OHVBMC A-Series62.42mm x 81.5mm
Transmission
TypeGearsComment
Manual4
Drivetrain and Suspension
DrivetrainSteeringFront SuspensionRear Suspension
Performance
Top Speed0-60SQMMPGEngine PwrComment
85 mph18 s32 mpg55 bhp 6000
Brakes
FrontRearComment
DiscDrumStandard Cooper discs very prone to fade
Auction Sales History
Lot
Num
Description Auctioneer Date Hammer Price Hammer Price
(inc premium)
002 Morris Mini Cooper Saloon H&H Sales Limited 21 Feb 2004 £4800.00 -
015 Morris Mini Cooper (1962) H&H Sales Limited 28 Nov 2001 Not sold
035 Morris Mini Cooper MKI (1964) BCA 21 May 2001 - £3424.00
083 Morris Mini Cooper (1964) H&H Sales Limited 6 Dec 2000 Not sold
046 Morris Mini Cooper (1962) BCA 15 Feb 1999 £5250.00 -
041 Morris Mini Cooper (1962) BCA 14 Dec 1998 Not sold
154 Morris Cooper (1962) Sothebys 18 Jul 1993 Not sold
013 Morris Mini Cooper De Luxe (1963) ADT 21 Jun 1993 Not sold
075 Mini Cooper 1.3 (1963) Brooks 14 Oct 1992 Not sold
Books
Magazine Articles
Title Pages Options
Article Buying Guide - 1961-71 Mini Cooper
110 View
Publication Classic Cars July 2011
Buying Guide - 1961-71 Mini Cooper - Mini Coopers are getting more expensive all the time, so it's more important than ever to check carefully before you buy.
Article Small cars, big grins
82 View
Publication Classic Cars October 2009
Small cars, big grins - BMW and Fiat plundered their back catalogues to bring us today's Mini Cooper and Abarth 500 - but the originals created an even bigger splash.
Article Mini Adventure
48 View
Publication Practical Classics January 2003
From cradle to grave. Mini Adventure. From Kings Road icon to cliched anachronism? Nigel Boothman compares two examples of our favourite baby, built 40 years apart.
Article Buyers Guide - Mini 1959-2000
82 View
Publication Practical Classics December 2001
Buyers Guide - Mini 1959-2000 - With the Mini name still making headlines, there's never been a better time to buy the original classless classic.
Article Buying Guide - Mini 1959-80
140 View
Publication Classic Cars November 2000
Buying Guide - Mini 1959-80 - Cute and compact, the Mini made small cars trendy in a way never before seen, while the Cooper S astonished the motor sport world with outright wins.  The end of production can only enhance its fashion icon status.
Article The magic box
106 View
Publication Classic & Sports Car October 2011
The magic box - Jon Pressnell marks the 50th anniversary of BMC's brilliant trick Mini by driving Coopers from Britain, Australia and Italy.
Article Buyer's Guide - Mini (1959-2000) - Minor Miracle
88 View
Publication Classic Car Mart August 2011
Buyer's Guide - Mini (1959-2000) - Minor Miracle - The original Mini has yet to be bettered as an all-purpose pocket rocket.  Here's how to buy the right one.
Article Classic to restore
39 View
Publication Classic Car Mart March 2011
Classic to restore - It's at this time of the year that many of us consider our next project.  But which classics make the best choices right now? Paul Guinness chooses six of his most recommended classic to restore.  Morris Minor, MGB & MGB GT, Classic Mini, Ford Anglia 105E, Triumph TR5, Austin-Healey Sprite.
Article Mini Cooper The Ultimate Giant-Killer - 50 Years
42 View
Publication Octane February 2011
Mini Cooper The Ultimate Giant-Killer - 50 Years - From shopping car to celebrity icon, the Mini-Cooper arrived to take on the world in 1961.  And three Monte Carlo Rally victories are only part of its story.
Article Buyer's Guide - Mini Cooper (1961-1971)
68 View
Publication Classic Car Weekly 8 September 2010
Buyer's Guide - Mini Cooper (1961-1971) - This British icon's golden anniversary is fast approaching, and it's still an unbeatable package.  But as RICHARD DREDGE explains, buying a Cooper is a great idea - if you know what you're doing.
Article God is in the details...
110 View
Publication Classic & Sports Car January 2009
God is in the details...and that's why Minis were such divinely successful rally winners, explains Jon Pressnell after meeting the men who built these famous ex-works car.
Article Buying Power - Mini-Cooper: The Next Generation (1990-2000)
28 View
Publication Classic Car Weekly 22 March 2007
Buying Power - Mini-Cooper: The Next Generation (1990-2000) - It may have been an anachronism by the Nineties, but it wasn't half a fun one!  RICHARD GUNN looks at buying one reintroduced Mini-Coopers - or Mini Coopers, depending in your punctuation - of the Rover years.
Article Buyers Guide - (1961-1971) Mini
118 View
Publication Octane March 2007
Buyers Guide - (1961-1971) Mini - You might be surprised to learn that 120,000 Mini Coopers were built over the years - but there are also plenty of fakes, so would-be buyers need to do their homework.
Article Buyer's guide - Make it a Mini
98 View
Publication Classic Car Mart February 2007
Buyer's guide - Make it a Mini - Thinking of buying a Mini? Don't do anything until you've read our essential guide.
Article What's The Worst That Can Happen When Tempted By A Classic Mini?
72 View
Publication Classic Car Mart April 2006
What's the worst that can happen when tempted by a Classic Mini? - The latest BMW-owned MINI might be doing very well for itself, but the original all-British product is still one of the best buys on today's classic market.  Is buying and owning a Mini really all plain sailing though, asks Paul Guinness?
Article Buying Power - Mini-Cooper
24 View
Publication Classic Car Weekly 28th July 2004
Buying Power - Mini-Cooper - The greatest giant-killer in the history of motorsport, the Mini-Cooper was a brilliant combination of Issigonis’ greatest achievement for BMC with John Cooper’s eye for competitive advantage.  MALCOLM McKAY looks at buying the Minis that starred in almost all forms of motorsport.
Article Road Test - Mini Cooper
32 View
Publication Classic Car Weekly 3rd December 2003
Road Test - Mini Cooper - Built 1961-72, four-seater, two-door, front-engined, front-wheel-drive saloon.
Article Classics April 2002 pg 30
30 View
Publication Classics April 2002
Three Stage Rockets. The Mini Cooper S, Ford Escort RS1800 and Lancia Delta Integrale were the ultimate rally cars, even though they were all based on family shopping cars. Tim Morgan tells their stories, while Andrew Noakes drives them.
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