With the recent conversation regarding the next generation MINI going from supercharging to turbocharging there have been some questions about whether the “S” in Cooper S will remain. For those that know MINI history that's an easy answer. However for those that don't it seems to be a logical question. So to clear the confusion up and make us all better students of automative history here's a bit of official information on the subject from MINIUSA PR:
The name 'Cooper S' has a true sporting pedigree: The Classic Mini Cooper S (developed by John Cooper Racing) dominated European rallying in the mid-sixties. The car won the '64, '65 and '67 Monte Carlo rally, (also being controversially disqualified in '66 after finishing first, second and third). The 'S' also scored multiple wins in European Touring Car and Saloon Car competitions throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Mini motorsport remains popular in Europe.
However the true meaning of the “S” designation, as used on the famous Mini Cooper “S” of the '60s, is lost in time. It is believed that designer Sir Alec Issigonis and John Cooper disagreed over 'Sport' or 'Special' – so “S” simply came to mean “S”.
So while we're not entirely sure what it actually meant we know one thing… it wasn't supercharger!
<p>In my case, the “S” in MCS means “Service Engine Soon”, since it is almost always on…</p>
<p>I've motored 75000km and the Check Engine Light has went on at least 15 times, for different reasons…</p>
<p>Wasn't it George Harriman who wanted the car to be called the Mini Cooper Special, not Sir Alec?</p>
<p>The prologue to your article said:</p>
<p>“so to clear up the confusion…”</p>
<p>And then the final recap of the article says:</p>
<p>“the true meaning of the “S”…..”is lost in time”</p>
<p>Doesn't seem to clear up any confusion, and actually makes it more confusing.</p>
<p>It clears up the confusion that some people were having in thinking that the S stands for Supercharger. It does not.</p>
<p>By the way. I love the photo for this story.</p>
<p>I second MrV. Gabe, could you tell us where that photo comes from?</p>
<p>It's a BMW press photo from a press event done to comemorate the 40th anniversy of the first MINI win at Monte Carlo. I've been trying to figure out a way to use some of the pics from the session for almost a year now ;)</p>
<p>Here's a late Christmas present: <a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/pictures/new_classic_monte4.jpg">Picture 1</a> / <a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/pictures/new_classic_monte3.jpg">Picture 2</a></p>
<p>Wow, love those pictures.</p>
<p>Where were those photos taken? I need that road.</p>
<p>I think it was taken somewhere in France. At least that is where it looks like to me. Maybe Switzerland. Most likely somewhere on the Monte Carlo route.</p>
<p>I have some pictures of it's sister, that I took a special section of the Mini Factory that they let me take. They had a whole garage of these cars both red and blue that were used for this event. They were kind of shunning the picture taking so I had to take them quickly. You can see when of the supervisors looking at me.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.szweda.com/mini/images/monte1.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.szweda.com/mini/images/monte1.jpg</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.szweda.com/mini/images/monte2.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.szweda.com/mini/images/monte2.jpg</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.szweda.com/mini/images/monte3.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.szweda.com/mini/images/monte3.jpg</a></p>
<p>“So to clear the confusion up and make us all better students of automative history here's a bit of official information on the subject from MINIUSA PR.”</p>
<p>“Official information from MINIUSA PR”?! Jesus! From a journalistic perspective, this analagous to the New York Times printing the following on the eve of the invasion of Iraq: </p>
<p>“So, to clear up
any confusion as to whether Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction, here is the official statement on the subject from the White House Press Secretary.”</p>
<p>The “S” in Cooper S was never an abbreviation. I had an opportunity to meet with John Cooper in 1992 and again in 1997. We talked about a lot of things and one of them was the nomenclature of the Cooper versions of the Mini. He was very clear that the “S” was simply used to differentiate the more powerful 1071cc Mini Cooper from the standard 997cc Mini Cooper.</p>
<p>Here is an article with photos of the two blues together.. </p>
<p>You can click on the photos for high res. They are not as nice as the professional red ones but neat to see.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/pw/mini_monte.htm" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/pw/mini_monte.htm</a></p>
<p>Craig</p>
<p>I always thought it was to complete the punch line to that old joke, “why did the snail want an S on his car? So people would say, look at the S Car Go!”</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Thanks Gabe, everytime I saw the “MCT” comment I wanted to claw my eyes out. Now all you needed was the NBC “The more you know” Logo at the end of the post.</p>
<p>toolshack,</p>
<p>“…I wanted to claw my eyes out.”</p>
<p>lay off the caffiene :)</p>
<p>The 'S' in 'Cooper S' stands for 'S – bend'.</p>
<p>Heritage or not, I (and many I think) would take a “super sport” AWD Cooper designated as “Turbo” over a simple “S” any day. Think Porsche.</p>
<p>I like the S badging, it looks like a racy red curvy road. </p>
<p>There's something intriguing about a car that doesn't need to scream what's under the hood. We passed on the JCW badging, the pipes tell the tale.</p>
<p>Another (irrelevant to this I know) S which meant nothing:</p>
<p>“Ulysses S. Grant”</p>
<p>To the classic Mini enthusiasts, we have always believed the 'S' meant Sport.
Has anyone asked Mike Cooper? Seems a logical question to ask “family” member.</p>
<p>Hello, I recently purhased a 2005 Mini Cooper S (Automatic & 1300 miles) and I am experiencing a diagnostic problem. The SERVICE ENGINE NEEDED light is on. Do you have any suggestions/comments before I visit the dealer?</p>
<p>I just bought my MINI COOPER S 6 speed . Had it for less than a week, less than 250 miles and SERVICE ENGINE SOON light goes on just when I’m about to ecelerate into 3rd gear … wham no power the car rolls to an almost halt. restart car is OK no light . Happens again the next day on the freeway, yikes. They are telling my its the blower by pass. Anyone have this problem?</p>
<p>Yep, Weezie, it happened to me. That valve seems to be rather problematic at the moment, although the design is unchanged from previous years (I’m told, anyway). There’s now a service measure (or bulletin, probably, by now), so the dealers are able to diagnose it more easily.</p>