The first Mini Cooper was introduced in 1961. Austin Mini Cooper and Morris Mini Cooper versions debuted in September that year after racing-car builder John Cooper persuaded British Motor Corporation to develop a performance Mini.
The original Cooper transformed the modest Mini into a serious sporting car. Its 997 cc engine, twin SU carburettors, close-ratio gearbox and front disc brakes gave it much stronger performance than the standard 848 cc Mini. BMC initially commissioned 1,000 examples to satisfy competition homologation requirements.
A frequent mix-up is confusing the Mini Cooper with the original Mini. The basic Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor arrived in 1959; the Cooper name and performance upgrades followed in 1961. The even hotter Cooper S appeared in 1963 and became especially famous in rallying, including victories in the Monte Carlo Rally.