Lightweight Cooper S

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minitravellerman
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Lightweight Cooper S

Post by minitravellerman »

For the 1969 Circuit of Ireland BMC entered a lightweight Cooper S driven by our very own Paddy Hopkirk. The car was registered GRX 311D. I've been trying to get some decent photos of it but all I have been able to find are black and whites or very badly angled photos. It's very hard to get a good look at the details on the car.

From what I know;
Red with white roof from waistline
Austin Healey Sprite Mk2 grille
MG Midget reversing lamps for front indicators
de-seamed
recessed fuel filled caps
recessed door handles

I have both Paddy Hopkirk's book and the Works Minis book, as well as the BMC Comp Dept book. All have small pieces of information on the car and some small photos.

Basically my question is, Has anyone any photos of the car? It's just for curiosity to be honest as it was a one off and only used at the COI. Would be nice to know more about it as it competed on many roads I use daily. Maybe one day I'll build a replica!! :)

Cheers
Ian Campbell
cookie1071
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by cookie1071 »

I imagine the current owner of the car, an MCR member, has amassed a fair no. of pics of it by now. You should be able to contact her through the club's ex-works registrar. Cheers, Niall.
minitravellerman
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by minitravellerman »

Ah that's cool. Thanks for that. I'll certainly see if I can get into contact. Would love a cracking photos of the Min on full song hitting the local roads to hang in the garage. :)
Ian Campbell
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Pete
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by Pete »

Here's the car (alledgedly) that beat it on the '69 Circuit..........

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/cla ... rno/114777
JC T ONE
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by JC T ONE »

Its not colour :? but there is a quite good picture, on page 117 in "MINI - The Definitive History" by Jon Pressnell.


Jens Christian
JC T ONE
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by JC T ONE »

Surf 1275 wrote:Here's the car (alledgedly) that beat it on the '69 Circuit..........

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/cla ... rno/114777

he he -- alledgedly -- I see what you mean :mrgreen: "it comes with original body tag plate" ;)
hmm yes that only leaves one question - where is the rest ? :lol:


J C
minitravellerman
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by minitravellerman »

JC T ONE wrote:Its not colour :? but there is a quite good picture, on page 117 in "MINI - The Definitive History" by Jon Pressnell.


Jens Christian
I think I might have that book - must take a gander see. Cheers.
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steady eddie
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by steady eddie »

minitravellerman wrote:For the 1969 Circuit of Ireland BMC entered a lightweight Cooper S driven by our very own Paddy Hopkirk. The car was registered GRX 311D. Basically my question is, Has anyone any photos of the car? It's just for curiosity to be honest as it was a one off and only used at the COI. Would be nice to know more about it as it competed on many roads I use daily. Maybe one day I'll build a replica!! :)
Are you a member of the Mini Cooper Register, if not you should join and then ask the Ex Works Registrar Robert Young if he can provide you with pictures, I'm sure that he will have some or be able to put you in touch with some one who has.

If you PM me I canl provide his contact details or see MCR Website

regards

steady eddy
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Toby
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by Toby »

This is the only picture I have of the car, but it does clearly depict the grill.

And you can just make out the indicator in the left hand bottom corner.

Image
T.
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by SMOKE GREY »

There's a good pic of it in 'Mad for road', a new book on irish rallying.
minitravellerman
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by minitravellerman »

SMOKE GREY wrote:There's a good pic of it in 'Mad for road', a new book on irish rallying.
I've heard of that book - must get it. Thanks.
Ian Campbell
austinisuseless

Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by austinisuseless »

Just did a google image search and came across this pic of it, but it is not close up,

Image

link, http://www.rallyforums.com/forum/showth ... 620&page=2
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sandman
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by sandman »

Any idea why they would use a different grill (i.e from another car) ?
Cheers,

Ed_
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Ronnie
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by Ronnie »

sandman wrote:Any idea why they would use a different grill (i.e from another car) ?
Lightweight! :twisted: Some pictures of it Here
austinisuseless

Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by austinisuseless »

Ronnie wrote:
sandman wrote:Any idea why they would use a different grill (i.e from another car) ?
Lightweight! :twisted: Some pictures of it Here
Good stuff Ronnie, good ones,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/grizzler/2 ... 676677630/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/grizzler/2 ... 676677630/
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Toby
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by Toby »

Ronnie wrote:Some pictures of it Here
Thanks for the link Ronnie, some very nice pictures there!
T.
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by austinisuseless »

And have it on good information that those alloy panels and recessed door handle doors were made in the Pressed Steel Fischer factory in Llanelli, near me. The engineering bloke that was involved with pressing these panels went to work with a company in Swansea where my Dad worked. So no bull! :)
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by wantafaster1 »

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mab01uk
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by mab01uk »

JC T ONE wrote:Its not colour :? but there is a quite good picture, on page 117 in "MINI - The Definitive History" by Jon Pressnell.
Jens Christian
Here it is:

Image
vegar
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Re: Lightweight Cooper S

Post by vegar »

Why do they lift the rear, but work on the engine??
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