1963 MORRIS MINI COOPER - EX-MONTE CARLO CHALLENGE

This Morris Mini Cooper Mk1 is an outstanding example of the British automotive icon, which has been comprehensively restored and rebuilt to a ‘fast road/rally’ specification by a classic motorsport specialist, and boasts 1990s competition success. While it left the factory with a 997cc inline-four, it now sports a substantially upgraded 1380cc motor - producing up to 126hp - coupled to the four-speed manual transmission with a straight-cut gear set. The odometer shows 1,570 miles, which is the distance covered since the rebuild was completed.

Having been first registered in October 1963 in Kent, this Mini Cooper is believed to have remained in the south of England, passing through the hands of several owners before being acquired by Mr Graham Carter of West Sussex in the early 1990s. A copy of DVLA paperwork from March 1995 shows the car was fitted with a genuine replacement 997cc 9F/Sa code Cooper engine, and the Mini was upgraded to compete in historic motorsport.

An RAC/MSA Competition Car Log Book was issued in April 1995 to Mr Carter, and the Mini subsequently competed in numerous rallies throughout the 1990s - most notably the historic Monte Carlo Challenge in 1995 and 1996. In the latter, it notched up an impressive class win and 10th place overall, with Geoffrey Twigg in the driver’s seat and owner Graham Carter navigating.

More recently, this Mini Cooper has been treated to an outstanding cosmetic and mechanical restoration and upgrade, with almost all of the work carried out by Ian Goodwright – a classic Mini aficionado who is also the master painter at motorsport specialist CCK Historic in East Sussex. Invoices for the parts alone during this period come to around £35,000. Factoring in the amount of time invested by Goodwright in the restoration, using his professional labour rate, the true cost of the work is probably closer to £60,000.

In 2001, Goodwright outsourced a full restoration of the body shell to the Maidstone Mini Centre, building it to original specifications using numerous original Mk1 parts, at a total cost of £8,405. It features a steel bonnet and single-skin boot lid, plus original steel door frames with aluminium skins. The exterior was also upgraded with 10-inch Minilite alloy wheels and Lucas spot lamps.

Under the bonnet, its 997cc Cooper engine was replaced with a 1275cc block, which was then bored out to 1380cc. It was equipped with 73.5mm offset Omega pistons and rings, as well as higher-grade 1275 turbo con-rods and a reground 1275 turbo crankshaft, which were polished and balanced. The engine is also fitted with a Piper 649+ camshaft, timed at 100 degrees, and competition cam followers.

A Stage 5 leaded cylinder head was installed, gas-flowed and with reshaped combustion chambers, and giving an 11.5:1 compression ratio. It has 37mm inlet valves and 31mm exhaust valves, plus competition grade double valve springs. There are also 1.5 Jack Knight full roller rockers, standard steel push rods, and a standard rocker cover with modified breathers. The engine is fed by twin SU HS4 1.5” carburettors, which have been fully modified with higher-flow throttle bodies, uprated spindles, butterflies and float bowls; and with a Maniflow competition steel manifold and a cold air feed kit. A MiniSpares Vernier adjustable cam belt drive kit is also installed, along with an A&H 1.5-litre oil catch tank, with 32mm breathers and reinforced Samco hoses.

There is a large-bore LCB exhaust manifold, coupled to a Maniflow twin box exhaust system with centre-exit tailpipe. It is fully protected by Coolit insulating exhaust wrap from the LCB manifold to the centre box, as well as a heat shield on the bulkhead, a Coolit adhesive-backed heat barrier along the underside of the tunnel, and a heat-protected boot floor.

The standard 22G1128 all-synchro remote gearbox casing is equipped with a straight-cut gear set, as well as competition baulk rings and a centre oil pickup. There are Hardy Spicer output shafts, an MED Engineering copper gearbox/block gasket, a heavy duty MiniSpares molybdenum cross-pin differential, and a semi-helical crown wheel and pinion (52 x 15, 3.44:1). It features an uprated ‘fast road/rally’ clutch plate and competition lightweight pressure plate, plus an ultralight steel flywheel, MED Engineering clutch cover and MED Engineering competition flywheel-to-crankshaft steel bolt.

