Austin

By 1963, the BMC Competition division was clear on their goals for the Mini. The 1963 Austin Cooper S and Morris Cooper S are the results of their efforts. The main distinction, in addition to a number of modifications, was a specifically cast engine block and cylinder head that was better suited for racing.

A unique steel crankshaft that had been nitride was utilized in the 1071 cc engine of the earliest Cooper S models. A variety of displacements, including a 971 cc and a 1275 cc, were available in 1964.

A second gasoline tank was installed for lengthy journeys and rally racing. A vacuum-assisted brake booster, bigger front disc brakes, and offset steel wheels with a 412-inch width by 1964 were also further factory improvements.

The Minis were extremely successful in Group 2 Rally racing, winning the Monte Carlo Rally outright despite having just about 75 horsepower available.

The Austin Mini Cooper was conceptualized by race car maker John Cooper and created by Alec Issigonis. Issigonis opposed the notion of a modified Mini and believed that it should be a "people's car" rather than a high-performance vehicle. In order to comply with the homologation requirements of Group 2 rally racing, he persuaded British Motor Corporation to do just that and agree to a trial run of just 1,000 vehicles. It was a wise choice.

One of Britain's greatest sports car legends, the Mini Cooper, became the undisputed rally vehicle of the 1960s. It was able to outmaneuver larger, more cumbersome vehicles thanks to its compact size, agility, and front-wheel drive, which helped it win races.

The Mini had the ideal combination of superb handling balance and razor-sharp steering. The Mini Cooper features a low center of gravity and wheels at each extreme corner, which are ideal for stable handling. It is a quick, frugal, and affordable automobile.

In parallel, the Mini Cooper, known as the "S," was created and presented in 1963. With victories in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965, and 1967, the Mini Cooper S gained notoriety.


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