1969 Austin Cooper S Mark II

words by ShiftGate

Little Miracle on Wheels

With just three owners from new and a numbers-matching motor that has been punched up to 1,293 ccs, this restored 1969 Austin Cooper S Mark II is truly, in the words of British Motor Corporation (BMC), a “little miracle on wheels with BIG surprises.”

History

When Sir Alec Issigonis set to work creating a “proper miniature car” for BMC boss Leonard Lord in the mid-50s, it is unlikely he could have anticipated what was to come. That was the birth of a landmark automobile that would go on to sell in the millions over 40 years of production.

But today’s example is of the competition-bred variety that came about thanks to Formula One builder John Cooper convincing BMC of the Mini’s potential to tear up the track. Cooper could not have been more prescient as the modified version sold with his name would help the Mini rack up countless racing wins over the ensuing decades.

The Austin Cooper S Mark II saw output jump from 848 ccs on base Minis to 1,275. Front disc brakes, an exotic feature at the time, were fitted. Weighing in at under 1,500 pounds with the wheels positioned about as far into each corner as possible certainly helped in the success these little cars saw in competition.

The Cooper S up for auction today has all that inherent engineering goodness combined with a full body restoration, race-prepped original powertrain, and a host of period-correct upgrades like those sweet Black Mamba alloys. When it comes to having a blast behind the wheel, few cars can compare to this sweet little ride.

Lovingly Restored

After purchasing the car 23 years ago, the current owner set to restoring this 1969 Austin Mini Cooper S. Working with a Mini body specialist at Shaw GMC in Calgary, the car was stripped to bare metal with the exception of the roof, which was in excellent condition and only required sanding and a fresh coat of black paint.

Aside from the battery box, inner and outer rocker panels, and A-panels, the rest of the original body panels and doors were retained along with all factory chassis tags. The rear subframe was replaced, and the front subframe was painted in POR15.

Intending to drive the car regularly, the owner also undercoated the Mini at the time. Photos from the restoration show the completed body before the application of the undercoating. The owner notes that dents in the front lower skirts were not removed during the restoration as it was believed at the time to be double sheet metal.

Originally finished in Snowberry White, the owner applied the current shade of red to match the 1969 Cooper he raced in the 1970s. Worth noting in relation to how the owner built this Cooper S is that he won the 197o Autoslalom Championship in that earlier model.

Assembly was completed by the owner with stainless steel nuts and bolts as well as grade 8 anodized steel components where structural stress would be a factor, such as the shock towers.

The condition of this restoration has been maintained to a high level in the intervening 20+ years, helped, of course, by the Mini being stored inside and driven very lightly. Per the owner, there is no corrosion present.

And how about those period Black Mambas?! These 10” x 6” aluminum wheels are shod in Yokohama A008 rubber sized 165/70 and show 2022 date codes out back. There is a fifth matching Black Mamba wheel and tire for spare purposes and a set of five original 10” x 4.5” Cooper S rims that have been restored and will accompany the sale.

Exterior highlights include clear lighting lenses and sharp brightwork on both bumpers, the quick-detach front grille, door handles, window surrounds, and gas cap. The original Austin Cooper S, Mini Cooper S Mk II, and 1275 emblems have all been retained. The original nudge bars have been removed and will accompany the sale.

Black wheel flares have been installed using trunk sealant. The owner recognizes that this does not look all that pretty up close. However, he could not bear to drill holes in the original steel fenders to screw them on.

The condition of the suspension components and underbody is detailed in the gallery, along with the straight-through exhaust ending with twin polished tips. The NOS exhaust system has been retained and will be included in the sale.

All About Driving

The black cabin of this 1969 Cooper S features vinyl front buckets out of a Mini Deluxe with a matching rear bench. They are in overall good condition with a small tear and looseness seen on the driver’s seat. The owner added these seats as they have additional padding and retained the original frames.

As the owner notes, the original steering wheels in these Minis were huge and upright, so he installed a drop kit to bring it down about two inches and fitted the current metal 3-spoke steering wheel with a wood rim. The wheel itself is out of a period Jaguar and features a horn button with the Austin coat of arms.

