Mini Cooper S Mk3 - 1971
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
Bonhams
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2019
Estimated : € 30.000 - 40.000
Sold for € 20.700
Despite being conceived as basic transport for the masses, the Mini caught the imagination of racing car manufacturer John Cooper, whose drive in a prototype convinced him of its competition potential. Cooper already knew a lot about tuning BMC's A-Series engine - he was running the company's Formula Junior effort at the time – and applied his knowledge in developing a high-performance Mini. 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 1.071 cc 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 100 mph (161 km/h) - an astonishing performance at the time.
One of 1.572 built, 792 of which were delivered in the UK, this rare Mini Cooper 'S' MkIII left the Longbridge factory on 10th May 1971.
Mini Cooper S Mk3 - 1971
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
Bonhams
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2019
Estimated : € 30.000 - 40.000
Sold for € 20.700
Despite being conceived as basic transport for the masses, the Mini caught the imagination of racing car manufacturer John Cooper, whose drive in a prototype convinced him of its competition potential. Cooper already knew a lot about tuning BMC's A-Series engine - he was running the company's Formula Junior effort at the time – and applied his knowledge in developing a high-performance Mini. 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 1.071 cc 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 100 mph (161 km/h) - an astonishing performance at the time.
One of 1.572 built, 792 of which were delivered in the UK, this rare Mini Cooper 'S' MkIII left the Longbridge factory on 10th May 1971.