<P> Issigonis ' friend John Cooper , owner of the Cooper Car Company and designer and builder of Formula One and rally cars , saw the potential of the Mini for competition . Issigonis was initially reluctant to see the Mini in the role of a performance car , but after John Cooper appealed to BMC management , the two men collaborated to create the Mini Cooper . The Austin Mini Cooper and Morris Mini Cooper debuted in September 1961 . </P>
<P> Issigonis ' friend John Cooper , owner of the Cooper Car Company and designer and builder of Formula One and rally cars , saw the potential of the Mini for competition . Issigonis was initially reluctant to see the Mini in the role of a performance car , but after John Cooper appealed to BMC management , the two men collaborated to create the Mini Cooper . The Austin Mini Cooper and Morris Mini Cooper debuted in September 1961 . </P>
where did the name mini cooper come from
where did the name mini cooper come from
John Cooper
John Cooper