Lot Ended
Description
From a deceased estate; only 292 miles indicated; number 9 of only 35
Grand Prix models specially made by John Cooper
Garages; effectively one owner from new; advisory-free MOT; a proper time
capsule that would grace any collection
One of the
rarest, most sought-after official Mini special editions ever created, the Rover
Mini Cooper Grand Prix was launched in late 1994 by John Cooper Garages to
celebrate a double milestone: 35 years since the Mini’s 1959 introduction and 35
years since Cooper won the Formula One World Championship in 1959. True to the
occasion, only 35 units were ever built.
At its
heart was a specially tuned 1,275 cc engine which featured a ported, gas-flowed
and balanced cylinder head with larger valves; a high-performance camshaft and
revised valve rockers plus a Weber Alpha fuel-injection system. This pushed
the power up to 86bhp, a 20% increase on the standard Cooper of the era.
Other upgrades included adjustable shock
absorbers for sharper handling, wider body-coloured wheel arch extensions,
special Cooper light alloy wheels, auxiliary driving lamps and distinctive Grand
Prix side decals.
On the inside it was
considerably more luxurious than the standard Cooper with full leather
upholstery, burr walnut dash, luxury door panels, stainless steel John Cooper
sill plates and a Mota-Lita steering wheel engraved with John Cooper’s
signature. Each car also had an individually numbered dashboard plaque.
This particular Mini Cooper Grand Prix is number
9 of the 35 made and was first registered in December 1994. On offer here from a
deceased estate, the current keeper acquired the car from John Cooper Garages in
January 1995 and it has been dry stored as part of a small collection of
low-mileage vehicles ever since.
It is showing
only 292 miles on the clock which we are assured is correct and is certainly
borne out by the overall condition of the car which is virtually ‘showroom
fresh’, the only real defects we noted being some damage to the walnut veneer
around the glovebox and a small patch of lacquer peel on the bonnet just ahead
of the right side wiper blade (see photos).
Invoices show that the car was recommissioned in early 2025,
including new front suspension cones and various new vacuum pipes in the engine
bay. It then passed an MOT in April 2025 with no advisories recorded when it was
showing 198 miles on the speedo.
It then covered
around 100 miles before being submitted for another MOT in May this year which
it initially failed but then passed with no advisories once the fuel injection
system was cleaned and the front suspension was shimmed up to correct the ride
height.
At the time of cataloguing the V5C could
not be located by the family but we do have a copy of page 2 of the document and
an HPI check records just two keepers, the current since 3rd January
1995. A copy of Doug Nye’s book on Coooper cars is included with the Mini
which was signed by John Cooper himself and dedicated to the owner when he
originally bought the car (see photos).
Starting
promptly and running well as we have moved it around on site, with healthy 50psi
oil pressure, this ultra-rare and ultra-low mileage Mini Cooper is a proper
little time capsule that would grace any collection.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com