The Mini Cooper S Touring and Mini Cooper S Sport 5 by John Cooper Garages

In 1997, John Cooper Garages unveiled two new exciting iterations of the iconic Mini Cooper S; the Cooper S Touring and the Cooper S Sport 5. Both were designed to offer a thrilling driving experience, featuring advancements such as multi-point fuel injection and other developments from the latest Mk7 Rover Mini. The key John Cooper performance upgrades included:

•  High-compression S-stage cylinder head with enlarged valves
• 1:5:1 ratio roller-tip rockers
• High performance exhaust with 3-branch manifold
• Modified fuel pressure regulator 
• K&N air filter

The Cooper S Sport 5 was particularly impressive, equipped with a Jack Knight 5-speed close-ratio helical gearbox that maximised the enhanced performance of the modified engine. For the very first time you could purchase a classic Mini with a 5-speed gearbox as standard. Meanwhile, the S Touring retained the original 4-speed gearbox, possessing a taller 2:7 final drive for a more relaxed cruising experience - hence the name "Touring".

Both models delivered impressive performance, boasting outputs of 85 bhp - an approximate 30% increase over the standard Rover Mini Cooper MPI - and torque figures exceeding 20% more than the standard model. This translated to enhanced acceleration, with 0-60 mph times of 9.95 seconds for the S Touring model and 9.65 seconds for the Sport 5.

Visually, these Minis were enhanced with distinctive John Cooper details such as ‘Si’ boot badging, custom side decals and stainless steel door step edgings with ‘John Cooper’ script. The interiors featured luxurious burr walnut door cappings and alloy door furniture for a premium touch. Each Mini also came with a special John Cooper Garages conversion plate engraved with the car’s unique number.

With exceptional specification came a premium price tag. In the spring of 1997, the ‘On the Road Price’ for the Mini Cooper S Touring was £10,995, while the Mini Cooper S Sport 5 was priced at £12,995. For context, a standard Rover Mini Cooper was priced at £8,995, already standing apart from other superminis and hatchbacks that were more technologically advanced. The S Touring offered an upgrade with the Sports pack for an additional £700 and the 5-speed gearbox option costing £1,700, both of which were standard on the Sport 5. A vast array of optional extras was also available, including leather seats (£500), an electric sunroof (£795), rear screen wash/wipe (£365) and air conditioning (£1,765) to name but a few.

Both models remained in production until 1999 and were exclusively available for purchase through John Cooper Garages. While official production numbers remain unknown, it is estimated that around 100 Mini Cooper S Touring models were made, with possibly only 30 units of the Mini Cooper S Sport 5, making it one of the rarest editions of the classic Mini. Additionally, John Cooper Garages built a special one-off Mini Cooper S Touring in collaboration with MiniWorld Magazine, which we sold in 2023.

Our Mini Cooper S Touring for sale

Our Mini Cooper S Touring was registered by John Cooper Garages on 22nd January 1999 and is presented in rare Amaranth with a white roof and bonnet stripes, over a Monaco beige and black leatherette interior. The car was also specified with Sportspack, enhancing its sporty appearance, as well as John Cooper clutch and brake pedals. 

Initially, the Mini was owned by John Cooper Garages for the first eight months, likely serving as a demonstration car, during which it covered 5,896 miles. It was then acquired by its first private owner, who cherished it for approximately eighteen years, concluding their ownership with a recorded mileage of 62,786 miles. Since then, the car has been enthusiast-owned and the odometer currently displays 64,696 miles. Find out more here.

Our Mini Cooper S Sport 5 for sale

This Mini Cooper S Sport 5 was registered by John Cooper Garages on 25th January 1997 and is presented in Charcoal metallic with a white roof and bonnet stripes, over a rare Cumulus leather-trimmed interior. The Mini was also specified with rear wash/wipe, which again, is rare to see. Attached to the crossmember resides the John Cooper Garages plaque engraved with car number 5. This car has special ties to Mini legends, with the passenger sun visor autographed by late Mini rally icon Paddy Hopkirk and the owner’s handbook signed and inscribed by John Cooper himself. 

With only 57,687 miles on the clock, this Mini has been enthusiast-owned for the past 21 years, residing near Worthing, where John Cooper Garages was located. It has seen limited use in recent years, accumulating just 6,000 miles since 2010, during which it has spent recurring periods in storage. Find out more here.

Our Services

At Phil Mires Classic Cars, we specialise in the purchase, sale and sourcing of classic Minis.

If you are looking to buy a quality classic Mini, you can browse our classic Minis for sale. Alternatively, please feel free to email us with your desired specification (model, colour, mileage etc) and budget, and we will let you know as soon as a potentially suitable Mini arrives.

CLASSIC MINIS WANTED - If you are thinking of selling your classic Mini, please do get in touch. We are always on the lookout for quality stock. We provide a fast, hassle-free sales process and can arrange nationwide collection.

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Credits: MiniWorld magazine article August 2025 and taffy1967 BBC Top Gear feature.