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World Champion race car constructor, John Cooper and the Austin A-series engine, which powered the Mini, gave the Vintage Mini Cooper racing potential. The Austin/Morris Mini that came out in 1959 was intended as a fuel and space efficient family car with the ability to hold four passengers. The Mini-Cooper S, driven in the Monte Carlo rally in the mid-1960’s, as well as other road challenges, gave Vintage Mini Coopers worldwide recognition.
John Cooper designed the cars that won the Formula One Championships in 1959 & 1960. In 1961, when Cooper teamed up with Austin and Morris versions, the Mini Cooper was born. With a 997 cc engine and 55 horsepower, the Vintage Mini Cooper had more power than its previous versions. Later, Mini Coopers came equipped with 970cc and 1275 cc engines capable of up to 76 horsepower. In 1964 through 1967 the Mini Cooper dominated the Monte Carlo road rally using a 91 horsepower engine.
They were more than a racing vehicle, or a practical car, the also became a fashion statement. The popularity soared with their racy variation of designs, colors and accessories. There were more than 40 versions created between 1980 and 2000, but the car started losing popularity.
When BMW reintroduced the Mini Cooper in 2002, it brought about an increased curiosity of the Vintage Mini Cooper. According to Sports Car Market Magazine, “with the release of the new model, the originals are enjoying a renaissance of interest in the classic car marketplace”. There are many Mini Coopers for sale on resale websites.
According to Mini USA, the official site of the new Mini Cooper version, the story of the Vintage Mini Coopers and the new Mini Coopers can be summed up like this, “Roughly 50 years of fun and motoring have all added up to this: hundreds of innovations, thousands of checkered flags, millions sold, legions of devoted fans and one International Car of The Century Award.”.
Vintage Mini Coopers now have many clubs and road rallies annually across the United States. This British automobile has kept the interest of collectors and car enthusiasts alike and continues to do so. The new Mini Cooper Convertible now has 168 horsepower, top speed of 134 mph with 29 miles per gallon and a base MSRP of $26,050. There are vintage Mini Coopers listed on various websites online for $3,000 and up, depending on the style and model.
A vintage Mini Cooper is a great hobby vehicle for car restoring enthusiasts. There are plenty of parts and equipment websites so that you can customize or restore your Mini Cooper to original or classic perfection. There are shows, races and road rallies, swap meets and other events across the country for all sorts of new innovations for customizing Mini Coopers.
Mini Coopers are fun to drive and fuel efficient, while offering a lot of horsepower. It’s also a great car for consideration when you are looking for something antique, vintage or collectible in the automobile class.
You can buy Vintage Mini Coopers at great prices on Ebay.
