Help needed! Identifying the type of famous Mk1 and its features

[MiNiKiN]

Gentlemen,
your crowd intelligence and experience is required and appreciated.
I had these two photos and only recently I was able to put the car against a certain racer named Fritz Baumgartner. And those who already sussed out my obsession will probably know that this is about the "Lauda car". I am trying to figure out if this was the first "edition" of said car or a predecessor.

• 1st: Could you help and identify what this car initially was (simple 850, 997, 998 Cooper or not, 1071S maybe,...), please look at as many features and please name them.
• 2nd: any modifications and oddities you spot (like the carbs, what size?) and name them.

I used AI to get the piccies a bit better, but I am afraid this is as good as it gets. Photos are pre 1967.

Baumgartner_#1.jpg

enlarge_0000371498_Do1967__80.jpg

Many thanks
Marcus

[rnp68]

The carbs look like twin 1 3/4"

Ray

[minibitz]

Race numbers painted by Mr Blobby?

[AndyPen]

So difficult to guess, but the servo pipes suggest post mid 64, and the position of the control box suggests that too?

[tintoptom]

Assuming the shell is original- it’s not a full skirt, so must be after that change point (can’t remember when that was, but most folks on here will ).

[tintoptom]

… no safety bosses on the door handles either, so that gives the latest date it could be

[tintoptom]

Looks like a Morris Cooper grille to me as well

[tintoptom]

Looks like an 11 stud head? The heater tap would also give a clue to date.

(I’ll stop bombarding this threat now )

[AndyPen]

Skirt change point is around May June '64, but if that is the the control box in view it suggests later as it moved from the crossmember in Oct / November 64 with hydro??? Most likely a 1275 then??

[hanlminiman]

Race numbers painted by Mr Blobby?

Plymsoll whitener was regularly used on club events in the 1960s and the persons applying the numbers were not sign writers.

[Rusty old S]

I thinks it’s hydro as it looks like the pipes are visable, short heater intake, oil filter head has terminal for blocked filter warning, no door handle bosses , if no oil cooler/ diagonal and the 1. 3/4 carbs point to 1275. So mid 1965 1275S. Just my take. waiting to be shot down.

[MiNiKiN]

Thanks for all your intriguing observations you already came up with.
Keep them coming - don't be shy.

No Oil cooler? Thats strange, isn't it. And old school bigger is better carbs

[MiNiKiN]

For those interested - photos show Fritz Baumgartner and his first 'Mini Cooper S. I have found further evidence in the form of a copy of its Austrian Typenschein (i.e. the V5 equivalent).

It is a "Mini Cooper Special", 1275cc first registered 1st. Dec. 1964. VIN: K-AS4L 553xxx, it was SORN on 25th April 1968. Re-registered by a "Florian Lauda" (yep, his less famous bro) on 8th July 1969 - finally SORN on 5th Dec. 1969. No more owner entries in the "Typenschein" thereafter.

This all really makes only half sense so far. Were there two cars or one? Further digging required, I'd say.

Link to the Lauda Mini topic: http://mk1-forum.net/viewtopic.php?f=4 ... 2#p323372