I've scratched a 25 year itch - My new '71 Mk3 Cooper S

[P50]

I fondly remember zooming around in my sexy little Innocenti Cooper 1300 Export when I was 17. It had a balls out 1400 motor which produced 101 brake at the wheels on Pete Baldwins Rolling Road. Which was 25 years ago (JGY319V where are you?!)

Anyway I always wanted a Mk3 S on Minilites with the well styled W&P arches as I like the stealthy almost crappy look of the Mk3. (You can thank Lord Stokes for that..). I had to have a mad 70's colour without the two tone roof. Mk3 S's look like 850's with the standard grille although my one has a Mk2 grille which looks much better.

After much searching I've just bought this one. I love it. The colour and the period sundym glass too! All very 70's. Has its original shell, motor etc but obviously well restored. All I want to do it lower it a bit. As I haven't got a hydrolastic pump etc can anyone recommend a decent Mini specialist preferably in the south east who can get mine sitting a bit lower?

I also have a plan for some new wheels which I will talk about later. Yes I know these wheels are superb but the set I want will usurp them. Will cost me a fortune! In for a penny long time worm food.....

So here it is gents. My Mk3 S!


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|http://thumbsnap.com/fuXeSbkb[/url]

Edited by P50 on Tuesday 20th March 22:18

Edited by P50 on Tuesday 20th March 22:20

Edited by P50 on Tuesday 20th March 22:22

Edited by P50 on Tuesday 20th March 22:26

[VinceFox]

God that's lovely. Makes me realise how long it's been since i've seen one on the roads.

[P50]

VinceFox said:

God that's lovely. Makes me realise how long it's been since i've seen one on the roads.

Thank you very much. For sale when I'm dead. I'm not letting this one go...

[VinceFox]

You mustnt. Is that a morris rosette in the windscreen?

[P50]

Yes it is. I'm not too sure on all the stickers. My private plate's going on it soon I think.

It's been on retention and now I have something decent to put it on.

Pic of interior. Has nice recliners fitted. All I'll do is fit a period Smith rev counter, Save that it's pretty much ok. Engine is 1293 I think with fast road cam, 1.5 SU's and RC40 exhaust / manifold. Nice and tractable. I'm happy.

Edited by P50 on Tuesday 20th March 22:51

[camelotr]

Congrats. Nice car.

[anonymous-user]

Mine was a Mk3 S....
Lovely car though, should put this in readers. Maybe get more views

[P50]

PSBuckshot said:

Mine was a Mk3 S....
Lovely car though, should put this in readers. Maybe get more views

Can a mod get it over to readers please.

[Furyblade_Lee]

That is nice! Mine too is a black '71 S , albeit a replica built for sprints and hillclimbs. Although it is more "S" that a lot of supposed "real" ones I have come across.. :-)

[P5Nij]

Well done! I was wondering who'd bought this having seen it up for grabs over on the MCR Forum... lucky old you!

I saw it in the flesh a while back and was bowled over by the colour.... and it would look great on a set of Dunlop D1 alloys, especially if you lower it slightly. I've got them on my Mk2 S (it came with 4.5J Minilites) and it changes the look of the car completely. Be interesting to see which wheels you go for, look forward to seeing more ;O)

[P50]

P5Nij said:

Well done! I was wondering who'd bought this having seen it up for grabs over on the MCR Forum... lucky old you!

I saw it in the flesh a while back and was bowled over by the colour.... and it would look great on a set of Dunlop D1 alloys, especially if you lower it slightly. I've got them on my Mk2 S (it came with 4.5J Minilites) and it changes the look of the car completely. Be interesting to see which wheels you go for, look forward to seeing more ;O)

Ta very much!

I love the colour. One of the main reasons why I bought it. I have three red classics by default and really didn't want another red. I really do not like red at all any more.. Mk3's do not generally come in terribly good colours and tend to look a bit staid. Especially with that standard grille.

It did have actually have D1's on at some point as I have an album of old pics but I'm not really into them. I did fancy these. Works style knock ons. Very expensive and trick. However over the last few days I've been thinking about it and will probably keep the 6x10 minilites for the time being.

