Morris Cooper S – Timo Mäkinen’s Monte Carlo Prize Car ‘1965

Body nr. K-A2S4L-675979, engine nr. 9F-SA-Y 35213

Manufacturing date 18.2.1965

Delivery date 18.3.1965

1275 cc engine with two SU carburetors, Matching numbers

Four-speed manual transmission

Island Blue – exterior color – with Old English White roof

Powder Blue + Gold Brocade Grey – artificial leather upholstery

Thoroughly and high-quality restored.

Ownership history fully known and documented.

History and registration documents, Original owner’s manual, COA, Historic Vehicle certificate, Classic Data -certificate

Registered as a museum vehicle, recently inspected (valid until 08/2029).

Price on request.

In January 1965, Finnish Timo Mäkinen with British co-driver Paul Easter took part in the Monte Carlo Rally. They entered the race in a Mini Cooper 1275 S, with the race number 52. The factory racing car was registered in Great Britain with the number AJB 44B.

The rally race was preceded by a gathering drive that started in good conditions from nine European cities, such as Paris, Oslo, Warsaw, Athens and London, towards the Alps, the French Riviera and the Monte Carlo rally special stages. No less than 237 teams took part in the rally.

However, in Monte Carlo, the conditions of the race changed radically due to snowstorms – for example, the Col De Turini was driven at night in fog, with the roads covered in snow and ice. For the first time in Monte Carlo, handicaps were not used, only the driving time was the deciding factor. Only 35 teams completed the eleven-stage rally to the finish. Timo Mäkinen and Paul Easter won the rally in inhuman conditions by a margin of over 15 minutes, winning almost every special stage.

Mäkinen’s performance in difficult conditions was considered incomprehensible. Second place in the Monte Carlo Rally was also taken by Finnish Rauno Aaltonen and British Tony Ambrose in a Mini Cooper S. The concept of Flying Finns was born and the Mini quickly became popular on the rally tracks.

The factory was also impressed by Timo Mäkinen’s phenomenal victory and donated this Morris Cooper 1275 S to Timo. In honor of Mäkinen and Finland, the car was painted in special colors in the colors of the Finnish flag: Island Blue and an Old English White roof. The car was the first ever produced with this color combination. Soon the factory’s Surf Blue was replaced by Mäkinen’s car’s Island Blue. The interior color combination was Powder Blue & Brocade Grey seats and Powder Blue carpets. As a special feature, a second fuel tank was added to the car, which did not become standard equipment for the Cooper S until 1966.

The prize car was registered in Finland in the names of Timo and his wife Tuula Mäkinen. The registration number chosen for the car was AJP-44, which was the closest available number to the winning car’s registration number AJB 44B.

The car’s ownership history is clear and documented. The car was in Mäkinen’s use until 1972, when it was transferred to the well-known journalist Mirja Pyykkö. The next owners were A. Lindqvist in 1974 and A. Tuuteri in 1976. The car was registered until 1980. In the early 1990s, T.Lahtinen, who had competed in a Mini in the 1960s, heard that the car was in storage in Helsinki and went to see the car. When it was confirmed that it was Mäkinen’s prize car, he bought the car and began a complete restoration. The restoration, carried out with impressive precision and respect for the originality, was completed in 1997 and the car was registered as a museum vehicle.

In 2011, the car was transferred to Mini expert I.Ojala, who had the car completely overhauled. The car is still matching numbers, including the AEG312 cylinder block and the extremely rare AEG163 cylinder head. The gearbox, brake booster, windshield wiper motor, etc. are also original.

In 2022-2023, the car was thoroughly serviced, including the engine, gearbox and fuel system.

Now the car is part of the rally expert T.Tahko Mini collection.

The car was Classic Data inspected in June 2024 with a rating of 1-.

Registered as a historic vehicle and Mot/Tüv inspected 08/2025, valid until 08/2029.

Working with Mäkinen’s prize car is also special for us – Clasanteri: “Our family’s enthusiasm for British cars originally stems especially from Minis. My great-uncle Antti Kytölä worked as a mechanic for rally legend Timo Mäkinen. When Timo Mäkinen drove Finland’s first Monte Carlo victories with Minis, everyone had to get their own Mini, for respecting the role model and testing their own driving skills.”

The car is located in Vantaa, 25 minutes from Helsinki–Vantaa airport. Views by appointment.

Worldwide shipping with generous rates.