Description
This guide has been written for the Leyland Mini GTS, a unique South African model which was produced as a higher performance successor to the Mini 1275 GT at the Blackheath plant in Capetown.1 The GTS has several unique features which make it a particularly desirable model in the Mini range, although awareness of this model in markets outside of South Africa remains limited. Classic Register hosts a Mini GTS Register here, and we encourage current owners to add their vehicle or contact us so we can further build the register and learn more about the finer details of these cars.
At the time the GTS was built, local content regulations significantly influenced manufacturing in the South African automotive industry. Those rules provided import excise rebates and tariff protections for manufacturers where certain local content levels (as a percentage of vehicle weight) were achieved.2 By the time GTS production began in July 1973, local content accounted for over 55% in South African Minis, reaching 65% in 1975.3 As a result, the GTS received several parts and components not strictly in line with Mini manufacturing in the UK and other markets. Most notably, the decision to locally cast a version of the Cooper S engine for use in the GTS was a major benefit to the car, considering that by 1973 the Cooper S specification 1275cc unit had been phased out in other international markets.4
The performance specifications of the car made the GTS competitive on the track, and the cars had a successful career in South African touring car racing. The GTS competed in championships such as the Asseng Group 1 Championship and the Castrol Marketcars Standard Production Championship. The GTS achieved multiple class wins in the 1970s, and took the Asseng Group 1 Championship title in 1976. Numerous drivers successfully competed in the GTS throughout a number of seasons, and Ryno Verster's book Thanks for the Mini Memories - A South African Mini Story provides a good level of detail with respect to the various motorsport achievements of these GTS cars and their drivers. See Section 7 of this guide for relevant extracts from Mr Verster's book, which have been placed on this page with his kind permission.
Period of manufacture:
July 1973 – March 19805
Production Numbers:6
Most sources confirm that 4,2107 GTS cars were produced in total. The following production by year breakdown was confirmed by another source which suggests the total number is 4,212.8
| Year |
Price new (South African Rand) |
Production numbers |
| 1973 | R 2,280 | 365 |
| 1974 | R 2,365 | 734 |
| 1975 | R 2,595 | 795 |
| 1976 | R 3,175 | 765 |
| 1977 | R 3,500 | 632 |
| 1978 | R 3,865 | 658 |
| 1979 | R 4,215 | 263 |