Jo's Mini
[ Home ] [ Up ]

Jo's Mini Cooper RSP limited edition, 1990. No' 392 of 1650, RSP Coopers produced.

 The RSP was the model that re-launched the Cooper in the 1990's. Of the 1650 built 600 were for export to Japan and other countries, leaving 1050 for the UK market.

RSP stands for Rover Special Products, they operated out of a separate building on the Longbridge site and built the more special Prestige Rover Models. the various Rover Cabriolets for example (minis included). In 1990 the Rover bosses invited John Cooper to the works, so that they could tell him how much they liked what he was doing with the performance kits that he was offering for lesser minis. They then asked what 'they' should do next. Born of this meeting was the new Mini Cooper. It was to be produced in a limited number and offer a higher specification than minis of the period. The job was handed to RSP, who decided to use the 61bhp MG metro engine, the half leather mini 30 interior, mini 30 alloys and the paint scheme of the Flame Red, Racing green and Checkmate special editions. Essentially Rover took a whole load of Racing/flame/checkmates and added the other goodies!

The RSP is more collectable than other minis, due to it's other goodies, such as driving lamps, sunroof and halogen headlamps.