What I do want to do is lower it as you suggest. Easy on a dry car. PITA on a hydro car although the ride is much better on hydro. Mine has spax on the front too. On the basis that the job is more fiddly I will farm it out to a specialist. Together with a full wheel alignment and general dialling in.

Can anyone recommend a good competent specialist to do the job? It's sitting jacked up at the back. It will also need a tune up as its boggy and fluffy at low revs. I'll put it on a rolling road and will use I think Pete Baldwin who I used 25 years ago!

Edited by P50 on Saturday 24th March 09:27

[VinceFox]

I'd go for the deep dish steels, personally.

[Noisy]

Depending on where you are in London, a quick trip down the M20 to Bill Richards Racing in ashford should see you with a good handling well set up car.

[P50]

Noisy said:

Depending on where you are in London, a quick trip down the M20 to Bill Richards Racing in ashford should see you with a good handling well set up car.

I've just checked out his site an that is EXACTLY what we're looking for. I'll get in touch for him to do the business.

Only problem is, is the clutch is slipping in 3rd/4th when the 3.5k rpm torque band kicks in. So it's either the standard clutch has actually worn out. Which I doubt as it's not done many miles since the rebuild. Or it's oiled up which I suspect is the problem or the engine is giving more umph than it can handle. I've checked the arm for free play and it's OK with some clearance.

It's not a 1400cc balls out beast with a 45 webber and race cam. I suspect a normal clutch will suffice and oil seal replacement too if that's the problem. Perhaps a slightly uprated clutch might be a good idea. Can anyone suggest a clutch kit for a '71 S?

[996 sps]

Lovely mate, what a gorgeous original Mini.

[P5Nij]

Well whatever you decide to go with wheel wise, they're bound to look good on a genuine S in such an ace colour. I nipped over to Gaydon Museum recently for a shuftie and was very pleased to see they now have a Mk3 S on display, it's a Glacier White one sitting on Dunlop D1s.... very nice, but not as striking as your car.

I was going to suggest you try Rod Taylor at Southam Mini & Metro in Warwickshire for your mods, but obviously Bill Richards is a great choice and much closer to home.

Best of luck, and post some more smudges when you've had the mods done!

[ElvisPenhaligon]

Baldwin's rolling road is a very nice thing for those of you who like big numbers.

My mini has a 1430 which is a Bill Richards unit and has had it's aftercare dealt with by Pete.

I will be driving hundreds of miles to get mine set up again when it's required. The bloke does it properly.

[P50]

ElvisPenhaligon said:

Baldwin's rolling road is a very nice thing for those of you who like big numbers.

My mini has a 1430 which is a Bill Richards unit and has had it's aftercare dealt with by Pete.

I will be driving hundreds of miles to get mine set up again when it's required. The bloke does it properly.

I agree. Mr Baldwin is a legend. I still recall the Innocenti on his RR 25 years ago. There was a big BHP gauge on the wall and I achieved 101. My new one is a simple fast road S as opposed to the balls out 1400 of yore. I do recall fitting a really lairy cam all those years back which was not terribly good on the road and it didn't idle very well.

However this time I simply want the motor dialled in. It wants to stall as I draw to a stop. It's simply all out of kilter and i want the whole thing properly dialled in. I'll use Bill Richards I think for the suspension. Pete for the RR.

I also said I would't sell it but could be tempted by a blue/white Mk1 1275S... A proper and nice Mk1 would be the only thing I'd sell this one for. But for now I will get this one totally spot on and enjoy what makes a fast Mini so good. The way it drives..

Edited by P50 on Sunday 25th March 08:04

[FWDRacer]

Peter Baldwin is still going strong. Get the car to him to have the motor set-up properly.

Car needs to be lowered a bit - but 3/4 inch should sort it and you'll get most of the camber required by default as the car is lowered. Has the suspesion got Neg camber bottom arms on it? From the pics I'd suggest not so you you might need to add 'em to your shopping list.

REF your clutch slip. Standard new plate and orange diaphragm spring will address and be totally road usable.

Lovely Mk III S by the way.

Edited by FWDRacer on Monday 26th March 09:51

[Furyblade_Lee]

A set of D1's with Dunlop R7's is now at the top of my shopping list, and next thing to buy! £650'ish so OUCH, but car looks exactly like a black MK3 S with group 2 narrow arches so hopefully it will look the dogs whatsits.