1001 is the first engine number, but they go upwards to 1550 for the last of them. If this car has 1353 fitted then it didn't have that when first built. But then we can launch into more 'what if's & but's' 50 years down the track. It could have been a warranty issue, but let's face it that although this Cooper is rare, tired and worth saving, it's no virgin Cooper. The latest photos from dalmeny show it has inherited a later interior, in regards the seats and side trim liners. The headlining would appear to be correct one piece item and carpet appears correct too.
To someone it's worth $2.5k and maybe a bit more. But as most car enthusiasts are aware, you end up spending more than they are usually worth. So it's irrelevant that a Cooper S could be at 40k during a potential sale. This is a rare 998 Cooper and should be appreciated as such, but that doesn't put it in the 40k league. So the seller needs a be bit realistic.
Be curious to know whether the seller has been a long time keeper of the car or has found it and wants to do a quick profit making flip of it.

The motor was identified as a replacement engine in the first post. As far as I know the current owner has had it for a long time. He is in the motor trade and was working on a customers car and finished up with the mini, whether he liked it or not, as part payment.

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Dalmeny

I bet no-one spotted the rare BASKET WEAVE GT backseat bases stacked neatly on the backseat

I did.....

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Now with 2 extra ports!

Not sure if it is of any help to any one, but I bought a 1963 997cc Cooper when it was about 2 to 3 years old, just looking at the old registration papers which I still have and the engine number listed is 9FSAL17015.
May be of some help trying to unravel BMC's cryptic numbering.

I didn't, but I did spot the basket full of old footballs in the grass behind it. Thats got to be worth abit.

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Tim
Dusk Blue
1964 850

$2500 is a good offer on that

Its a cooper not a cooper s which dont pull $40000 restored

Its like a genuine ford gt and a gtho to different prices

I reckon it's worth more like $5000 to the right buyer, I'd pay $2500 all day long and don't really have the room!

I noticed the headlining , and If that is the original headlining, that style belongs to a cooper made very late 1964 to 1965

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" A Hundred Years From Now It will not Matter what my Bank Acount Was,
The Sort Of House I Lived in, Or The Kind Of Car I drove ... But The World May Be A Better Place
Because I was Once Important In The Life Of A Child"

Mine has a snorkel tube that that goes through the bulkhead I notice this has a blanking plate did the factory delete it or has someone else done that

I have a speedo for this car

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That's why it's good to be.............ME

Yeah John, the wiper motor has 4/64 stamped on it so you would be pretty close.

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Dalmeny

Thanks for that explanation Dalmeny.

The engine number mentioned by Drewie is for an 1963 997. The car possibly had a car number around the 1400 region.