1986 Austin Mini Mayfair (John Cooper Prototype)

For sale by auction on Saturday 28 November 2015 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
From its peak in 1971. Mini production had dwindled to just
under 35. 00 units per year by the end of 1985. The only market
where there appeared to still be growth potential was Japan. With
this in mind. the President of Austin Rover Japan approached John
Cooper in early 1986 and asked if it was possible to put an MG
Metro engine into a standard 998cc Mini to produce a sports
version. An MG Metro-engined Mini was soon on its way to
Japan for evaluation. That car was C734 SWV.

The management at Rover Japan showed great enthusiasm for the
idea but a request for a limited production of 1. 00 units was
turned down by Austin Rover's CEO. Harold Musgrove. who was
planning to end Mini production altogether in March 1987. John
Cooper however. had already been approached by other Japanese
interests to produce conversion kits for 998cc Mini models and
this. coupled with a change in management at Austin Rover in late
1986. proved the turning point. C734 SWV once again came back
into its own in 1988 when a formal presentation was made to Austin
Rover in July of that year. The role of this car in re-establishing
the now famous 'Mini Cooper' in 1989. maintaining its desirability
and driver appeal throughout the 1990's right up to the end of
production in October 2000. cannot be understated. C734 SWV
is the forerunner of the engine conversions that John and Michael
Cooper would eventually offer customers from 1991 onwards. The DVLA
paperwork with this car shows a 998cc Austin Mini Mayfair being
purchased by John Cooper Garages in April 1987 and at its next
documented sale in March 1989 with the cylinder capacity already
changed to 1275cc. Whilst being shown at the International Mini
Meeting in 2014. the current owner was approached by Michael Cooper
(John Cooper's son) who regaled him of various memories of
converting the car. including the installation of a Cooper badge to
the rocker cover which is intact to this day.

The car is owned by Michael Standring of Wood & Pickett and
forms part of his personal collection. It is immaculate both inside
and out. having seen very little use over the years. The car
is to be the subject of a detailed upcoming feature in Mini World
Magazine by the well-known classic car journalist. John Parnell. It
is finished in Targa Red paint with white roof. bonnet stripes and
distinctive original Cooper rear quarter decals. The
technical specification features a ported and gas-flowed cylinder
head fitted with enlarged valves. 35mm inlet and 29mm exhaust. an
increased compression ratio. twin 1. 5" HS4 carburettors with
K&N air filters and a special three-branch exhaust
manifold. Stopping power is aided by the addition of a Type
six brake servo while a high efficiency radiator. coupled with an
oil cooler. allowed the engine to cope with the demanding summer
temperatures in Japan. The interior of the car remains original to
the Mini Mayfair. the only clue of its sporting underpinnings being
the Cooper-badged Moto-Lita steering wheel.



Also published at eBay.co.uk

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