1965 Austin Mini Cooper 970 S
One of the rarest and most coveted Minis!

Registration No: BSH 165C
Chassis No: C-A2S7/549642
MOT: Exempt

• 1 of only 963 examples of the special-order 970 S produced; short-stroke, 65bhp, 'Homologation Special'
• Lavished with £5,000 worth of expenditure in late 2024 and 2025, mostly with The Mini Works
• Discovered as a garage-find example by the vendor's father some 10 years ago alongside an E-Type
• One of the rarest and most sought-after Mini variants, and highly collectable!

The more powerful Mini Cooper 'S' appeared in 1963 and quickly established itself as the basis for competition-focused models. Larger disc brakes, more luxurious upholstery and discrete 'S' badges on the bonnet and boot were subtle upgrades, with the real changes made to the adaptable A-series engine. With competition in mind, in 1964 Cooper produced two 'S' models specifically for circuit racing in the under-1,000cc and under1,300cc classes (rated at 970cc and 1275cc respectively). The road-going 970 'S' was a real 'Homologation Special', specifically produced with the under-one-litre class of the BSCC in mind. Its specialist short-stroke engine produced 65bhp but was expensive to manufacture, so BMC made it a special-order model, and consequently, very few were sold (with even fewer remaining today). The 970 'S' was only produced from June, 1964, until April, 1965, with just 963 examples supplied, making it one of the rarest and most sought-after Mini models.

This 1965 Cooper 970 S has survived very well and in a notably original condition, having led an enviably easy life. Decades ago, it was stashed away in a garage, well-protected from the elements, and with a Jaguar E-Type for a stablemate. It remained there until it was awakened by an enthusiast, the vendor’s father, circa 2016. Showing only three registered keepers, it is understood to have resided in the north of Scotland since at least 1969, and the presence of one M.O.T. from 1974 suggests it was taken off the road shortly thereafter. The Mini was sufficiently well-preserved that it did not require a full restoration, and needed fairly minimal work to make it roadworthy again. Considering its past, the 75,000 miles on the odometer may be assumed to be genuine, and if so, it is hardly surprising that it had suffered little wear.

Returning to the road shortly thereafter, the Mini was more recently taken to The Mini Works, who performed around £4,720 worth of work between December 2024 and May 2025. The first stage was a mechanical recommissioning, involving overhauling the brakes with new wheel cylinders, servicing the suspension and steering and renewing bushes where necessary, and cleaning and reconditioning the carburettors with ethanol-resistant jets. A new exhaust manifold was fitted, with an uprated gasket. The second stage involved cleaning the underside and protecting it against rust, with coatings of rust converter, rust-inhibiting primer, and underseal, followed by a thorough application of Waxoyl. Later in 2025, it underwent a renewal of the timing cover seal and gasket and the rocker cover gasket, and received a new water pump, the work being completed by Sports Car Services for £366. An unmolested example of one of the rarest Minis, this 970 S is offered with paperwork including the V5C, the driver’s handbook, a Mini workshop manual, the 1974 MOT, and invoices for the recent work.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452