17 replies to this topic

[womwom]

mini cooper rsp! any ideas?

[Purple Tom]

Rover Special Products I believe. Prelude to the proper production Cooper in 1991.

[taffy1967]

http://www.rsp-cooper-register.co.uk/

[THE ANORAK]

do you want to taffy, or shall I ???

aha, beaten too it

Edited by THE ANORAK, 26 February 2009 - 09:41 PM.

[THE ANORAK]

this old rover product report explains the relationship between the cooper RSP (cooper special edition in the document) and the later mainstream cooper (cooper standard).....

the rover department that developed the cooper special edition were called "rover special products" and so the car was given the name RSP cooper, not by rover, but by the enthusiasts. now its the accepted term for the car

Edited by THE ANORAK, 26 February 2009 - 09:48 PM.

[womwom]

that clears that up then, thanks guys

[mattdc2r]

WOW!!! 60 mp/h in 11.2 seconds

[taffy1967]

do you want to taffy, or shall I ???

aha, beaten too it

I was lucky to get that in, because the misses was screaming in my ear to get off the computer as she wanted us to all sit down and watch a film.

[taffy1967]

WOW!!! 60 mp/h in 11.2 seconds

Well the then new drive by noise and vehicle emissions were to blame for the slightly stilted performance, even though most car journals at that time were impressed as it certainly felt much quicker than it actually was.

However most of those Minis (like mine) have got faster as they've got older, because years ago I got shot of the cat, fitted an LCB and a decent exhaust system (Maniflow) and replaced the power sapping (but necessary at the time) air filter and it's air chocking trunk for a K&N filter.

So I'm pretty sure mine like many are a fair bit quicker off the mark now? Especially with a good Stage One Kit installed?

I also believe that the RSP department were responsible for the ERA Mini Turbo too?

Edited by taffy1967, 27 February 2009 - 01:57 PM.

[mattdc2r]

Pick my cooper engine up tomorrow for my project mini. Looking to fit twin HS4's, LCB and fletcher exhaust and either SW5 cam or 1.5 roller tip rockers. Should be ready for summer 2010 ish, funds allowing.

[Aria Aradhea]

Taffy, I don't think the ERA was the result from RSP... IIRC the ERA Mini Turbo was produced by the ERA company, type-approved by Rover, to partly celebrate the 30 year anniversary of the Mini. It's in fact inspired John Cooper to push Rover to put a 1275cc engine from the MG Metro which in turn created the RSP Cooper...

Just remembering it from the top of my head though....

[taffy1967]

Pick my cooper engine up tomorrow for my project mini. Looking to fit twin HS4's, LCB and fletcher exhaust and either SW5 cam or 1.5 roller tip rockers. Should be ready for summer 2010 ish, funds allowing.

Sounds very nice.

[taffy1967]

Taffy, I don't think the ERA was the result from RSP... IIRC the ERA Mini Turbo was produced by the ERA company, type-approved by Rover, to partly celebrate the 30 year anniversary of the Mini. It's in fact inspired John Cooper to push Rover to put a 1275cc engine from the MG Metro which in turn created the RSP Cooper...

Just remembering it from the top of my head though....

I've probably got it the wrong way around and it was actually ERA who had a part in the development of the RSP/Rover Mini Cooper? I'm sure the anorak will know?

As for John Cooper & the Rover connection, check out my little article here: -

The Clear Road To The Rover Mini Cooper link

[taffy1967]

D'oh, it states ERA's involvement on the first page of the above document: -

[Rosslin Racing]

RSP and i thought it stood for Red Striped Pyjamas.

Edited by Rosslin Racing, 27 February 2009 - 04:01 PM.