stands for super

Morris Cooper Special x 2

Speeding

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Superfluous

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'72 English Van...'72 Export Moke ...63' 850...KZ 750E1...'74 P76

Stunning

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You're only supposed to blow the BLUDDY DOORS OFF!!

'Spensive

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Salt

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Simplify and add lightness

Sneaky
Sucked in
So long Suckers

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A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "Damn...that was fun!"

It means re "S"tamped Automobile

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DID I MENTION THAT I AM THE BEST SUPPLIER FOR MINI ELECTRICAL PARTS AND REPAIRS?
"Let us remove your "SHORTS"

I vote for Special, as in "Special Needs"

Al

When John cooper first got a mini, his mum made him put his name on it in case he lost it, but he forgot the apostrophe...

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince

I'll pay that one!

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1964 Cooper UK 970 S 'CZ 4289'

Sales booster?

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Too many cars, and too little time.

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

Very funny, but I reckon Mr Moke was actually asking a valid question, and now thinks the S is meaningless on a Cooper.

So, in all seriousness, a little history lesson is in order (as near as I can decipher it).

After the initial success of the Cooper Minis - 997cc and 998cc, John Cooper wanted to take both his Formula Junior race cars and the Mini into the 1100cc class. At the same time, the BMC Competition department, led by this time by Stuart Turner, saw the potential of the Mini Cooper, but wanted more power and better brakes.

According to John Parnell, the long stroke (81.28mm) of the 997cc engine was not conducive to high-revving, and the planned bore (64.58mm) would mean too little metal between cylinders. The resultant redesigned engine, incorporating siamesed bores - 1071cc - was able to be changed to 1275cc or 970cc by basically lengthening or shortening the stroke, allowing it to run in 1000cc, 1100cc or 1300cc classes.

The relationship with John Cooper would remain - the marketing potential was easily recognised by BMC - but the cars need to be identified as something different from, or better than, the 1lt Mini Cooper - by this time changed to 998cc (actually Morris/Austin, with the Cooper S not technically referred to as a Mini Cooper until the Mk3 of 1969). This was simply, and cheaply, achieved by adding an S badge to the boot and bonnet. Engineering, management and John Cooper himself, apparently favoured the term Super and wanted that indicated on the car, but the marketing people realised that calling the car the Mini Cooper Super both sounded awkward and, more importantly, would automatically attract a higher insurance premium for the car.

It was decided that the S would be the only marking on the cars, and that this would stand for Special, wherever the need arose to have it in full - some publicity, parts lists, etc.

Of course, insurance company people aren't entirely stupid, so the Cooper Special, or Cooper S, still attracted a higher insurance premium anyway - as you would expect.

Cheers,
Watto.