13 replies to this topic

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

Went to a show today and saw a '64 cooper with twin tanks. Thought only S's had factory twin tanks? Body is original. Had both outer sills replaced (with proper sills, not over type) but obviously diy welding. Multiple patches in rear arches. Took a pic of log book to check details. How do you trace back original details. Could it be an 'S'? Apparently a 997cc is rare?

Edited by HUBBA.HUBBA, 01 July 2017 - 09:03 PM.

[nicklouse]

could have been a customer request for twin tanks.

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

They want £15k For it

[nicklouse]

might be special but from the info given i would not expect to be one of the works cars as that would be more than 15k

[minimans]

64 would be a very late 997. Rare? maybe because all early coopers are now "rare" a lot of 997 cars had 998 transplants over the years and now they all seem to be turning into cooper s clones! they stopped production in favor of the 998 in 64. It could have had factory twin tanks as an ordered option but I've never seen one before, If you have the chassis number you can get a quick report from heritage to verify?

Edited by minimans, 02 July 2017 - 01:31 AM.

[mab01uk]

Are you sure it was not the very rare (and expensive) 970 Cooper S introduced in June 1964?

 

Anyway many owners fitted twin tanks to 997/998 Coopers and standard Minis in the 1960's and 70's as did i, most Minis had mods of some kind back then.......it is only recently that the obsession with standard factory spec cars has become common. Sad in a way as it will eventually take away much of the interest at shows to see rows of Minis all in standard showroom spec. and with few period mods.

Edited by mab01uk, 02 July 2017 - 06:53 AM.

[slidehammer]

The 997cc Cooper was always the cheapest option into 60's Cooper ownership as the long stroke motor wasn't as pleasant as the shorter stroke 998cc Coopers that replaced it. I believe the disk brakes were also different from the 998cc calipers. I think £15,000 is steep for a Cooper where you can see multiple patches and the outer sills are the obvious work of DIY enthusiast, as that is just the bits you can see. I would guess the twin tanks would have been a home done conversion at some point.

[minimans]

Like I said if you have the chassis number give the heritage centre a call and they can do a search and give you the original spec's...........

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

It's 'definantly' a 997 ( he says in inverted commas)
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[HUBBA.HUBBA]

Think I'll still hang out for a cooper 35 to come along though

[62S]

That is more likely to be a 998 Cooper with that chassis number, certainly too late for a 997.

[mab01uk]

The DVLA and Dealers often filled out the original handwritten registration forms incorrectly back in the 1960's and there were further errors added sometimes when the manual log books/documents were transferred to computerised records in the late 1970's.

[ace01]

Twin tanks were available from the earliest minis as an option, most probably from the dealer.  The photo reproduced in many mini books showing a stripped down early 850 clearly shows twin tanks.  My 997 was specified with twin tanks in 1961.

 

The 997 was (is) a good engine.  Plenty of torque, but let down by the limited valve sizes that could be used and it's dislike of high revs. 

[Daz1968]

My mk2 998 had twin tanks when I purchased it in the 80's all genuine parts, think it was available as a kit, am currently restoring mine again and will be keeping them along with Dunlop D2 alloys, I like a few period mods as don't want my car same as everyone else's.
15k for a genuine mk1 cooper after looking at recent sales on eBay is not far off the mark as long as most original parts are there.