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When you think
of a Rover Cooper, what do you think of? M.P.I, Mainstream, S.P.I, red
or green and with a white roof! The last time we tried to work out how
many variants of the Rover Cooper there are we gave up at seventeen!
That’s a heck of a lot of production changes and particulars for us to
encompass and sometimes individual models do get overlooked or indeed
mistaken for another one.
This year obviously is a significant year for the Mini in general,
next year though is very significant to all us Rover Cooper owners,
and we hope to organise some events to celebrate this. Fifteen years
ago next June the initially widely resented Rover Cooper took to the
streets for the first time. With this in mind we want to try to do an
article on each and every variant ever to roll forth from Longbridge,
including those that we sadly never had here in Blighty.
So how did it all begin? The first sign of the rebirth of the great
Cooper name was in the shape of the John Cooper conversions (MCC542).
These were conversions based on the 1000cc engine. They coincided with
the Racing Green, Flame Red and Check mate L.E's and also the Mini 30,
whilst initially only available in Japan in kit form soon became
available in the U.K and had full factory and warranty backing. These
were a great forerunner of what was to come. More on these at a later
time because technically I think only a handful were ever registered
as Mini Coopers.
While the world was revelling at the Cooper name being back to the
fore, Mr. Graham Day, M.D of Rover was also working with John Cooper
on a full-scale reintroduction of the Mini Cooper. Many Mini Mayfairs
and Cities were modified to this end, the first of which we have on
the register and is often to be seen at club stands. From this point
the Rover Mini Cooper was being developed in conjunction with Rover
Special Projects.
Thus, the first Rover Cooper since 1972 became known as the R.S.P. for
obvious reasons. Sadly we have very few of these on the register.
Considering officially only 1650 were built, 1050 for the home market
and 600 for the rest of the world, it is surprising just how many do
still exist, as like all Minis they rot! R.S.Ps for some reason seem
especially prone to this and suffer badly around the scuttle area, and
the front end, and the doors and the boot!
So what is so ‘Special’ about the R.S.P? I am of the opinion they were
probably cobbled together with whatever was left in the parts store at
Longbridge! That is only my opinion so don’t quote me or sue me! One
thing though, is it a coincidence that R.S.Ps are the same colours as
the Racing Green, Flame and Checkmate all of which ceased production
at the time of the R.S.Ps introduction!
Seriously though, these were and indeed still are a brilliant Mini,
boasting the M.G Metro 1275cc engine, which produces 61 B.H.P at 5550
R.P.M. giving a 0-60 time of 11.2 seconds and a top speed of 92M.P.H.
The engine also sported an oil cooler and a modified exhaust system.
Body wise the R.S.P came in three colours, British Racing Green, Flame
Red and Black, all topped with a white roof. Standard trim also
featured a Tudor Webasto glass sunroof, body-coloured wheel spats and
rear number plate light, white door mirrors, winged Mini Cooper badge
on the bonnet, white Cooper Laurel decals on the boot lid and also the
side quarters with twin white coach lines down the sides. Also fitted
were twin driving/spotlights, which are very similar to those on the
mainstream Cooper; these sat in front of a Mk2 Cooper style grille.
The R.S.P also had twin white stripes on the bonnet with black John
Cooper signatures on them. These were actually a separate decal on top
of the white stripe. The stripes were also placed higher up the
bonnet, fitting the top ridge and leaving a gap before the bonnet lip.
Another distinguishing feature of the R.S.P is the wheels. They are
actually the same wheels as featured on the Mini 30 and also the
second generation Racing Greens etc. On first glance these appear to
be the same as the mainstream wheels but actually the stud holes are
in line with the spokes on the Mini 30 type wheel and interspaced on
the mainstream.
The Mini 30 theme continues in the interior, with re-badged Mini 30
half leather seats and lightening Mini 30 trim panels! Also inside was
fitted a Stereo cassette player, red carpets and red rimmed steering
wheel.
All this led to a very formidable car, and one which now is often
copied and there are a great many fake R.S.Ps out there! The chassis
number on a genuine car should start, SAXXNNAMBAD...... One other
significant thing the R.S.P. led to was the reintroduction of another
Mini legend....the Cooper 'S'. Once again the Cooper legend makers
came up with a kit of parts, (MCC 1275 ND), comprising, modified
cylinder head, new exhaust system, twin 1.25 inch SU carbs and
modified air box; all this combined to increase power to a quoted 78
B.H.P. Other Cooper conversions and modifications were also available
for the R.S.P. but I will go into all the many and varied conversions
some other time, as they are an article or four in their own right!
So, the R.S.P a classic among Minis; funny really when you consider
when launched almost 15 years ago it was berated and many people would
not accept it as a proper Mini Cooper, I must admit it took me a good
number of years to accept them for what they are. So all you MINI
owners reading this don’t panic! The Rover Coopers had all the same
problems with being accepted and yet no-one bats an eyelid about them
now.
That was an easy Rover Cooper report to do! Some of the 17, (at the
last count), other Limited Editions might prove a little more
challenging. |
