INFO GUIDE: 1964 - 1965 Austin Mini Cooper S 970cc (MK1)

The MK1 Austin Cooper S 970cc had the following interior features, which should be present on an original car:

• Seat trim: Front bucket seats and rear bench seat with two tone vinyl trim. The trim colour will depend on the paint colour of the car. The attached chart (in the images) shows which cars came with what trim, including the associated headlining and carpet colour. The colours available on the vinyl seat trim included the following 6 combinations:

     -  Powder Blue / Silver Brocade Grey.

     -  Powder Blue / Gold Brocade Grey.

     -  Dove Grey / Dark Grey.

     -  Dove Grey / Porcelain Green.

     -  Tartan Red / Gold Brocade Grey.

     -  Camulus Grey / Gold Brocade Grey.

• Central instrument cluster contains 120MPH speedometer (also containing the fuel gauge), temperature gauge on LHS and oil pressure gauge on RHS.
• Three point seatbelts were standard on the front seats only. The rear seat had no belts.
• Indicator light on MK1 cars is present on the end of the indicator stalk, as opposed to within the instrument cluster on later cars.
• Vinyl covered dash rails top and bottom.
• Chrome solid top (ie – not vented) ashtray in front upper dash rail.
• Single lever Smiths Heater Assembly (See images).
• Heater cable on left and choke cable on right of central lower dash controls.
• Two spoke steering wheel has Austin emblem in centre. Cars were often retrofitted with period Springalex type steering wheel or other common brands.
• Unless installed as a later option, the MK1 970cc Cooper S should only have one fuel tank on the LHS of the boot (second tank was available as an option).
• Carpeted boot board, resting on support brackets (two support brackets are spot welded to the rear seat back / boot wall, and three supports at the edge of the boot). See images for a better description.
• Boot lid internal lining: Cooper S cars had a hardcover vinyl type lining over the inner boot lid, held in place with small chrome screws and upholstery washers.

The MK1 970 Cooper S was available in the following 6 paint colour combinations from the factory, as listed below. Like Coopers, the Cooper S came with a contrasting roof colour. An example of each of the colours / combinations has been provided in the attached images. Also attached is a table detailing the paint colour of the car, and its associated / matching interior provided from the factory, as well as an original colour chart.

• Black (Code BK-1) on Tartan Red (Code RD-9)
• Black (Code BK-1) on Old English White (Code WT-3)
• Old English White (Code WT-3) on Fiesta Yellow (Code YL-11)
• Old English White (Code WT-3) on Almond Green (Code GN-37)
• Old English White (Code WT-3) on Surf Blue (Code BU-35)
• Old English White (Code WT-3) on Tweed Grey (Code GR-4) (Available from April 1964)

Unfortunately, the MK1 Cooper S 970cc did not have its original paint code printed on any sticker or plate on the body. Unless you have early documentation, it can be difficult to confirm whether the paint colour on a Cooper S today is in fact the original designated colour (particularly if a car has undergone a thorough restoration). The best you can do is to confirm it complies with one of the above factory available colours.

An Austin Cooper S 970cc should have a specific chassis prefix, followed by a unique chassis number for that particular car, as outlined below:

Chassis Code = C-A2S7 (For LHD market cars, the chassis code was followed by an “L”, (ie. C-A2S7L).

The chassis code will be followed by the unique chassis number, which should be within the range of 549501 - 549992.

Location of chassis code and chassis number:

The chassis code and number are located on the small aluminium ID tag, which is secured with self-tapping screws to the top of the radiator cowling (between the radiator and inner mudguard). See images for a better description. Unlike the Australian models, this number was not stamped into the body, and the tag is the only reference available to confirm originality. Note that blank chassis plates are widely available, and can easily be stamped with any chassis number to replicate a Cooper S.

Body Number:

Cooper S models had an exclusive body number sequence identified by the beginning prefix letter “A”, followed by a 5 digit unique number. The body number was stamped on a metal plate, approximately 3 inches long, which was spot welded to the bonnet slam panel. See images for a better description of the location.

An Austin Cooper S 970cc should have a body number in the range between 28155 - 38585. 

An Austin Cooper S 970cc should have an engine prefix in one of the the following formats listed below. 

9F/SA/X (followed by a unique 5 digit engine number) = 970cc engine without closed circuit breathing (1964), or;

9F/SA/X (followed by a unique 5 digit engine number) = late 1964/1965 prefix used for the late 970cc cars with closed circuit breathing and warning switch type oil filter head, or;

9FD/SA/X (followed by a unique 5 digit engine number) = 970cc engine with closed circuit breathing (1964), or;

9FE/SA/X (followed by a unique 5 digit engine number) = 970cc engine with closed circuit breathing and warning switch type oil filter head (1964).

A unique 5 digit engine number will follow the prefix, being in the range of 29001 - 30029.

Engine Number location:

The engine number is embossed into a tag, found of the top front right hand side of the engine block (if you are facing the car), immediately in front of the cylinder head, and behind the alternator/generator. See images for a better description.

As with body tags, it is worth noting that blank engine tags are readily available and easily forged. Engine numbers should therefore be assessed in conjunction with other identification criteria, and not taken on face value. It is worth noting that an engine may be missing its tag, if it was reconditioned (the alloy tag can often dissolve of the block has been dipped or blasted.