Lot details
Registration No: CRX 90B
Chassis No: 1095945A
Mot Expiry: June 2008

"By the mid 1960s nothing could stop us from winning. This was not only because of the fantastic car but also because of the unique BMC team from Abingdon. I do not think that any team since has reached, relatively speaking, the same high level, which has to do not only with the mechanical aspect of the cars but also includes things from strategy to perfect gentlemanly manners" - Rauno Aaltonen ('The illustrated history of the WORKS MINIS in international rallies and races' by Peter Browning).

Arriving in March 1964, the 1275cc version of BMC's legendary Mini Cooper S had barely been homologated before it claimed a maiden win on that year's Tulip Rally. Although, class victory on the 1964 Alpine Rally followed swiftly thereafter, the newcomer was beset by teething problems as its transmission struggled to cope with the enlarged engine's increased power and torque. Sadly, these had yet to be fully sorted when 'CRX 90B' made its Works debut on the November 1964 RAC Rally of Great Britain. Believed but not warranted to be one of the first Works '1275' cars to utilize hydrolastic (or 'wet') suspension, if not the prototype, it was one of four Abingdon Competitions Department prepared Minis entered for the event alongside 'CRX 89B', 'AJB 44B' and 'AGU 780B'.

With the number 1 emblazoned on each door and none other than Paddy Hopkirk and Henry Liddon occupying its front seats, 'CRX 90B' was one of almost 180 cars to contest the RAC. Starting and finishing in London, the rally traveled through the West Country, Wales, Northern England and Scotland. A consistent front runner, Hopkirk recorded a string of fastest (Porlock, Brechfa, Taliesin, Oulton Park, Whinlatter, Carron, Tulliallan, Blairadam) and second fastest times (Brendon, Towy I, Greystoke, Loch Ard, Loch Achrayon) on the thirty seven stages between London and Perth. Sadly, 'CRX 90B' was destined not to finish the RAC with Motoring News reporting that: "Paddy Hopkirk brought his rally to an end by misjudging a corner and flying out a long way until he got stopped by a tree". The same Blackcraig stage was also to prove the undoing of Rauno Aaltonen who "finished a little further along with the gearbox seized in gear" (indeed all four Works cars were forced into retirement).

Suitably rejuvenated, 'CRX 90B' was one of six Works Mini entrants for the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally (alongside 231 other crews). Setting off from Minsk and piloted by twins Don and Erle Morley, it enjoyed an exciting battle with Paddy Hopkirk and Henry Liddon aboard 'CRX 91B'. While neither car could live with the lightweight Group III Mini of Timo Makinen and Paul Easter ('AJB 44B') which put in an astounding performance to take outright victory, the Group II Minis were able to finish in 26th (1st in class) and 27th (2nd in class) overall positions with Paddy Hopkirk just edging out Don Morley. That they were classified at all was no small achievement. The severe blizzards that characterized the 1965 Monte meant that just 35 of the 237 starters were allowed to compete on the final 400 mile Mountain Circuit run (at one point Makinen's windscreen is reported to have cracked due to the weight of accumulated snow on his roof).

With just two rounds to go and Rauno Aaltonen fighting to become BMC's first European Rally Champion, 'CRX 90B' was drafted in to support the taciturn Finn's assault on the 1965 Munich-Vienna-Budapest Rally (also known as the Three Cities). Helmed by Geoff Halliwell and Mike Wood, it followed in the wheeltracks of 'CRX 89B' ready to donate any 'spares' Aaltonen might need. Though, the organizers' original threat to forbid service stops never materialized.
On what would be its last Works outing, 'CRX 90B' struggled to keep pace with the 'Flying Finn' but had managed to reach Austria when as Mike Wood later recalled "we came to this stage which was a hillclimb, where we were using pace notes which we were definitely not used to. Halfway up the climb either Geoff got into the system, or perhaps we got over confident - anyway we had a big accident". With the concussed Halliwell and Wood recovering in a Viennese hospital, an unperturbed Aaltonen sped into Hungary and on to a victory that all but sealed his crown ('CRX 89B' averaging a scintillating 75mph on one of the latter special stages).

Thought to have been used as a 'recce' car during the 1966 season and as a test car the year after (though, there is no accompanying documentary evidence to substantiate these claims), 'CRX 90B' was finally relinquished by the Works to renowned co-driver Paul Easter in 1968. Stated to have been "rebuilt" on its accompanying green logbook (an important document in itself as the Works scrapped those cars which it felt no longer existed), the Mini was reassembled around a Cooper 998 bodyshell prior to leaving Abingdon's care. Despite apparently changing hands eight times over the next few years, 'CRX 90B' still retained this last Works fitted shell when it entered the current ownership some thirty years ago. Careful to preserve the monocoque, Swanage Coachworks fitted a new door, door skin and sills prior to returning the car to Wessex Motor Racing Developments Ltd who were responsible for the majority of the restoration work between 1976 and 1981. Treated to new front / rear subframes, 'CRX 90B' also benefited from a tuned 1293cc A-series engine and four-speed gearbox (the latter complete with straight-cut internals and a limited slip differential).

An experienced rally driver at both national and international level, the vendor was invited to enter 'CRX 90B' for the RAC Golden 50 (the anniversary event for the 50th RAC Rally). Ably assisted by his wife, he proved the mettle of both man and machine by finishing second overall behind a certain Mr P. Hopkirk in 'AJB 44B'! Although, further outings followed such as the Mini 25 Donington meeting (1985) and Norwich Union RAC Classic (1986), 'CRX 90B' has seen little use in recent years. Maintained by Lenham Sports Cars Ltd during that time, it is variously described by the vendor as being in "overhauled / run-in" (engine, gearbox), "very good" (chassis, bodywork, paintwork), or "excellent" (electrical equipment, interior trim) condition. Finished in red with a white roof, the Mini comes with such expected niceties as a sump guard and Halda instrumentation. Riding on 'minilite' alloys and showing an unwarranted 65,956km to its odometer, 'CRX 90B' is offered for sale with a history file and MOT certificate valid until June 2008.

Establishing the exact history of a Works Mini is made all the more difficult by the fact that the Abingdon Competitions Department not only fitted new bodyshells and mechanical components as the need arose but also swapped chassis, engine and registration numbers between cars on a regular basis so as to appease the demands of various customs officials, journalists and even BMC's own PR people. However, a car (or cars) bearing the registration number 'CRX 90B' not only played an important role in the development of hydrolastic suspension but also competed for the Works on the RAC, Monte Carlo and Three Cities Rallies. Since being sold by the Competition Department, 'CRX 90B' has enjoyed a continuous history and is today eligible for a host of prestigious events.

PLEASE NOTE: This lot was issued with a new registration document when Paul Easter bought it from the Works in 1968. The green logbook in question lists the Mini as a 'rebuilt' vehicle but quotes its original chassis number rather than the one shown on the car's then new bodyshell. Subsequent registration documents repeated this 'error'. Sadly, the vendor's recent efforts to clarify matters with the DVLA have resulted in the authority invalidating the car's present MOT certificate. The Mini Cooper Register has assisted the vendor in putting forward his case but their combined efforts have met with a bureaucratic brick wall at this moment. As such, the Cooper S does not possess a current V5C registration document.