Background
The old adage from tiny acorns, might oaks grow certainly rings true when it comes to the rallying history of the Mini. From what was considered a tiny fragile car, blossomed the most successful works rally car of the 1960s. When BMC started rallying the Mini it was fair to say that despite having agility beyond compare, it was hampered the lack of power generated by its paltry 850cc engine. The Cooper’s arrival changed all that.
The Mini Cooper’s international debut on the 1962 Monte Carlo Rally in the hands of Pat Moss could not have gone better as together they won the Ladies’ Prize. The winning ways did not stop there either as favourable handicapping enabled Moss to win the Tulip and German rallies outright, while ‘Flying Finns’ Rauno Aaltonen and Timo Makinen finished 3rd and 5th in that year’s RAC event to cap a brilliant year.
Driven by Aaltonen, Hopkirk and Makinen, the Mini Cooper achieved a number of prominent leaderboard finishes the following year, while the Monte’s Ladies’ Prize was secured once again, this time by Pauline Mayman. By this time the first of the famous Cooper ‘S’ models - the 1071 S had arrived on the scene, winning first time out at the 1963 Alpine Rally driven by Aaltonen. However, the finest achievement of this short-lived version (it was used for little more than one season) was Paddy Hopkirk’s headline-grabbing victory in the 1964 Monte.
The ultimate incarnation of the Coopers, the 1275 S, - had won first time out in the 1964 Tulip Rally and became the works’ frontline car from 1965 onwards, winning the Monte Carlo, Circuit of Ireland, Geneva, Czech, Polish, 1,000 Lakes, Munich-Vienna-Budapest and RAC rallies outright. With victories on four occasions, Aaltonen became European Champion.
1966 would prove equally successful for the works Minis, with victories in seven European Championship rallies; only the team’s disqualification from the Monte on a trivial technicality after finishing 1, 2, 3 on the road spoiling what was otherwise an exemplary record. Revenge was gained the following year when Aaltonen won in Monte Carlo, one of six Championship victories secured by the works Minis that season. Sadly, there would be no more to add. Several top placings were achieved in 1968, but the competition was growing ever stiffer and the works shifted its attentions to circuit racing and rallycross.
This Car
Was first registered on 8th December 1964 and made its international debut in February 1965 on the Swedish Rally driven by Makinen/Easter. Unfortunately it retired, but better times lay ahead as in July Hopkirk/Liddon drove it to 6th place (1st in class) at the Nordheim Westfalen Rally and in November Lusenius/Wood finished 6th overall (1st in class) on the RAC. Makinen/Easter retired from the Swedish Rally in February 1966, but in April on the Circuit of Ireland crewed by Fall/Liddon the car took its first win. A second win followed in May 1966 when Hopkirk/Crellin drove the car to overall victory on the Austrian Alpine Rally.
Technical
Engine : four-cylinder, 1293cc, in-line, transversely mounted in the front of the car, pushrod, two valves per cylinder.Induction : Twin SU Carburettors, Normally Aspirated
