If you have never driven an original Mini, then you have missed out on one of life’s great automotive pleasures. Slipping behind the wheel of one of these little pocket rockets is as close as you are likely to find to driving a road-legal go-kart at an affordable price. This 1962 model is no ordinary Mini because it has received a performance boost that promises to increase the next owner’s enjoyment. If you would like to be that person, then you will find this little British classic located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding is now sitting at $8,601 in what is a No Reserve auction.
The Mini is finished in Signal Red with a White roof. It has been owned by the same family since new and is now being sold to settle an estate. The paint looks extremely shiny, and this is for a good reason. The vehicle received a repaint in its original color only a few months ago, and this was applied over a clean and straight body. One of the greatest enemies of early Minis was rust, but this car doesn’t have any problems in that regard. The trim and chrome appear to be in good condition, but I would make one small addition that I believe would finish the exterior nicely. There are chrome trims available to cover the exposed lips on the wheel arches, and I would be inclined to source and fit a set of these. Beyond that, the exterior needs nothing. The vehicle scores a set of Minilite wheels (naturally), which suit the character of the car very well.
The engine bay of this Mini would originally have housed an 848cc 4-cylinder engine, producing 37hp. The late owner must have felt the need for speed because what we now find is a genuine 1,071cc Cooper S engine. This is equipped with dual SU carburetors and would be producing 70hp. If this is a full Cooper S drivetrain, then those horses should be finding their way to the front wheels via a close-ratio 4-speed manual transmission. Such a tiny engine isn’t going to result in muscle car performance, with the 1,400lb vehicle taking 18.4 seconds to cover the ¼ mile. However, this is missing the point of what this Mini is all about. It is capable of seating four people in relative comfort and is at its best when pointed at a piece of twisting road. The “Mini-scule” vehicle weight and a low center-of-gravity result in a tenacious grip on the road. It is in those sorts of situations that a driving enthusiast can experience an incredible motoring experience. The owners don’t indicate how well the Mini drives but given the presentation of the engine bay and the fact that they claim that it has been carefully maintained, it all augers well in that department.
The interior trim of this Mini isn’t original, but the combination of Red and Pale Grey upholstery is rather tasteful. The carpet has some light marks on the driver’s side, but that is about the only fault that I can spot. The upholstery, dash, and the headliner all appear to be in excellent condition. An early Mini represents motoring at its most basic, with little in the way of luxury features. This Vehicle does score a Cooper S gauge cluster and a sporty steering wheel, but that’s about it. There isn’t even provision to fit a radio to this car, although that could be achieved if required.
This 1962 Mini is not going to appeal to everyone, but it has the potential to appeal to people who would like to undertake some spirited motoring. These are an absolute giant-killer and at their peak, enjoyed a significant amount of international motor-sport success. I have had the privilege to have driven a wide variety of rare and desirable vehicles throughout my life. Still, my most enjoyable and rewarding experience came behind the wheel of a Mini on a twisting piece of tarmac. With the upgrades that have been performed to this car, I suspect that someone is destined to experience a tremendous amount of fun very soon.
Mini Coopers are neat little cars, emphasis on little. I think the “fast” ones were the 1275cc, but these were just as fun. Watching them race, lifting the inside rear wheel was neat. I drag raced a “1275” once with my MGB, made me look silly. Again, they are small, and if this photo intimidates you, might want to pass.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/486036984759418332/
I’ve asked the seller for serial numbers of the vehicle and the engine and based upon what he sent me, this car is NOT a Cooper NOR Cooper “S” but a Super Deluxe 848cc Mini. It also does NOT have disc brakes which verifies it’s humble origins.
The engine serial number decodes to a 998cc Cooper (not “S”) engine. These are/were fairly common. The 1071cc would be VERY rare.
I’ve notified the seller but he has not changed the ad.
Also, he does not have the original 848cc engine.
Nice car but very misrepresented.
It would be cute on a rolling shop cart display, like the Corvette kiddie car a few ads up.
Sharp eyes Billkrz. BMC didn’t go to the 1098s until the late ’63 models and I don’t remember any 1071s at all in the Minis. Correct me if I missed something, my engine history is wrapped around the Sprite/Midget series of cars.
Thanks. Yes, the 1071 engine was used for the first “S” models in early 1963. Production continued into 1964 and about 4,000 were made. They also made a 970cc “S” in 1964-65 and this is very rare with around 960 made. It was pretty much a special for the under 1,000 cc class.
By the way, my first Mini (a 1961 850) received a 1071cc transplant with the disc brakes from the next owner. I’m still looking for it so if anyone comes across AA2S7L52527 (last seen in Knoxville in the ’80’s), please contact me!
Bill
Wish I could locate my first one – C-A2S7L931736, a 67 Cooper S. Horribly unreliable car, and a challenge to drive with a limited slip diff, but damn it was fun! This one may not be original, but I’ve never seen a Mini that hasn’t been modified. Just enjoy the drive!
I’ve never driven one of these but I sure would like to one day. Here’s a no BS story, when I was a kid I saw one of these pull up at the gas station of my small hometown. Five guys got out of it and then pulled out a ten speed bicycle. I’ll never forget that LOL.
