26 replies to this topic

[kevinwilson]

Hi i am new to the mini scene. I am looking at buying a mini aged 2000 or 2001. I am struggling at the moment with what models have what.

1. Is the cooper classic with sports pack different to the cooper s if so what are the differences
2. Is the steel dash cooper different to the walnut dash version
3. Whats the difference between the steel dash cooper compared to the 500 edition

Thanks for your replies in advance

Kev

[Dan]

The differences between all the UK spec MPi Minis (1996 to 2000) are essentially limited to trim details and the option of a Sportspack (which could be chosen for regular Minis as well as Coopers). Rover were not making a Cooper S at the end of production (according to my memory, I'm sure Anorak will correct me though). Proper production line Cooper S models died out when Leyland took over. Later Cooper S cars were converted from normal Coopers by the man himself at John Cooper Garages of Worthing. These are not pucker Rover produced vehicles but are dealer conversions like many others, albeit a conversion with Rover warranty coverage and Rover service support.

[shedonwheels]

I am a newbie too but from what I can gather.....

The cooper 'sports' have a silver (or occasionally blue) dash, wider arches and bigger wider 13 inch wheels, silver roof and wing mirrors and bonnet stripes, a bigger exhaust and usually black and silver leather interior with a silver gear knob. They are coopers which have been fitted with a cooper 'sportspack'. Its really just an optional trim and I think i'm right in saying that the coopers with sportspack actually have a reduced top speed compared to plain coopers due to the wide arches not being aerodynamic. could be wrong...

The cooper sports 500 edition are the last ones off the mini factory line. These were obv. special editions and came with a plaque inside the glovebox which said something like "this is one of the last 500 minis" and you also got a goodie bag with mini accessories such as a snazzy fleece and also a certificate signed by John Cooper and some other guy who was the head of rover/mg who I cant remember the name of sorry! Genuine ones can be detected by the reg or chassis number as these are recorded. There is a mini cooper sports 500 owners register you can check with.

I'm not totally sure but I think the later cooper 's' is different in that it had a tuned engine and some even had a jack knight 5 speed gearbox. and they also didnt always come with a 'sportspack', this was optional.

In the 2000 era there were some stunning mini 'classics' produced. These are all fitted with the same engine as the cooper but with various different trims such as leather seats in vintage colours. I think they were basically produced to commemorate the mini. These are lovely cars and I think fairly rare. In fact I'm pretty sure somebody is selling a stunning blue one on here. (Yes they are!! her you go.... Link!Click me) Have you looked in the for sale section?

I'v prob missed bits out/got bits wrong but this is all the info i managed to sort of gather when I was looking for my mini. Please anyone else feel free to correct me and would also love to know more about the cooper 's' works! I'm sure anorak will sort you out he is rather wise on all the specifics!

[kevinwilson]

The differences between all the UK spec MPi Minis (1996 to 2000) are essentially limited to trim details and the option of a Sportspack (which could be chosen for regular Minis as well as Coopers). Rover were not making a Cooper S at the end of production (according to my memory, I'm sure Anorak will correct me though). Proper production line Cooper S models died out when Leyland took over. Later Cooper S cars were converted from normal Coopers by the man himself at John Cooper Garages of Worthing. These are not pucker Rover produced vehicles but are dealer conversions like many others, albeit a conversion with Rover warranty coverage and Rover service support.

thanks for that, i am a bit more confused now though haha. so are all coopers with the sports kit (that claim to be a cooper s) normal coopers with optional extras. how do you identify a late cooper s converted by john cooper.

thans again for your help guys

[kevinwilson]

I am a newbie too but from what I can gather.....

The cooper 'sports' have a silver (or occasionally blue) dash, wider arches and bigger wider 13 inch wheels, silver roof and wing mirrors and bonnet stripes, a bigger exhaust and usually black and silver leather interior with a silver gear knob. They are coopers which have been fitted with a cooper 'sportspack'. Its really just an optional trim and I think i'm right in saying that the coopers with sportspack actually have a reduced top speed compared to plain coopers due to the wide arches not being aerodynamic. could be wrong...

