Mini Cooper Sport v's Mini Cooper Sportspack

What’s the difference between a Mini Cooper Sport and a Mini Cooper Sportspack?

In short, the ‘Sports pack’ was a just optional extra available on Mk7 Minis, whereas a Cooper Sport is a completely separate Mini model. The Mini Cooper Sport, released in 2000, was the final edition of the classic Mini and it essentially came with ‘Sports pack’ as standard.

What does ‘Sports pack’ include?

The ‘Sports pack’ factory option was introduced upon the release of the Mk7 Mini (MPi) in 1996. It cost approximately £800 and as was one of Rover’s many accessory options available on Minis (standard) and Mini Coopers. Sports pack included 13” x 6” Sports-style Minilite alloy wheels, body-coloured extended wheel arches, a chrome tailpipe finisher, Koni shock absorbers, a strengthened rear subframe, spot lamps (with a further switch added to the lower dash rail panel) and subsidiary oil temperature and battery (voltage) gauges.

Does the Mini 'Sports Pack' include leather seats?

Many people believe that the Sports pack option also included leather seats, but this is not correct. Mk7 Minis (standard) came with a stone beige ‘Balmoral’ trim, whereas Mini Coopers were furnished in a contrasting beige and black ‘Monaco’ trim. Leather seats were a separate factory option, costing approximately £500. However, the Sports pack and leather trim options were frequently selected together.

Minis are often misdescribed as having ‘Sportspack’, when in actual fact, they’ve merely had Sportspack-type arches and 13” alloy wheels retrofitted. If the Mini is a Mk6 or earlier, it’s pretty obvious that it doesn’t have Sportspack as the factory option wasn’t introduced until the release of the Mk7 Mini in 1996. However, for Mk7 Minis, you will need to check that the spot lamps, five-switch panel, and subsidiary oil temperature and battery gauges are all present.

 How can you tell a Mini Cooper Sportspack and Mini Cooper Sport apart?

Visually, a Mini Cooper with Sports pack and a Mini Cooper Sport look very similar. Both are of muscular physique as result of their extended wheel arches and large 13" wheels, and both possess a bank of four fog/spot lamps. The obvious distinguishing factor is the silver-coloured features present on the Cooper Sport, which includes a Platinum Silver roof with matching bonnet stripes and mirrors, a Nickel Silver (and part black) leather-trimmed interior and a stylish dashboard with engine-turned finish. Mini Cooper Sports came with alloy door furniture as standard, but this was an option available on other Mk7 Mini models. 

The difference between the Mini Cooper Sport and the Mini Cooper Sport 500

In 2000, Rover launched the 'Classic' Mini range for the UK market, consisting of 3493 cars across four models; the Mini Cooper Classic, the Mini Seven, the Mini Knightsbridge and the Mini Cooper Sport. According to MG Rover data, 2091 of these cars were Mini Cooper Sports. This model was the final edition of the "classic" Mini and it was only available in four exterior colours; British Racing Green, Tahiti Blue, Solar Red and Anthracite, with a contrasting Platinum Silver roof and bonnet stripes. 

The last 500 Mini Cooper Sports built were appropriately titled as Mini Cooper Sport 500s. Each Cooper Sport 500 rolled off the Longbridge production line with a “Last 500” certificate signed by John Cooper, and a unique plaque within the glove box, reading “This Mini is one of the last 500 built to the original Sir Alec Issigonis design”. Learn more about the Mini Cooper Sport 500 model.