Its running gear includes Cooper and Cooper S hubs with Timken bearings, plus original type ball joints, Jack Knight steel driveshafts, upgraded competition CV joints, Hardy Spicer universal joints, and EN24T drive flanges. Braking is by 7.5” grooved discs, with Cooper S brake callipers with stainless steel pistons, and carbon-metallic competition brake pads. There are also brake pipe protector plates in place.

The front and rear subframes are standard, but the car runs GAZ adjustable shock absorbers on all four corners, including competition rubber cones and the front, and with a Ripspeed Hi-Lo kit. Also at the front are adjustable lower arms, and competition-grade adjustable tie rods, shock absorber mounts, and pins for the top arms. Adjustable camber and caster brackets are fitted at the rear. The Cooper offers even nimbler handling thanks to a new MiniSpares right-hand-drive quick rack, at 2.2 turns lock-to-lock, with uprated track rod ends, and thicker Cooper S steering arms.

Its cooling system features a MiniSpares uprated two-core radiator, as well as a black Samco silicone hose set, and a large cast impeller water pump. There is also an electric fan kit with a sender unit fitted to the top hose, plus a 13-row oil cooler with braided hoses. Twin Cooper S fuel tanks are fitted, with 1/4" breather pipes from the tank, and with alloy open-ended Monza caps, a Filterking 67mm glass bowl regulator, 8mm fuel lines, and a Facet Silver Top competition fuel pump.

The electrical system incorporates a bespoke Autosparks wiring loom, an Aldon competition distributor, Ignitor electronic ignition, and a Flame Thrower ignition coil. There are also silicone competition HT leads, BP7ES NGK spark plugs, and a C40 dynamo with a larger alloy pulley. It is equipped with Lucas headlights with a pre-focus halogen bulb conversion, but runs standard lights at the rear. Following the rebuild, it has run using Shell V Power 98 octane, plus the Millers VSPE Power Plus additive. It has also been given Automec silicone brake fluid, and Millers Classic Mini 20W50 engine oil.

Inside, the Mini is equipped with a Works style dashboard, as well as a bolt-in roll cage, and a raft of other competition upgrades. Ahead of the driver is a 14-inch Moto-Lita steering wheel, plus an 80mm Stack Chronotronic rev counter. The dashboard also houses a Brantz International 2 Pro trip meter with remote zero unit and Brantz power booster, and a Brantz Rally Timer and Silva compass. A Cooper S specification speedometer is fitted, marked up to 130mph, and there are also switches for the fuel pump, heated windscreen, spotlights, and windscreen washer.

Today, this Mini Cooper presents in remarkably good condition, with the most recent restoration work carried out by Ian Goodwright. As you would expect given his trade, the Smoke Grey finish presents immaculately, and is accented by a white roof. In CCK’s own opinion, the car is now “one of the finest Mk1 Mini Coopers in the world”.

The interior is also in great shape, re-trimmed in a smart combination of light blue and grey, and offering a more comfort-focused specification that lends itself well to fast road work. Its fit and finish is impressive, and it is fair to say this classic Mini will turn heads even when parking up at car shows, let alone on a circuit or road rally stage. There are no known faults with any of the electrics or switchgear.

Mechanically, this Cooper is reported to be in very good order, and it will have a fresh oil change before handover to the next owner. A rolling road print-out from August 2020 showed a recorded output of 125hp at 7,100rpm, and peak torque of 98lb-ft. Given that an original Cooper S in period had only around 70hp, it is clear that this upgraded Mini boasts superb outright performance.

The car is exempt from mandatory MOT testing, and its last annual inspection was on 23 August 2016 at an indicated 1,224 miles, which it passed at the first attempt and with no advisories. Its wheels - including the full-size spare in the boot - are shod in Dunlop SP Sport R7 tyres, which have ample tread remaining.

Accompanying the car is a huge history file, providing detail not just on various previous owners, but also comprising a raft of invoices and receipts for servicing, maintenance, and parts over the years. A BMIHT Heritage Certificate is also present.

This Morris Mini Cooper is a remarkable uprated classic, which presents in genuinely outstanding condition throughout. With its 1990s competition history - including a high-profile class win in the Monte Carlo Challenge - this Mini boasts fantastic provenance. Of greater significance is the quality and detail of the most recent restoration, which has seen this classic city car transformed into a road racer with an enviable depth of talent. Ready to enjoy on weekend blasts, or in historic motorsport events, this rally-prepared Cooper would make a stunning addition to any collection.

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