£ POA

1967 Austin Mini Cooper S Group 2 Specification FIA - SOLD

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Description:

On offer at the 14th September Bonhams Goodwood Revival Sale

Estimate: £30,000 - £40,000

Chassis no. 1005467

<i>*Delivered new to Denmark
*New 1,293cc race engine and 'dog box' with Swiftune drop gears
*Reworked Arden eight-port cylinder head
*Lucas fuel injection with bespoke slide-type throttle
*Highly competitive and eligible for Motor Racing Legends' Historic Touring Car Challenge</i>

To many - 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. Its prodigious roadholding and excellent power-to-weight ratio enabled the Mini Cooper to compete successfully with larger-capacity rivals, and on tight twisting circuits the car was often a candidate for outright victory. Indeed, Warwick Banks won the European Saloon Car Championship outright in 1964 driving Ken Tyrell's Mini Cooper. Spectators everywhere delighted in the spectacular, sideways cornering style adopted by the car's main protagonists, and the Mini's supreme driveability and user-friendliness have kept it in the forefront of Historic saloon car racing ever since.

The car offered here is a genuine Austin Mini Cooper Mark I built in 1967 and sold new to the Danish importer, DFA Denmark. In the 1990s a former owner transformed the car into a racer and it has been developed over more than 20 years. Motor Racing Legends, the organisers of the increasingly popular Historic Touring Car Challenge for Group 5 cars up to 1969, Group 2 cars up to 1981 and Group A cars post '81, have confirmed its eligibility.

This Austin Mini Cooper has been built to the ultimate Special Tuning Group 2 'Cooper S' works specification and is race ready. The engine and gearbox was completely rebuilt after its 1st place finish in the 2015 Copenhagen Grand Prix pre-1971 under 1300cc race. The new engine incorporates a new forged competition crankshaft; Swiftune flywheel; reworked Arden eight-port cylinder head; and Lucas fuel injection with bespoke slide-type throttle. The transmission consists of a brand new 'dog box' with Swiftune drop gears, while other noteworthy features include aluminium doors, bonnet and boot lid, and aluminium rear brake drums. We are advised that the drive train alone is worth £20,000.

The accompanying spares package includes the following: new brake parts, etc; bespoke chassis stands; bespoke set up stands; bonnet/hood stands; set up tools, etc, all boxed in alloy transport cases. The car also comes with six very rare 12"x7" magnesium Minilite wheels. Accompanying documentation consists of a Heritage Certificate, Danish registration papers, dynamometer printout (145bhp), and a full FIA HTP with all parts documented.

Please contact the Bonhams Motor Car Department for further information on 020 7468 8242.