Mini Cooper S Works mk1 Monte Carlo

This Mini Cooper S Mk1 was created as a faithful replica of car number 177, which won the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally with Rauno Aaltonen. The winning car was registered LBL 6D, an absolute reference in the history of motorsport and the Mini.

Known to Works Register president Robert Young, this Mini Cooper S, known as the "Works Re-creation," was built for its previous owner by Kevin Clarke, a renowned specialist and builder of several top-quality Works replicas. The base used is a genuine original Austin Cooper S chassis, prepared according to Group 2 and Appendix J regulations of the Monte Carlo Rally. Numerous measurements and readings were taken directly from the official Morris Works LBL 6D car, which explains the presence of the Morris badges, faithful to the original.

The body shell has been specifically reinforced around the cradle mounting points, the handbrake, the double-skin crossmembers, and under the battery tray. The original Hydrolastic suspension is, of course, retained, in accordance with the period configuration.

The front wiring harness required over 160 hours of work, executed with the correct colors, cable sizes, and appropriate connectors. The Lucas switches are correct and mounted on dashboard panels of the exact dimensions. The heated windshield is a replacement, the original having cracked, but it is controlled by the rare and correct Tok switch.

The car features two high-beam controls, replicating the historical configuration. Since Rauno Aaltonen couldn't reach the floor-mounted control, Stan Chalmers, an electrical engineer at BMC, installed an additional control on the steering column, a configuration retained on this car. The correct Heuer chronometers are present, as is the Halda tripmaster in its metal casing, although its cable drive is not functional. The correct capillary water pressure gauge and the Monte Carlo speedometer, graduated to 200 km/h with a trip meter, are also included. The auxiliary headlight bar is authentic, with the two central spotlights fitted with the rare Continental lenses and the fog lights positioned externally, their Lucas covers stored in the door pockets.

The original John Alley three-point roll cage is fitted, complete with hand-stitched padding, knuckle protector, and period-correct Irvin harnesses. The correct driver's seat is upholstered in the specific red and gray fabric, and its frame has been specially fabricated, including the correct Jubilee collar. The rare Minis Works jack is mounted behind the driver's seat.

The navigator's seat is higher than that of a standard Mini and rests on an aluminum base, without rubber diaphragms, with a specific headrest that secures the straps. The doors, locks, and B-pillar feature padding faithfully copied from the original car. The car rides on Tech Del Minilite wheels fitted with decent Dunlop tires.

At the rear, you'll find the Monte Carlo lever-operated latches, the T-shaped fuel line protectors, and the correct fuel pump mounted under the seat. The rear bench seat is original, upholstered in red and gold brocade fabric, while the door bins are Newton-made. The rear shelf holds helmets in the correct colors, T-shaped reinforcements, helmet pins, a tool kit, and leather straps attached to the rear seats. The trunk rack is a faithful reproduction of the original and carries the spare tire.

The 1293cc engine was rebuilt to Works rally specifications by Bill Richards Racing. Fed by twin 1,5-inch SU carburetors, it exhibits excellent oil pressure and has covered fewer than 1,000 miles since its rebuild, with no competition use. Recently tuned by Tom Airey, it is renowned for its smooth and reliable operation. The gearbox, also assembled by Bill Richards, is a four-speed Quaife, currently paired with a more versatile 3,6:1 final drive ratio, as detailed in the supplied documentation.

Part of a private collection since around 2010, this Mini has been exhibited at numerous events in the UK. In 2011, it was invited to be displayed in the center of the Essen Motor Show alongside the greatest rally cars, on the occasion of the Monte Carlo Rally's centenary, bearing the license plates LBL 6D. The car comes with three binders containing construction details, invoices, photographs, technical inspections, and maintenance histories, as well as a separate file dedicated to engine specifications and settings.

This Cooper S Mk1 is more than just an aesthetic recreation. It represents an extremely well-crafted, documented, and historically accurate reconstruction of one of the most famous Minis ever to compete. It is aimed at a discerning collector who appreciates authenticity, precision, and the brand's sporting heritage.