Monte Carlo Challenge Mini for sale

A Mini that took part in the 1990 Monte Carlo Challenge rally is heading to auction. The 1960 Cooper S Evocation is for sale at H&H Classics’ Duxford auction on Wednesday, October 16. 

While the car started life as a standard production Mini-Minor, it has been modified to rally specification. In fact, it lead the first Monte Carlo Challenge in 1990 until a navigation error on the final day saw it drop back to finish ninth.

There are extensive hand-written diary notes of car 60’s historic drive by drivers Shand and Mackley in which they note the darkness of midnight in the Alps with ice on the inside of the windows making visibility difficult and later a furious policeman in Monte Carlo with his hand on his gun watching them lost and  struggling and trying to exit a tiny square in the Principality.

This Mini has been continually updated and entered its current ownership nine years ago. It has been competing continuously and currently sports a balanced 1310cc A-series engine. It even comes with a spare Downton Racing-prepared 998cc engine.

As well as a uprate crank, clutch, flywheel, rods, pistons, and a big valve stud head, it also comes with 'Cooper S' specification discs and drums. The car also boasts a Mk1 bodyshell with internal fuel and brake lines, heavy-duty suspension, all-synchro gear transmission, FIA rollcage, high-back seats, twin fuel tanks, 65 amp alternator, and spot/fog lights.

And the price? H&H estimates that the car could fetch between £9k and £13k when it goes under the hammer.