mini supers-the rarest mass produced mini variant ??

[Tim]

If anyone is scrapping a Cooper to make into a replica Super, could I have the engine and disk brakes please?

Tim

[mk1]

Speaking as one of those horrid people who has Cooperised the odd Super over the years Brook Shaw is absolutely correct. The Original 1961 Super was a interesting car, but right from the outset its future was doomed. It was WAY more expensive than the Deluxe 850 model & was WAY less powerful than the 997 Cooper its supposed "Twin" so fell fairly & squairly between two stools. No one wanted them even in their day. This is illustrated by their gantastically short production life.

The best example of BMC marketing shooting themselves in the foot by offering a model that absolutely no one wanted.

Still with 50 years hindsight they are indeed a very rare & interesting mini variant.

[FCV.66]

Since 1999 I have attempted to keep a register of surviving Supers through observation, scanning magazines, help from enthusiasts and sometimes just being a general nusance!
To date I have recorded a total of 14 Morris of which 8 are on the road and 13 Austins of which 8 also are on the road. During this period a further 12 have 'dissapeared' or been broken-up. The number of surviving cars includes 5 cars overseas.
In addition I have details of many cars which people have owned and sold or broken. I have a record of all Austins built and at present am working on Morris production. If any one knows of any Supers or their fate please do P.M., if you haven't been in touch before.
I am hoping to get as many Supers together, somewhere, next year for their 50th.
Garry.

[mk1]

Sounds like a really interesting project Garry.

Unfortunately I can't give you the details of the one I did for as it had already fallen victim to the number plate robbers before I got to it. So I never knew its real chassis number or registration.

[59fan]

Since 1999 I have attempted to keep a register of surviving Supers through observation, scanning magazines, help from enthusiasts and sometimes just being a general nusance!
To date I have recorded a total of 14 Morris of which 8 are on the road and 13 Austins of which 8 also are on the road. During this period a further 12 have 'dissapeared' or been broken-up. The number of surviving cars includes 5 cars overseas.
In addition I have details of many cars which people have owned and sold or broken. I have a record of all Austins built and at present am working on Morris production. If any one knows of any Supers or their fate please do P.M., if you haven't been in touch before.
I am hoping to get as many Supers together, somewhere, next year for their 50th.
Garry.

Garry,

I assume you are in contact with 'mini Sal' ? she has a fair collection of Supers herself.

Ian

[FCV.66]

Yep, I am in contact with 'mini Sal', she has been very helpful.

It is interesting to observe the minor detail changes which took place during the Super's short production. It is safe to assume such detail changes also took place at the same time with Cooper production; as there are probably more original Supers than Coopers around they make an interesting study for that reason alone.

[mk1]

there are probably more original Supers than Coopers

There are more than 16 Super original 997 Coopers in the world.

[FCV.66]

I accept there are more than sixteen 997 Coopers world wide but what I meant was there are a few, untouched, low mileage Supers around but very few unrestored, original 997 Coopers and when restoration is carried out much original detail is lost.

[mk1]

FCV,

I understood exactly what you meant. I still believe that as there were so many more Coopers made there will be more than 16 totally unbuggerd around with examples.

Admittedly there are more likely to be a higher percentage of little old lady Supers that have sat in a garage since they stopped driving in 1971, but I still suspect that the actual number (not percentage) of totally unrestored, un buggerd about with Coopers will be higher.

I do accept what you were saying about these early Supers being a good guide to what happened in early Cooper production though.

[cheleker]

Nick Rogers and I found one at the U.S. 45th national meet. It's the only one I've seen in the U.S. And the owner didn't know what he had! At the show and shine, he left it in the nearby parking lot because he didn't feel it was in good enough condition to put in the show, when it should have been center stage.

Regarding the thread's title, don't forget that Minis were made outside of England and the Super, rare as it is, isn't the rarest.

[steve1071]

I owned a Super a few years ago that was an 'A' plate. I may have a copy of the log book somewhere, will try and dig any info out.

[Pete]

I found an Almond Green/White Super rotting in a barn many years ago , I'll dig out the photo when I get a minute.

[vulcanbb18]

Rarest mass-produced variant?

The Oz Clubman van maybe?

Mk1 from the wings back, including magic-wand gearchange - they were made nowhere else except Oz I believe!



(yeah ok I haven't finished it yet... it's getting there!)

cheers

Jacob

[Tim]

Rarest mass-produced variant?
Mk1 from the wings back, including magic-wand gearchange - they were made nowhere else except Oz I believe!
Jacob

I don't reckon they were terribly rare, they did make quite a few of them, you just don't see many of then anymore.

Its not a 'proper' magic wand gearbox, its a remote box with a 'toggle' change. Very handy if you want to fit a 4 synchro box into an early car. The same box was used extensively in Mokes.

Tim

[vulcanbb18]

I know it's not a "proper" magic wand, it's much better

They didn't make that many vans, despite seeing them about. They were only 10%-15% of sales here I believe.

cheers

Jacob

[Tim]

Sure, but thats still a lot more than the flappy door handle Cooper S, for example. Still, great little cars, that one is going to be nice when its finished.

Tim

[vulcanbb18]

Thanks Tim

You're right too, the more I think about it. Those flappy-handle round nose models would have to be quite a low number indeed.

cheers

Jacob

[Matty]

Where is the best place to find info on the supers? All I seem to find is informatin on the super de Luxe? After reading this thread I could be committing a big sin! Ive already got a cooper badge waiting in the garage.

[FCV.66]

Hi Matty. I may be able to help with detailed info. I have researched the model over a large number of years. Cooper Badge? Oh dear, a big sin indeed! Still, it's your car of course, to do with as you please. Do PM me with your queries and I will try to help. Garry.

[Pete]

be funny if they wouldnt let us in !!!!!
strange as the cooper 997 was based on the super-lol

Not sure that's true, but a gathering of Supers at Bulee is a great idea and could easily be sorted.