The cooper sports 500 edition are the last ones off the mini factory line. These were obv. special editions and came with a plaque inside the glovebox which said something like "this is one of the last 500 minis" and you also got a goodie bag with mini accessories such as a snazzy fleece and also a certificate signed by John Cooper and some other guy who was the head of rover/mg who I cant remember the name of sorry! Genuine ones can be detected by the reg or chassis number as these are recorded. There is a mini cooper sports 500 owners register you can check with.

I'm not totally sure but I think the later cooper 's' is different in that it had a tuned engine and some even had a jack knight 5 speed gearbox. and they also didnt always come with a 'sportspack', this was optional.

In the 2000 era there were some stunning mini 'classics' produced. These are all fitted with the same engine as the cooper but with various different trims such as leather seats in vintage colours. I think they were basically produced to commemorate the mini. These are lovely cars and I think fairly rare. In fact I'm pretty sure somebody is selling a stunning blue one on here. (Yes they are!! her you go.... Link!Click me) Have you looked in the for sale section?

I'v prob missed bits out/got bits wrong but this is all the info i managed to sort of gather when I was looking for my mini. Please anyone else feel free to correct me and would also love to know more about the cooper 's' works! I'm sure anorak will sort you out he is rather wise on all the specifics!

cheers mate think you have answered my questions

[Guess-Works.com]

Anything which has been touched by the Cooper Works will have documentary evidence, if there's no documents then its worth no more than a standard mini of the same spec.

[shedonwheels]

its prob me thats confused you!
I'm sure there are a lot of coopers with the sportspack which actually are cooper 's' works tuned. But as I am a girl and cannot tell my coolant bottle from my brake fluid I have no idea how you identify one!!
I noticed the mini for sale is a "1999 's' " so maybe minimadjonesy will be able to tell you more?

[kevinwilson]

so how much should i be looking for a mint condition cooper with sportspack 40,000 miles on a 2000 or 2001 plate and how much is a mint cooper works worth thanks guy

[shedonwheels]

Prices really can vary. I've seen really nice looking late sportspack coopers advertised from £3500 all the way up to £7000!!(that was for one with less than 6k on the clock, a real beauty ). When I was looking I found they were advertised at much higher prices in specialist mags and sites than on good old autotrader. It depends how mint you want it to be, it is a mini after all. I think about £4000 is a fair price to pay if your prepared for a few tiny faults. The market for minis is so slow at the mo you may be able to pick up a bargain, it is such a good time to buy if you can afford it!

[Dan]

Your confusion may stem from thinking that a Cooper S and a Cooper Sport are the same thing. They are not, the S in Cooper S doesn't stand for anything at all, the Cooper Sport is a different model. Further a Cooper with a Sportspack is different again from a Cooper Sport.

[johnnie]

Anything which has been touched by the Cooper Works will have documentary evidence, if there's no documents then its worth no more than a standard mini of the same spec.

My Cooper S works has full documentry evidence from J Cooper Garages and a metal tab in the drivers door floor that tells me its number. Without that I wouldn't believe any claims made.

I also understand that as a limited edition it was only available in BRG with a cream roof and red leather interia at that time (I could be wrong)

[shedonwheels]

Found a site with a bit of interesting info...Click!
"the S in Cooper S doesn't stand for anything at all," so why is it there? i am confused, sorry

Edited by shedonwheels, 16 July 2008 - 10:54 PM.

[Dan]

Because John Cooper always believed more could be achieved with the Mini than the Cooper had delivered. Because the BMC Works wanted a more suitable rally car to pass homologation. Because when they were designing the new car and the prickly issue of what to call it came up, someone said 'what about Cooper S?'. John Cooper liked it and it stuck. This is more or less what happened as I understand it. It never actually meant anything at all, it just denotes that it is different from a regular Cooper.

Edited by Dan, 16 July 2008 - 11:41 PM.

[kevinwilson]

Your confusion may stem from thinking that a Cooper S and a Cooper Sport are the same thing. They are not, the S in Cooper S doesn't stand for anything at all, the Cooper Sport is a different model. Further a Cooper with a Sportspack is different again from a Cooper Sport.

so let me get this right

in 2000 the only original cooper is the classic cooper sport se and the 500 (or am i wrong)

so exactly what are the following

cooper s
cooper sportspack
cooper sports

or am i been thick again though i had it before

thanks again

[kevinwilson]

oh yeah and how can i tell whats an original cooper to a normal mini cooper