1965 Morris Mini Cooper S 1275

This Mk1 Mini Cooper S 1275 was built at Morris Motors’ Cowley plant (where the current ‘Mini’ is now assembled) during April 1965 and despatched to W Watson and Co in Liverpool; at the time the largest BMC dealer servicing the North West of England and North Wales and also responsible for preparing left hand drive cars for shipment to the USA.

It was registered on 2 June 1965 to its first owner, presumably in the Merseyside area but by 1969 had found its way (with a replacement log book) to Harbury near Leamington Spa. During the remaining decade it changed ownership several times but never more than a few minutes drive from the same 30-mile stretch of the Fosse Way between Warwickshire and Leicestershire. By its MOT in March 1976, it had covered 86,905 miles. 

It is understood that the car emigrated to the USA shortly after this, although there is little in the way of paperwork to confirm the dates. Certainly by the summer of 1995 this Cooper S was Stateside as it attended ‘Mini Meet East’ in Washington DC, as evidenced by the window sticker. Further club stickers on the fuel tank in the boot suggest that it had been owned in DC or the neighbouring States as well as New Jersey, and from at least 2010 until recently in upstate New York in the Glen Falls area.

The car was repatriated to the UK in August 2019 and following the NOVA (notification of vehicle arrivals) was bought unregistered by the vendor who had it inspected by the Mini Cooper Register and succeeded in having its original registration number reinstated.

Although currently sporting a racy orange colour around the body, and gloss black on the roof, this Cooper S started life in a much more sober all-over Old English White. By 1974 it had been repainted red and probably around a decade ago was given the new colours you see today.

The paint isn’t perfect, there is some rust behind the rear bumper, bubbling on the driver’s door and the paint has chipped off in several places. What this does do, however, is validate the claim that this car still has its original body shell as both the red and the Old English White layers can be seen under the orange. 

Also likely at the time of the repaint to orange, the car was deseamed. Those of you very familiar with Minis will have spotted straight away that - roof gutter aside - there are none of the rust-prone panel closures running down the A-pillar from roof to wheel arch or down the C-pillar to the rear corner. Purists may say that this takes away the character of the Mini but others will point to a smoother, more modern-retro look in the style of David Brown’s ‘Mini Remastered’ programme.

Panel alignment and shut lines are fair to good - the driver’s door flares outwards a touch at the bottom but overall the car holds together reasonably well for its age. The more recent wheel arch trims show in good order. 

The exterior chrome is in a pretty reasonable condition, bright with just light pitting on the front grille and bumper. There are tiny dents in the chrome here and there but such things just add a little more character to a classic car. Also, the front wings recently had mirrors fitted (which are now in the boot) and there are screw holes and small patches of less-faded paintwork on show.

This Cooper S sits on Dunlop Formula D1 ‘Style A’ 10-inch alloy wheels which were a popular dealer-applied or aftermarket option in period. The car has matching Yokohama tyres fitted, dated 2017 at the front and 2010 on the rears. All appear to have good tread.

Inside the Mini, you are reminded that this is a Mk1 that was produced before the raft of improvements, upgrades and refinements that came - particularly to the interior - over the following decades. This car has just the bare necessities of life in terms of controls and instruments. The centrally placed binnacle and heater controls meant that little had to be changed for left-hand-drive markets. The steering column passes straight through the bulkhead with merely a bracket to attach it to the dash.

The basic interior is, however, in quite good shape. The black vinyl seats present well, with just a seam on the driver’s seat coming undone; worth sorting soon - a stitch-in-time and all that. The driver’s seat looks to be a period-correct aftermarket addition - like a Recorde DeLuxe High Back competition seat from Karobes of Leamington Spa; a leading supplier of car accessories in the ‘50s through to the ‘70s. Both front seats are fitted with red seat belts of the old-fashioned fixed variety. 

In front of the driver, the steering wheel is a period Formula GT leather-trimmed deep dish wheel. The MG boss might not be entirely correct but at least ‘Morris Garages’ was closely related and only eight miles down the road from Cowley.

A decorative orange pool-ball gear knob has been added which doesn’t have the H-pattern inscribed on it but let’s face it, it’s only the location of reverse that you really have to remember (to the right and towards you, in case you’re wondering). The shifter has what looks like a recent rubber gaiter which is in good condition. There’s also a newer-looking vinyl gaiter on the handbrake. 

Around the inside walls of the car are vinyl/fibrous linings which are coming away slightly - especially in the rear. The vinyl headlining looks good though and the carpets too appear clean and intact. Under the carpets and the plastic foam underlay, the floorpan has seen some previous repairs and has been painted silver some while back. Surface rust is beginning to reappear in places.

The engine bay is in good order and pretty tidy, with a number of ancillaries and perishable items appearing to have been renewed where necessary. There are no obvious signs of rust around the bay although there may be the odd patches on the bonnet lid itself around the hinges and catches.

The undersides of the car seem relatively clean and undamaged, save for a large hole in the exhaust back box - what is doubtless contributing to the throaty noise of the car when revved. There is underseal across the underbody, although it might be worth checking for any repairs required and renewing the waxoyl. Some of the suspension linkages might also benefit from renewal, or freeing of crud, but otherwise such things as CV boots seem intact and the car appears to have a relatively new fuel pump. 

Behind the flip-down boot lid, is the previously mentioned be-stickered fuel tank, and under a carpeted board, a full size (if you can call 10-inch wheels that) spare Dunlop wheel fitted with Yokohama rubber which looks barely used. The bodywork around the inside of the boot looks rough but doesn’t seem to be overly rusty.

Also in the boot is the battery which is connected up positive-earth unlike newer cars. From underneath the car, you can see that corrosion has created a small hole in the corner of the box holding the battery; not an immediate issue but something to keep an eye on.

Only recently re-registered in the UK, the car has yet to be MOT tested.

Although exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it prepared and tested at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MOT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner and any subsequent purchasers but is also invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies. 

The document file includes what is understood to be its most recent UK MOT certificate from 1976, just prior to its reported shipment to the USA. It also has its 1960s UK VE60 logbook recording the previous UK owners and a period workshop manual.

There is also a letter from November 2011 which recounts the tale of engine and transmission refurbishment between late 2010 and October 2011 in Schuylerville, NY. 

Also of note in the file is its BMIHT Certificate, a letter from the Mini Cooper Register and a copy of the NOVA clearance.

We are looking after this twice trans-Atlantic Cooper S during the sale and can report that the car starts and drives very well, and sounds as it should at the front end but rather burbly at the rear where the exhaust is damaged. The engine seems sound and reportedly maintains good oil pressure.

The Mk1 1275 Mini Cooper S is widely considered the ultimate S - with its torquey engine and race pedigree it is consequently one of the most sought after Mini variants. This car is confirmed as having its original engine, gearbox and body shell (albeit deseamed) and we think that, in its current condition, it will fetch between £22,000 and £29,000. 

That might seem a lot for such a little car but desirability and driving fun are measured in smiles, not kilograms!

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.