There is another neat story about the speedometer in this Mark II Mini. After purchasing it, the owner realized it was fitted with a speedometer out of a Mark I. He happened to meet another classic Mini owner with the reverse situation – a Mark II speedo in his Mark I Mini. So, they swapped dials to make both cars period correct.

At the time, the replaced gauge read approximately 1,800 miles on the odometer. The additional 1,800 miles have been added under current ownership over the past 23 years, and the true mileage is unknown.

The 130-mph speedometer is flanked by a fuel level and oil pressure gauge, part of a central set of chrome-ringed Smiths instruments. The period-correct 10,000 RPM Smiths tachometer was added under current ownership. The owner also added the wood MG shift knob and retained the original, which will accompany the sale.

Otherwise, the cabin is mostly original and features sliding front windows, pop-out rear windows, a heated rear windshield, front lap belts, dome light, and black floor mats. Gallery photos show the carpeting lifted to display insulation and body condition underneath.

As seen in the gallery, the trunk condition is quite good. It houses the battery and spare tire with original jacking tools retained.

Built to Race

Up front is the original, numbers-matching 1,275 cc inline-four and a four-speed manual that sends power to the front wheels. The Cooper S Mark II came from the factory with dual SU carburetors, a forged and nitrated crankshaft, and forged pushrods.

When the owner purchased the Mini in 1999, the engine had been rebuilt to full race specifications by Miles Import Car Centre of Edmonton, Alberta. Upgrades included boring the engine to 1,293 ccs, installing a racing camshaft, adding PerTronix ignition, and fitting a period Minifin valve cover painted BMC Green.

The transmission was also rebuilt prior to the owner’s purchase, but with what turned out to be defective 2^nd gear synchro rings. Though this did not bother the owner at the time, he had it rebuilt this year – at a cost of $6,000 – in preparation for sale.

Another interesting feature of these classic Coopers is the hydro-elastic suspension that connects all four corners via fluid-filled lines to manage load transfer. A known failure point, the owner replaced all the original lines – along with fuel and brake lines – with custom fabricated stainless-steel components and notes they have been leak-free since.

Cold start videos of the car can be seen in the gallery, which were taken after the car was stored on the owner’s hoist for six months. He notes it starts easily and runs well, but due to the racing spec, it does run rich and tends to foul the spark plugs, so would benefit from a carb tune to lean it out somewhat.

All maintenance over the past 23 years has been performed personally by the owner, and a folder with associated paperwork and receipts will accompany the sale. Recent work included tuning the engine, adjusting the brakes, topping up the suspension, and changing the oil.

A Total Blast

Located in Calgary, Alberta, this 1969 Austin Mini Cooper S Mark II has been under current ownership for the past 23 years. In that time, approximately 1,800 miles have been added to the original powertrain, though the true mileage is unknown. A British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate comes with the Mini, showing factory and chassis numbers.

The car was originally sold at GB Motors in Edmonton, Alberta, and the original dealer tailgate badge has been retained. In 1974, the Cooper was traded in on a Renault Gordini at a local Renault dealership. The brother of the dealership’s owner then bought the car and took the engine to Miles Import Car Centre for a rebuild.

Ultimately unable to pay the bill for this rebuild, the second owner brought the rest of the Cooper S to the shop in exchange. The shop’s owner, Ken Miles, kept the car until the current, and the third owner met him while in the field for his job as a vehicle appraiser.

After confirming he intended to restore the Mini, not modify it, Mr. Miles agreed to sell it to the current owner. As part of that deal, a long list of spare parts came with the car that will continue to accompany the car at the end of this auction. A host of photos taken over the course of the extensive restoration will also accompany the sale.

As the owner notes, there are some areas of this 1969 Cooper S that are not perfect and could use some attention. However, the body is said to be solid, and as evidenced in the gallery, the overall condition appears to be quite good.

Tons of neat period-correct modifications have been added to give the Mini even more character. Ultimately, it will be a total blast to drive and comes from an owner with loads of fascinating stories and history to share about the car. The next caretaker is in for a real treat.

exterior
interior