In the 1990s Japan seemingly couldn’t get enough of classic retro British cars. Alongside hoovering up most of the RV8 production, the nation was buying cars like the classic Mini Cooper. This 1997 was one of them, which explains why it features the 4-speed auto box and air conditioning. It’s a specification that wasn’t available to UK buyers yet makes the car much more usable in city motoring. 

The car returned to the UK in 2021 and the current keeper bought it soon after. The displayed mileage is 46,000 miles, which can’t be verified but is supported by MOT records. The British Racing Green and luxury leather and wood-lined interior are in fair condition, with some age for buyers to note. The MOT runs to June 2027, providing further transparency.

This is a tidy and usable classic Cooper with an interesting specification. There is scope to improve it, but that long MOT provides plenty of time to enjoy it in the meantime. 

BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..
✓ We request that a non-refundable fee  be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's fee. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own  full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand..