"The engine used in my Mini Cooper S started life as a 1071cc unit but this capacity didn’t suit the South African Class W which was up to 1000cc.
My friend, the late John Blok of Engincraft, came to the rescue and found that a Triumph Spitfire piston had the correct compression height but was slightly larger in diameter. These pistons were about .5mm too large and it was felt that the cam grinding of the piston (done to quieten them) would not be necessary in a racing engine. They were therefore turned down to suit the resleeved block and ‘voila’ we had 999cc.
The rest of the engine was as raced by most other drivers 648/649 cam, 45 Side Draught Weber, tubular extractor exhaust manifold etc.
The gearbox came from BMC Special Tuning and used straight cut close ratio gears driving a 4.1.1 final drive ratio. This was a superb gearbox.
The engine has been returned to standard 1071cc."
Not sure I understand exactly what was done to reach 999cc. Robin had an interesting story to tell about the motor though. He said that when the 1071 S was released in SA, he got his dad to buy a 1071 car as BMC wouldn't sell him a 1071 engine. He pulled the 1071 motor, fitted the 998 he had been racing, and promptly sold the car again. Somewhere out there is a genuine 1071 S with a 998 motor right now
. Possibly that was done before the 970 S was released, as that would seem the obvious engine for the 1000cc class.Leon
