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The same 4 sedan and one Countryman models that were introduced in the previous year as well as the two Commercial Van and Pick-up models were available to the South African public. In February, however, the number of models was reduced to four when the production of the Mini 1000 de Luxe Mk. 2 model was discontinued. The de Luxe concept (a more luxury version of the basic models) was already introduced in 1961 but in 1963 it was renamed the “Super” model which it remained until September 1966 when BMC reverted back to the de Luxe description.
In August the Mini 1000 Standard Mk. 2 model’s price increased with R 46 to R 1296, the Mini 1000 “S” Mk. 2 increased by R 39 to R 1599, the Mini Countryman Mk. 2 by R 60 to R 1525 while the price of the Mini 1000 Mk. 3 remained R 1475. The price of the Leykor Minivan remained at R1194 while the Leykor Mini 1000 Pick-up was R 1165.
To put these prices in perspective, the Mini 1000 Mk. 2 model maintained its status as the cheapest car on the South Africa market (its closest contenders were the Renault 4 followed by the Fiat 850 Special at R 139 and R 154 respectively more) while the Mini 1000 Mk. 3 and Mini 1000 Countryman Mk. 2 came in respectable 4th and 6th cheapest positions respectively. The most expensive car was the Jaguar 420G Automatic at R 7632 while a Renault 8 Gordini cost R2390, a Volkswagen 1300 Beetle R 1572 and a Cortina 1600 GT R2220.
Leykor Minis (all models) were 15th on the best seller list with a total of 5002 units. (1st position was held by the Volkswagen Beetle 1300 to 1600 with 21009 units). According to the Auto Data Digest, 2356 Mini 1000 units, 459 Mini 1000 “S” units and 2187 Mini 1000 Mk. 3 units were sold in 1970. Mini sales represented 2,5 % of the market. Leykor Mini light commercial vehicles were 29th on the best seller list with a total of 491 units (1st position was held by Datsun 1300/1600 with 9041 units).
On the competition front, the Giv Giovannoni/G Tunmer’s Austin Cooper ‘S’ (number 33) won the Index of Performance in the Natal Easter 6 Hours Endurance Race (beating a Porsche and Volvo into 2nd and 3rd places respectively), Brian Johnson won the regional (Cape) Argus Production Car Championship in his Victory Motors Mini and Andy Turlouw was the overall winner in his Morris Cooper ‘S’ in the Zwartkop Three-Hour Race on 26 September 1970.
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