1966 Austin Mini Cooper S

Few cars in competition have fueled the imagination like the giant-killing Mini Cooper, the combination of diminutive size, outstanding roadholding and punchy power often running rings around the opposition. Following the original 997 cc Mini Cooper’s launch in July 1961, Pat Moss gave due warning of the car’s potential by winning the 1961 Tulip Rally on only the car’s second outing, and the following year John Love won the British Saloon Car Championship; it was successes like these that prompted BMC to build a much more radical car, an homologation special to take on the world’s best competition.

Launched in March 1963, the 1,071 cc Mini Cooper S was the ultimate Mini, at its heart a much higher specification engine than the plain Cooper’s unit, and slightly larger but much more efficient front disc brakes. The increased potential of the S was quickly demonstrated by Rauno Aaltonen’s outright win on the 1963 Alpine Rally, followed by Paddy Hopkirk’s...