Alec Issigonis’s masterpiece was intended as a small family car, but it’s superior grip and manoeuvrability were highlighted when John Cooper dropped a Formula Junior engine into a Mini to produce a pocket-sized performance saloon. There were twin-carb versions with a 55bhp 997cc engine until 1963, followed by a 998cc engine with more torque. At the same time (1963), the Cooper S was introduced with a 1071cc power unit and 1275cc from 1964 with 970cc homologation specials in 1964/65. ‘Wet’ hydraulic suspension was replaced with ‘dry’ rubber cones in 1964 and whilst good in theory was not that good in practice and many were subsequently converted to ‘dry’ spec. The 1275 GT of 1969 was never as fast or quite as harp, with single-carb motor, bluff-front Clubman body styling and none of the competition-derived equipment of the Coopers (front discs notwithstanding).*
*Ref. ‘The Complete Guide to Aussie Classic Cars’