Ahhh a real mini, and many thanks to Billkrz for the info, to help any prospective buyers. I worked on a lot of these and Austin 1100’s in the late 60’s. Very cool and runs like a scalded dawg. Heck I think the Valve cover is worth the price of admission! Good luck and look er over good!!
Cheers
GPC
This car is a complete mess.
1071cc Cooper S models did not exist in 1962.
Somebody is trying to pass this ordinary Mini off as a rare 1071, which it isn’t
The description in BF says it has been updated with a S style engine. I had one of these when I was in college. Mine was a Morris Mini 850. I was 6’4″ and had no issues. A little more flexible then!
I had an ordinary mini year newer until the rust worms ate it. Drove it from Miami to Seattle one summer vacation. Not built for mountain passes but it did climb Pikes Peak. Kept in the basement of my townhouse. Parted it out and bought a VW bug.
Great write-up Adam. You state that the engine bay of this Mini would originally have housed an 848cc 4-cylinder engine, producing 37hp. That would have made it a standard Mini, however, there is a gas filler on both sides of the body which would make it an original Mini Cooper, unless the extra filler has been added to make it look like an original Cooper. Also the original had racing style seats that were very comfortable so I am wondering why they would have been changed for ordinary bucket seats.
These are a rare sight even here in London.
1st time I came across a Cooper S – @ 1963 – a young lady zipped past me like a bat out of hell. I was riding a tricked out Triumph Tiger 110 with splayed head, twin carbs, E3134 cams and racing followers & 10.5:1 pistons. I had to drop into 3rd and take a big handful to blow her away. Silly 17 year old biker days!
I lived in the Netherlands in 1984. All the Coopers around had been ‘reshelled’ at least once, meaning their engines(and hopefully disc brakes) were installed in everything from less-crashed Mini-Minors to less-rusty MKIV Mini Cities. If I were looking for one for fun, I wouldn’t worry about originality as much as integrity and specification. I think the 998 Cooper had about 55 hp, which is more than plenty for drum brakes that fit inside 10 inch wheels. If you’re going to spend the money on a disc conversion, then you can probably get pretty close to original S outputs in the 65 to 76 hp range without needing a different engine to build. I certainly appreciate the early body features of external hinges, sliding windows, and meaningfully larger passenger room that inspired them.
I was going to say you can’t beat that car with a stick, but I believe John Cleese did just that in an episode of Fawlty Towers when his quit running on him during an emergency.
ken tilley UK. The second petrol tank was never an option on stock 850cc Mini’s and only available on Cooper S’s until January 66 when it became a factory install, like you stated probably added to the body and they even sell face ones with only the neck and cap.
Before i added twin tanks i would have added disc brakes.
I cannot believe I missed the 2 extra head fasteners, one a stud, and the other a bolt, IIRC. I believe the “S” had 2 kinds of power assist, one a pressure
multiplier, and the other a servo, mounted on the RH inner fender apron, and I did note the lack thereof. I ran one of the multipliers on my racecar, but had to
switch to the servo type. This car does have the “S” twin tanks, but does not have the supports for the narrow trunk floorboard that sat between the tanks, so it has been converted. The 1071 & 1275 “S”s had twin tanks as standard, in Canada, I believe. Do not let the percieved tinyness fool you: these can hold 4 adults, in comfort, but tight getting in, and the seats are absolutley super comfortable, for which I can vouch, having spent 25 hours, in January 1967, driving from Toronto to Chicago, through a huge storm that pretty well closed down North America, from the Rockies eastward. I felt great, and had a 7-hour visit with my buddy before sack time. Also please note: you do NOT want to drive this car with verve, unless you have converted to “S” dics brakes. In Canada, the 1071 was usually refered to as the 1070.
The 1098cc engines were used in the 1100 series (larger) cars, which came as either Austin, Morris, or MG, the latter engine being a bit Cooperized. The Mini engines were 848cc, 997 cc, 1071cc, 998cc, 970cc, and 1275cc. When I started racing, it seems to me that a chap at Minisport, in Britian, told me the 1071cc engined cars were sold in the UK as 1962 models. I was lucky enough to find a virtually brand new 1071cc “S” at a wreckers, totalled, but a swap of all the gofast bits, into my 997 Cooper, created a lot of joy. I had so much fun in the 997 that, upon purchase, I started zipping about, only to find that the factory spec of 15psi tire pressure led to the tires wanting to roll off the rims in a high-speed sweeper. I added psi, then started to chauffeur my pals around, and was shocked to find that I put on 1100 miles in 24 hours! The bill of sale convinced me. These seats, as depicted, are not the original Austin Seven/Mini 850 seats, but are Cooper & “S” style, standard issue, seats, recovered. I never saw a stock Cooper with any other kind of original seat.
My apologies for long-windedness, but I absolutely love the Cooper “S”s, and am still looking for one in decent nick, so I can go back to terrorising the American ponycars (but only in the twisty bits). Oh, to be young again!
Along with all those other engines Minis came with 1098cc engines too in the late 70s early 80s, I guess they were using all the leftover engines up.
My Dad had a new 1071 Cooper S in the early 60s and I got to drive it a lot. What a blast!
SOLD for $12,655.