Morris Mini Cooper S Police(diecast 1:18, Kyosho)
- Morris Mini Cooper S Police (from 1968)
- Kyosho
- 1:18
- Showcase model / No engine
- diecast
- white
- 08104P
- Not specified
- Not specified
- Not for sale
British icon in police service – history and context
The model shown here is based on the Morris Mini Cooper S, the sportier version of the little British classic that was part of BMC’s lineup from 1963. The Mini was originally designed by Alec Issigonis, whose transversely mounted engine layout with front-wheel drive and 10-inch wheels set new standards for mass-market cars. The sporty upgrade was developed in cooperation with John Cooper and the Cooper Car Company (founded 1946 in Surbiton, UK), who were already active in motorsport. The Morris Mini Cooper S belongs to the first Mini generation, Mark I (1959–1967), produced from 1959. As predecessors you can name the Mini / Morris Mini Minor / Austin Seven, from which the first Mini Cooper emerged in 1961. To place the Morris Mini Cooper S in time: 1963 saw the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy, The Beatles released “Please Please Me” in the UK, and ZDF started broadcasting in Germany. These historical points are just for context.
Tech and operational use of the original
The Morris Mini Cooper S used the proven A‑Series four-cylinder with 1275 cm³ (77.8 cubic inches) — early S versions initially had 1071 cm³ (65.3 cubic inches). With about 76 PS (~75 hp) at roughly 5700 rpm it produced around 107 Nm (79 lb‑ft) of torque and could reach roughly 160 km/h (99.4 mph). Power went to the front wheels via a four‑speed manual gearbox. Notable features included front 7.5‑inch disc brakes, improved carburetion (twin SU carburettors), a higher-compression engine tune and the Mini’s characteristic suspension with rubber cone springs; in police service some cars got beefed-up electrics and radio gear. The body length was about 3.05 m (10.0 ft), width about 1.41 m (4.63 ft), and empty weight around 630 kg (1,389 pounds) — all factors that helped make the Mini famously nimble. UK police used the Mini as a handy “panda car” for dense urban work. They were usually fitted with a blue rotating beacon, a “POLICE” roof sign and often loudspeakers or sirens — exactly the sorts of kit reproduced on the model shown here.
Kyosho 1/18 — details of the Phat-T miniature
The model you’re seeing belongs to collector Phat-T and represents a Morris Mini Cooper S in police service at 1/18 scale. It’s a Kyosho diecast metal piece. You can spot lots of classic Mini traits: the external door hinges of the early Mark‑I body, the small rear lights, chrome bumpers and the narrow steel wheels with chrome hubcaps. The paint is a plain light white with a large “POLICE” lettering on the sides. On the roof there’s a rectangular housing with “POLICE” panels on both sides, flanked by two small horn speakers; a blue rotating beacon sits on top. Inside — visible through the windows — is a black interior with the steering wheel on the right, like the original British patrol cars. Window frames and drip rails are finely silvered and the wipers are separately fitted. The Kyosho 1/18 gives the collector-relevant ID features of the Mini Cooper S and, thanks to its diecast build, has a satisfying weight for display. The neat typography of the “POLICE” markings and the compact format make it an easy showpiece for a British emergency vehicle display.
Context for collectors, designers and special features
For international collectors the Morris Mini Cooper S is a key reference because Alec Issigonis’s transverse engine/front-wheel-drive idea shaped the modern small car. John Cooper and the Cooper Car Company made it a motorsport star (think Monte Carlo rallies in the 1960s) and that sporting image also made it attractive to authorities that needed a compact, agile patrol car. Typical police mods — radio, beacon, signage — are reproduced on the model, while body cues like the split front windscreen area, narrow tires and delicate bumpers capture the early‑1960s look. There’s no special paint scheme here; the plain white with black lettering matches the sober service look of many British forces of the era. Since the model doesn’t appear tied to a specific film or TV car, the focus stays on real-life police use and the original car’s design. Useful search terms are Mini Cooper S police, Morris Mini Cooper S Mark I and British “panda car”. If you want a solid diecast display reference, Kyosho’s 1/18 version shown here is a faithful, well-detailed little example of the 1960s police Mini.
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