Mini Cooper S British Racing Green

A unique car, a unique history: this originally Dutch delivered Mini Cooper S has remained in the hands of one and the same family for the past 30 years! The car went from father to son and was mainly used as a Sunday car on a beautiful summer day. Although it must be, considering the super smooth condition and only 36,500 kilometers of experience… Too good to be true? There’s no such thing at Prins!

History
The Mini Cooper has an impressive history. The 3-door hot hatch is the result of a collaboration between the manufacturer of the little one and racing legend John Cooper. He tuned the Mini in such a sporty way that the city car became a classic rally icon. For example, in the 1960s, the Mini Cooper won the legendary Monte Carlo Rallye 3 times! Its successor was even more powerful and called “Cooper S”. Our version received the extra letter “S” after the factory in England provided the hatchback with an engine upgrade. Evidence of this is also present. Father and son drove around 25,500 km together in the Mini Mark VI in 30 years. That’s about 850 km per year… And the other 10,000 kilometers? These were driven by Mini dealer Hartendorp, who used the car as a demo for a year. In 2024, the Cooper S still has the power to give a wonderful demonstration!

Exterior
No car like a Mini. Since the brand was taken over by BMW in 2000, MINI is officially written in capital letters. Although the spiritual successors to the original have proven to be very successful, in our opinion nothing can match the 1st series. Of course, many characteristic design elements were retained or cleverly copied. However, as playful, agile and small / “Mini” as generation 1 was, it is no longer built. The fact that this is a proper Cooper S in a stylish British Racing Green suit, makes the big Mini fan even greedier. Not to mention the condition of this eye-catcher: stunningly beautiful! Naturally, our original Mini stands on Classic Crown wheels with 8 rounded spokes. The real enthusiast won’t do it for less. In addition to the dark green metallic paintwork, the many chrome parts are also in neat shape. Speaking of which: the 4 spotlights on the chromed front bumper let the classic rally heart beat at full speed. They have original Mini Cooper stickers; an indication that’s reflected in the wheel hubs and badges as well. The John Cooper Racing Livery in contrasting white even ends in a Cooper S crown on the sides. The roof and exterior mirrors are also white, plus there’s a “Cooper” inscription right underneath de front license plate.

Interior
It couldn’t be more British: a modest city car like the Mini with a classic burr walnut wood trim. Dashboard, gear knob, door handles and the upper edges of the doors are equipped with it. And it suits the Cooper S well too, especially in combination with the remaining black parts such as the front and back seats, partly covered in leather. The transition to the fabric is accentuated with striking red piping. These also appear on the door trim. There’s even more (dark) red on the floor and of course the edge of the Cooper badge on the Moto-Lita steering wheel has a fiery finish. When stepping into this little space wonder, also pay attention to the aluminum door sill moldings with John Cooper inscription. What a wonderful composition! Meanwhile, 3 analogue gauges and meters (the timepiece excluded) stare at you and the characteristic gear lever longs for a firm hand. Time for some old-fashioned steering – or even better: enjoyment! The Pioneer radio/cassette player is linked to 120 Watt speakers in the back, but the best sound experience really comes from the drivetrain…

Technique & performance
With a nice hum the 1.3 liter 4-cylinder Cooper S engine shows that it has lost none of its bravado. From the Mark VI onwards, a capacity of 1,275 cc was always the standard, like the original Cooper S was also equipped with. The inventor of the hot hatch will never be a dragracer. Not necessary too, with such modest dimensions and weight. The fewer kilos, the more dynamism was the thought. In terms of agility, the Mini Cooper S indeed stands on its own! The classic can be thrown from one corner into the other with the biggest ease; the faster the better. So how fast until you visit the Netherlands?

Kind regards,
team Prins.