58 replies to this topic

[giner88]

okay basicaly i am thinking about getting a cooper in the near future BUT what is the differance between a 1992 cooper and a 1992 sprite? they are both spi and both the same size engine? so what makes it a cooper? or is it just some decals?

[MaxAndPaddy]

I think you'l find Cooper is spelt with a Curly C and Sprite is spelt with a Ssss



I was always good at the Spot the Difference as a kid

[giner88]

I think you'l find Cooper is spelt with a Curly C and Sprite is spelt with a Ssss



I was always good at the Spot the Difference as a kid

ahhhhhhhhhhhhh damn how did i miss this!!!

[MrBounce]

The head has bigger valves I believe - 63 BHP as standard instead of about 53 BHP in the Sprite. So it's faster.

[Joseph-C]

according to parkers the sprites only have 50 bhp compared to coopers 62/63.:
http://www.parkers.c...ni/saloon-1988/
also the white stripes and roof and some coopers have the half leather interior, not sure which years though.
theres probably loads more differences aswell

edit: beaten to it

Edited by Joseph-C, 28 February 2012 - 10:48 PM.

[Cooperman]

That's a blooming 'can of worms' you've opened there.
This has been a bone of contention as to what constitutes a Cooper or Cooper 'S' over the last 50 years.
We all have our views and some say that the car has to be an original Cooper or Cooper 'S' to be a 'real' Cooper.
But, and here is the big 'but', in the 60's a lot of cars were bought as 850's and re-built to full Cooper or 'S' build specification by those who wanted to race or rally them, then entered in competition as a Cooper or Cooper 'S'. Indeed some, like me, took a 997 Cooper and built it into full 1275 'S' spec, including all brakes, speedo, etc, then called it an 'S' and used it in National and International rallies. Was it an 'S' - you decide as I've given up.
I once bought a 1071 'S' as a pile of bits plus a V5. This was before the days of not being legally allowed to re-shell with a 2nd hand shell. I re-built it into an 850 Mk.1 shell with everything as an 'S', twin tanks, a full-0n 1071 race engine, full FIA papers and took it to Belgium for a class win and 7th overall on an International as a Cooper 'S'. When I got back I was told by a member of the Mini Cooper Register that it was not an 'S'. (maybe he thought it wasw a Lotus-Cortina?!).
So, now I've opened the can-of-worms (again), but i maintain that if a Mini is exactly to mini Cooper or Cooper 'S' mechanical specification in all respects, then it is just that.

[MrBounce]

Also, in an unmolested (i.e standard) 1992 Cooper, you'll get a rev counter where the Sprite didn't get one, plus the trim & stickers as detailed above along with the different coloured roof and standard fit alloys.

[giner88]

That's a blooming 'can of worms' you've opened there.
This has been a bone of contention as to what constitutes a Cooper or Cooper 'S' over the last 50 years.
We all have our views and some say that the car has to be an original Cooper or Cooper 'S' to be a 'real' Cooper.
But, and here is the big 'but', in the 60's a lot of cars were bought as 850's and re-built to full Cooper or 'S' build specification by those who wanted to race or rally them, then entered in competition as a Cooper or Cooper 'S'. Indeed some, like me, took a 997 Cooper and built it into full 1275 'S' spec, including all brakes, speedo, etc, then called it an 'S' and used it in National and International rallies. Was it an 'S' - you decide as I've given up.
I once bought a 1071 'S' as a pile of bits plus a V5. This was before the days of not being legally allowed to re-shell with a 2nd hand shell. I re-built it into an 850 Mk.1 shell with everything as an 'S', twin tanks, a full-0n 1071 race engine, full FIA papers and took it to Belgium for a class win and 7th overall on an International as a Cooper 'S'. When I got back I was told by a member of the Mini Cooper Register that it was not an 'S'. (maybe he thought it wasw a Lotus-Cortina?!).
So, now I've opened the can-of-worms (again), but i maintain that if a Mini is exactly to mini Cooper or Cooper 'S' mechanical specification in all respects, then it is just that.

so in 'theory' i could turn a sprite into a cooper?

[Cooperman]

Some will agree and some won't. You'll never get agreement on this.
If the mechanical specification is as the Cooper and any mods are period mods. it's hard to see how it is not a Cooper, unless..................!

[mini-luke]

Mechanically, there is very little difference, pistons, camshaft and ECU off the top of my head, cylinder head is the same.

[bluesprite]

Also, in an unmolested (i.e standard) 1992 Cooper, you'll get a rev counter where the Sprite didn't get one, plus the trim & stickers as detailed above along with the different coloured roof and standard fit alloys.

Did coopers have white rooves or something? so should my 92 sprite have a body coloured roof and not white?

[Mini_Magic]

The head has bigger valves I believe - 63 BHP as standard instead of about 53 BHP in the Sprite. So it's faster.

Having owned a MPi Cooper and now a SPi Sprite, I can tell you that there is no noticeable difference in performance.

Main reason for getting a Cooper over a Sprite is for the nicer trim and decals. The 60s Cooper is a whole different matter.

[villa3]

The 60s coopers are the true brits,in 1990 they brought them back but by then Minis were only a fashion statment,the Mini as an icon finished in the 80s.

[giner88]

The 60s coopers are the true brits,in 1990 they brought them back but by then Minis were only a fashion statment,the Mini as an icon finished in the 80s.

not sure how you worked that out define icon? because the hay day of the mini was the 60s, not the 70s and 100% not the 80s

[villa3]

Sorry meant 70s,it had its biggest selling year in 71! when the cooper s finished,albeit in a rather boring mk3 form.