1965 Austin MINI Cooper S Sedan

This Mini Cooper is one of only 2,384 Mark I Mini Cooper 1275 S models produced, of which 1,060 were built with right-hand drive for the United Kingdom. The remaining 1,324 left-hand drive cars were built for export. This vehicle was purchased by a London advertising executive in the fall of 1964 and ordered as an exact copy of the 'works' racers for daily community. The car is finished in Tweed Gray body and an Old English White roof, with a Dark Gray and Dove Gray two-tone interior.

The car has covered 95,000 miles. It has been painstakingly restored twice and remained under single-family ownership for 38 years until 2003, when it was sold to Gerald Andrew Wadman of Brighton. it was sold again just a year later to Dominic Langridge of London. Neither the second nor its third owner actually took possession of the car until the third owner traded it for a Shadow Formula 1 car with UK dealer Adrian Hamilton. The current American owners acquired the car from Mr. Hamilton on October 5th of 2006, taking delivery in California.

This Mini Cooper S is equipped with a sturdy roll bar, supportive bucket seat and racing harnesses. It also has FIA paperwork and is ready to race. The car is powered by a four-cylinder engine with twin SU carburetors and capable of producing 78 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual gearbox and front disc brakes with hydraulic drums in the rear.

In 2011, the car was offered for sale the Monterey, CA auction presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $25,000 - $35,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $52,250 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2011